With this year’s Hundred season just a few months away and the excitement starting to build once again, fans are familiarising themselves with the talent and following the 2025 Draft, Manchester Originals supporters now know who their picks are.
The local side based out of the Emirates Old Trafford, home of Lancashire County Cricket Club, has been steadily building a stronger squad year after year. With a total of seven new players added to the roster across the men’s and women’s teams, they’re looking more competitive than ever.
With The Hundred‘s official draft taking place this past Wednesday, 12 March, Manchester Originals managed to tie down four female players and five men, including some seriously sought-after names.
First off, former Aussie batsman and men’s head coach Simon Katich chose mystery spinner, Noor Ahmad as the first male pick, before securing New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra, who was recently named ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the 2025 Champions Trophy with 263 runs.
As for the other 2025 draft picks, Lewis Gregory, Ben McKinney and George Garton complete this year’s Manchester Originals squad to round off a strong domestic core.
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Now, onto the women: new head coach Michael Klinger pulled off a real coup by bringing back hard-hitting all-rounder Deandra Dottin as the first pick – a real statement signing for the Originals.
Similarly, Seren Smale and Ella McCaughan will be making their debuts for Manchester club and, better still, fellow all-rounder Alice Monaghan is also returning after an impressive first season last year.
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Dottin said of her return: “I’m so excited to be back at Manchester Originals. I loved playing for them in 2023 and The Hundred is a great tournament to be involved in. Our squad is looking so strong with Beth Mooney and Sophie Ecclestone so I think we’ve got a great opportunity to make a statement this summer.”
New addition and former Hundred-winner with Trent Rockets (2022), Gregory, also had only positive things to say about his arrival: “I’ve had some good memories of playing against the Originals in the past so looking forward to joining them this season.
“With Jos Buttler, Phil Salt and Rachin Ravindra, we’ve got some of the best players in the world and I’m looking forward to playing alongside them. Old Trafford will be a new home ground for me but I’m sure it’ll be bouncing during the whole of August with the people of Manchester behind the team.”
This year’s Hundred fixtures dropped back in January and Manchester Originals get their campaign underway with a double-header at home on Wednesday, 6 August against Southern Brave, before heading to the capital to face men’s champions, Oval Invincibles, just three days later.
With London Spirit’s women’s team lifting their first trophy in 2024, each opponent looks to be getting stronger year after year, which only makes things more difficult for us fans in 0161 but all the better for the neutral and the overall spectacle.
As for tickets, there is still a priority window for fans who sign up in advance, with best-value tickets available between 1-15 April before general sale admission goes live on 17 April, where prices are still set at £5 for juniors aged 3-15 (free for under 3s) and adults starting from £14.
The same team behind the annual Alton Towers run is bringing a new race to Flamingo Land
Danny Jones
Following the success of Run Alton Towers, the same team is bringing a brand-new running event to another Northern attraction with the first-ever Flamingo Land race.
Knowing how popular its forerunner is (pardon the pun), this one is already well on course to sell out.
The inaugural Alton Towers run first took place in November 2021, and now half a decade later, RunThroughUK – the biggest and fastest-growing race organiser in the country – is recreating the format over at Flamingo Land.
Landing next month, the beloved UK theme park and zoo will be joining them in holding two different distances, and you can still be part of it.
Hosted within the grounds of the wider Flamingo Land Resort, the unique route takes participants through the zoo, passing plenty of incredible animals, before continuing through the theme park alongside some of its biggest rides and amusements.
Located in Kirby Misperton up in North Yorkshire, they will be holding both 5-kilometre and 10km runs around the venue.
With the promotion and sporting events company having already comfortably proved they can hold a slick and seamless running event throughout the 500-acre plot, there’s set to be even more jam-packed sights to see as you jog zip through the slightly smaller and multi-purpose park.
As always with RunThrough dates, runners of all abilities are welcome; whether you’re chasing a personal best or simply looking for a different kind of race route, you’re sure to have a memorable time.
And yes, for those wondering: just like with its Staffordshire counterpart, you do get to stay and enjoy all the rides, wildlife and more as part of your entry fee afterwards.
Even better still, not only will every runner be treated to accurate chip timing, a fully marked course, enthusiastic marshals and support from spectators, but you also get a unique finisher’s medal.
Oh yeah, and you get all of your race pictures for FREE, as is standard with RunThrough events. Belter.
With race day not far away, the final places are filling fast for what promises to be one of the UK’s most unique new running events – not to mention one we fully expect to become another annual addition.
Taking place on Saturday, 5 September 2026, you can secure your bibs for the 5/10k running race HERE.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via RunThrough)
Sport
Manchester Storm announce partnership with USAsports including NHL pop-ups and more
Danny Jones
Manchester Storm have announced a landmark new deal with USAsports, a dedicated home for British fans of North American sporting disciplines and global merchandising suppliers, which will see various exciting events this upcoming season.
Confirming the collaboration ahead of the pending 2026/27 campaign, this crossover will involve everything from special pop-up events to player sponsorships and much more.
USAsports specialise in officially licensed NHL, NFL, NBA and MLB clothing, and while you may have seen the odd jersey here and there at various Greater Manchester locations, they are now gearing up to work with Manchester Storm to deliver better exposure.
Whether you’re just a die-hard member of the Storm Shelter or an ex-pat who still follows an NHL franchise overseas, kit collecting and the fascination surrounding limited edition team jumpers is a big part of ice hockey fandom and culture not just here in the UK but around the world.
Sharing their own announcement, they wrote: “Manchester Storm are thrilled to announce a new partnership with USAsports for the 2026/27 Motorpoint Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) season as the club embarks on an exciting new chapter at the AO Arena.
“As part of the partnership, USAsports will sponsor a Manchester Storm player throughout the season and deliver multiple NHL Pop-Up Shop events at Storm home games during the forthcoming campaign.”
On the subject of sponsorship, commercial entities are the only people who will be given the opportunity to back big players this term, as Storm are once again bringing back their ‘own-and-loan’ scheme.
Speaking on working closely with their new partners, the club’s General Manager, Ryan Finnerty, added: “We’re delighted to have USAsports on board for the 2026/27 season.
“Their passion for the fan experience really stood out to us, and their NHL Pop-Up Shops throughout the season will be a fantastic addition to game days at the AO Arena.
“We’re looking forward to working together throughout what promises to be a very exciting season.”
As casual fans here at The Manc, we’ll admit that watching the growing buzz around the resurgent ice hockey team, especially ahead of their Manchester city centre ‘homecoming’, has got us amped to dive deeper into the sport when it gets back underway next month. We’re not the only ones, either…
Danny Jones -
14th March 2025 
