Filed under: general
Welcome everyone to the 2012 Cricket season.
I start with the sad news that the prime founding member of the club, David Gordon, died on January 27th aged 84. On the death of his stepfather Noel Beaver he returned to Whitchurch in 1949 to farm. It was then that being a keen cricketer he, along with his half brother, decided to create the beginnings of the club we know today. Whilst David was not around much and largely unknown to most he was a very important figure in the early days of the club. He always had a healthy interest in the development of Whitchurch Wayfarers and payed us several visits over the years. The coming season will be dedicated to his memory with hopefully a memorial match taking place. Please take a moment to read about David in greater detail in this book and on our website.
As ever we have an energetic committee working away behind the scenes ensuring a full and diverse programme of cricket and many other events. With such a mix of senior, youth and ladies fixtures, there should never be a dull moment.
The committee is largely unchanged with newcomer, or should that be oldcomer, Rob Rawlings taking on the role of Vice Chairman. Rob is hugely experienced in the running of our club having held many committee posts over the years. He continues to liaise with our sponsors messrs Mansbridge & Balment, Turners of Roborough, and R M Builders and all our small business advertisers who of course make our fixture book the envy of the area. It goes without saying the club continues to appreciate their support, so please, please, in return support them if you can.
On the cricketing front I have been greatly encouraged by the turnout of players at our indoor net sessions. The average seems to be around the 15 mark per net which beats the 6 or 7 of the previous winter. The move to weekday evenings has certainly paid off and should stand us in good stead when battle commences in late April. We have new challenges ahead with both senior Saturday sides starting a league lower but no doubt eager to bounce back. We remain in the top flight evening league which will stretch our young players to the full but will stand them in good stead for seasons to come. Our Ladies enjoyed promotion in 2011 so likewise will have to meet new challenges and hopefully enjoy more success. We also continue to produce high quality junior players all competing in the Palladium league, some of who no doubt will represent us at district level and higher.
Bob Powell is once again heading up the coaching and as last season we will have senior practice on Thursday evenings. Richard is once again captaining our DL 1st XI with Neil in the same role for the 2nds. Doug Vernon is taking on the captaincy of the TEL side and may I take this opportunity to wish him the best of luck, and please, please everyone support Doug in this challenging role. Hammy is continuing as team secretary and in order to make everything run as smoothly as possible, can we all think about availability well in advance and GET OUR NAMES IN THE AVAILABILITY BOOK. It goes without saying that if your contact details have changed then please let us know. Neil and John have gone through the current list of registrations. It is paramount that we have everyone registered and signed on so as to avoid any selection hiccups later during the season.
In amongst the cricket we will once again be holding a number of social events including Hammys` ever popular quiz nights and on debut last season Bobs` race night.
As always we need more people to get involved with work around the club. We are very lucky with the experts and skill levels that we have at our disposal, but we are always looking for more. Please don`t hide your light under a bushel.
Finally, it goes without saying that I would like to thank everyone for your continued commitment and support of our friendly club. Whenever we take the field we must remember that we are representing the club and all that it stands for. Play competitively but fairly and within the Spirit of the Game.
I and the committee are looking forward to a successful 2012 season not just for our adult seniors but our junior teams U11s U13s & U15s and our ladies team. Please everyone enjoy your cricket and please ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE. If we do this we will have a great year.
Yours in cricket
Gavin.
Filed under: general
As we all feared when the weather in March was so warm and sunny, and the square too hard to take the roller, we are now experiencing the other side of the coin.
All of the first 6 fixtures have been washed out and the ground is very, very wet – too wet to get a mower on. The nets are also underwater.
Senior League cricket, all being well, starts next weekend. County wide there will be a lot of under-prepared players and pitches.
The first Xi travel to Kentisbeare, whilst the seconds entertain Abbotskerswell 3rds. Both are unknown quantities, but present a great opportunity to get the season off to a winning start.
Good luck to everyone as the season finally gets underway and watch this space for weekly reports on progress.
