At the start of the 2012 cricket season, the club realised it had a growing number of girls showing interest in playing cricket. Up until that point, there had been a handful of girls who had been involved in 'boys teams' - often as a result of having brothers who also played for the club's junior age group teams - but never a 'girls team' or even a girls training group.

That group of girls were spread across junior and senior school ages but there was a feeling that bringing the girls together for their own training night would help them to integrate more into the club and establish their own identity. A club visit from then-England player Caroline Atkins kickstarted the 'girls-only sessions' which ran for a number of weeks during that year.

In the ensuing 6 years, first girls and then womens cricket has flourished at Ipplepen CC. Support has come from many sources including kit bag donations from the Lady Taverners and more recently a financial contribution from the Rotary Club of Newton Abbot to help create a third changing room to accommodate female players playing in mixed adult teams.

Under the wise management of Andrew Maynard and Patrick Duke, girls teams have become more competitive in both the South Devon Youth Cricket League and the Lady Taverners competitions. In 2018, Ipplepen Under 11 girls won their 'County Championship' whilst the Under 13 girls were very competitive in their hardball league.

The development of young female players to District and County standard has been a testament to the success of the coaching program at Ipplepen. Harriet Duke and Darcy Thomas were both central figures in the Devon Under 13s last season (Darcy playing 2 years up) whilst Zoe Maynard and Nell Smith have both been added to County age group training squads for the coming winter. Many more players have played for South Devon District teams at Under 13 and Under 15 and are now part of the new-look Development Centre sessions which has replaced the District program.

As teenage girls have progressed through their own age group cricket, a few have branched out into playing senior 'mens' cricket with our Saturday 3rd XI, Sunday League XI and senior friendly XI. Holly Maynard, Molly Jeffrey, Ella Sampson and Jess Hine have all featured for these teams and there will be several more girls "knocking on the door" for adult league cricket in the coming years.

The launch of Devon Cricket Board's "Wine and Wickets" program added a new dimension to the club in 2016 with a number of mums and other adults jumping at the chance to play some softball cricket. This program - combined with the feed of players emerging through junior cricket - paved the way for a fledging hardball ladies team to emerge in 2017 with a small number of friendlies in both 2017 and 2018.

The ever increasing interest has now paved the way for a first ever series of womens indoor winter training sessions which will be held at Torquay Boys' Grammar School starting in February 2019. Sessions will allow players of all ability to develop skills and build confidence ahead of outdoor training starting next April. An expanded program of womens friendly matches is also being arranged for the coming season.

The womens group is always on the look out for new players aged 13+ (school year 8 and above) with complete beginners always welcome. Their indoor training sessions at TBGS will be on Wednesday evenings 7pm to 8pm starting on 27th February cost approximately £4 per player.

Outdoor training for women and girls will be on Friday evenings from the end of April at Moor Road - information about membership fees will be available nearer the time.