Filed under: general
It is with great sadness that the club has been informed of the passing of one of our founder members, David Gordon.
David Gordon who founded the present Whitchurch Wayfarers Cricket Club died in Bristol on 27th January 2012 aged 84. He was son of G.S.S. Gordon M.C. and Mrs Marjorie Beaver of Whitchurch House, born on 17th August 1927. He was commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders for national service and finished his military service as a captain in charge of a large number of Holocaust survivors in Cyprus trying to enter Palestine. Following studying at Kings College Cambridge he spent a year at the Sorbonne University in Paris but after the death of his stepfather Noel Beaver he returned to Whitchurch House in 1949. In 1949/50 as a keen cricketer he decided to try to establish a cricket club on a field of the grounds of Whitchurch House. From very modest beginnings the Wayfarers have developed into a very successful club with a new pavilion and a long fixture list for several XIs.
Filed under: general
Congratulations to Hammy for being short listed for a Natwest OSCA in the Young Contributor category. He has been recognised for his role as Team Secretary whilst based in Loughborough as well as his involvement in fundraising and social events.
The awards will be handed out on Tuesday at the County Ground in Taunton during the England U19 v South Africa U19 match.
Gavin Hall was also nominated in the Behind the Scenes category but has not been shortlisted. This must be a very competitive category as it is hard to believe many clubs have someone with the commitment and quiet efficiency of Gavin.
Update 27th July
Hammy enjoyed his day out at Somerset gorging himself on free veggie food, but unfortunately missed out on the top prize. Better try harder Hamster!
Filed under: general
Firstly, I’d like to thank you all for your efforts to date this season. We seem to be running well off the pitch; all we need now is some positive results on it!
However, there are a couple of points to be made. We still do not have a cleaner. There is no fairy that comes in and tidies the place. Thanks to all those that are imitating the fairy and tidying up. Please make every effort to ensure that the clubhouse is left tidy and fit for use by the next group. Also, please continue to recycle as much as possible. This includes taking away the green boxes for recycling. Our recycling initiatives have been recognised and the club is set to receive some very good publicity. Please keep recycling. In a similar vein, please consider whether it is necessary to put all the lights on, particularly on those rare occasions that the sun is out. You wouldn’t do it at home, so why do it at the club. It will lower the cost of electricity (That’s the profit in my company!) and help the environment.
Over the last few weeks we have hosted some very popular and high profile events, all of which have been very well received.
Phil Gawman was delighted that we managed to get a match played for him and his business partner. This was great for stakeholder management and keeping Turners onside for sponsoring the colts. It was also a very profitable event for the club.
The schools competition was well organised and well received, despite the weather. Congratulations to all those that helped make this day a success. The press coverage was good too. Indeed our press coverage has been very good throughout the season. Keep those reports going. It always reflects well that reports are in place even when we are not winning.
Colts and Ladies reports for the website would be welcomed.
Earlier in the year we had the 25 not out day. The turn out here was encouraging and it was a thoroughly enjoyable day.
Last Friday, we had 35 people in clubhouse for a quiz. Thanks to Hammy for running this and getting most of the questions right!
Looking forward, we are entering the friendly season. Please make every effort to play some matches home and away. This will make the Team sec job easier and the cricket more enjoyable. Get those names in the book.
On 29th July, Bob will be running a horse racing night. This is intended to be a family event, so please spread the word around and make every effort to support this new social activity.
On 31st July, we are honoured to be hosting the semi final of the Corinthian cup. Offers of help to host this event would be appreciated. The final is at Tavistock later in the day, so it should be a short shift.
In August, there will be another quiz night. Date to be confirmed.
On 11th September, we have once again been asked to host a colts cup final. Again we need helpers for this event.
Details of presentation night will be discussed at the next committee meeting.
Well done and thank you all for the commitment to date. Let’s keep it up until the end of the season.
Thank you
Filed under: general
Congratulations to all those involved in the Cup Final – We have a pot to polish!
Third time lucky! Weather permitting the final will now be played this Thursday 29th July.
Congratulations to the TEL A side for reaching the cup final after beating Okehampton A despite only having 9 players.
The final will be played on 22nd July at 6pm at Calstock. Opponents now confirmed as Lifton.
Please make the effort to support the team.
NB There will not be any nets that night as there is a hiring at Whitchurch. Nets on Wednesday this week.
Writing a tour report is a new one on me so…………..where shall I start? I know, I’ll start at the end.
At the time of penning this piece it’s been six weeks since we departed from T&T.The tan is fading, alas the sore knee persists but the memories will last forever.
My overriding memories are, in no particular order, the heat, the camaraderie of the tour party, the heat, our fantastic hosts, the heat, the leatherback turtles, the heat, playing cricket under floodlights, the heat, a fabulous day at the Queens Park Oval (QPO), the heat, the dolphins, the heat, cocktail receptions on consecutive nights at the President of T&T’s house & the British High Commissioners house & finally, you’ve probably guessed it – the heat.
The first few days the temperature was 36degrees (I know because I saw the forecast on the TV over there). Why was I watching TV you might well ask? In response & in my best Jethro voice – well, what happened was – our esteemed Manager & Captain (M&C) had an early morning TV slot so it would have been rude not struggle out of bed & turn the TV on. In fact that reminds me that our esteemed M&C had numerous TV/radio/newspaper interviews where they steadfastly reinforced the MCC Spirit of Cricket message despite at times being asked some tricky questions. They were also lucky enough to be interviewed a few times by a certain Colin Croft, a delightful chap who was working for the BBC World Service I believe.
Throughout the tour we were looked after incredibly well, arguably being treated as minor celebrities, not that I have any idea what celebrity status is at any level ! Our perceived celebrity status was in evidence in various guises:- we were fast tracked through immigration via the Diplomats area, we met the T&T President at a cocktail reception at his official residence (& oh how my feet ached in that heat & those killer heels); we met the British High Commissioner to T&T again at a cocktail reception at his official residence ; we had ‘all area passes’ at the QPO ground on the day that we played a T20 game in the morning & the West Indies men played Zimbabwe in the afternoon. To top all of those happenings we were also granted free access into the Trini Posse stand at the QPO during said game. The Trini Posse stand could best be described as ‘the party stand’ & we watched part of the men’s match in true Caribbean style – what a contrast in atmosphere to that felt when watching cricket at Lords.
I guess I had better mention our cricket at some point in these ramblings !
If I begin by saying that the T&T national team were on a 2 week training camp based at the National Cricket Centre for the duration of our tour perhaps that might set the scene for the focus they had on their matches against ‘the MCC Ladies Club from England’.
We played the T&T national team on 7 occasions losing on each occasion. We were well beaten in a few of the games but also had them very worried in a few of the games. Our esteemed Captain spotted early doors that our hosts were not entirely comfortable facing spin bowling suffice to say they faced a lot of it by the time we departed.
Perhaps more important than the matches v the National team were the 4 coaching days where local schoolchildren learnt the basic skills of cricket in a hugely enjoyable & fun manner. In fact on some days their teachers (who double up as cricket coaches) were eagerly soaking up coaching tips as well.
This is only a brief insight into what was an amazing trip to an amazing part of the world with some amazing people.
Thank you MCC for arguably the most memorable 2 weeks of my life.
Anyway, how do I end this report? I know, I’ll end at the start.
Hopefully the T & T tour will be the start of many more funded Women’s tours where the MCC Spirit of Cricket message will help develop the game that we all enjoy so much.
Filed under: general
Congratulations to Lesley Smith, who has been selected to represent the Women’s MCC for the tour of Trinidad and Tobago in 2010. The tour last 2 weeks over the end of February and the beginning of March.
Yes, the runs have been totaled, the wickets tallied and the catches counted. See who was on top of their game in 2009 for the Wayfarers.
