Giles Foster Scholarship

2015 BRINGS AN EPIC GOOD START TO THE GILES FOSTER SCHOLARSHIP Even the eternally optimistic disposition and positive attitude of Epic Good Foundation Co-Founder Stuart Giles may have been tested if you had suggested to him that the inaugural year of the Giles Foster Scholarship (GFS) launched by the Foundation would have resulted in: • A title winning season for host club BUT, the reality is that the 2015 GFS year Great Preston (the aptly named has delivered all of the above and so Victory Cup in Division One of the much more. Central Yorkshire League) Things got underway on field in fine • A record breaking 1093 runs at an style across late April and early May with average of 109 in League and Cup Matt getting his UK season off to a flyer Ties for the inaugural GFS Recipient as his first three innings brought exactly Matt King (rising to an even more 300 runs for a single dismissal. He incredible average of 128.75 in displayed a very handy second string to League Games only) his bow with the ball snaring 14 wickets at an average of 23 before a minor injury • A Boy’s Own Annual style century caused him to retire from the Great by Matt in the Top of Table League Preston attack approaching the halfway Clash on the weekend of the GFS point in the season (although he had Commemorative Launch Match done enough by then to eventually add • A full house basking in glorious the competition All Rounder of the Year English sunshine (and record- trophy to his bulging end of season list breaking bar takings) at Berry Lane, of personal accolades). Great Preston to see a star studded Matt was fortunate to live and work GFS Invitational XI with 7 capped with club stalwart and 2nd XI Captain, Ringwood Cricket players take on a Richard “Tiny” White and the cricket Great Preston XI, and gods smiled accordingly upon Tiny, • Australia raising themselves off handing him the prized scalp of Stuart the canvas at The Oval to claim a Giles (himself a 1000 run, title winning stirring Ashes Test win whilst the overseas player for Great Preston “back London leg of the GFS Corporate in the day”) in the GFS Commemorative & Personal Development Program Launch Match in August. scaled even greater heights in the The GFS Game was a wonderful stands overlooking the ground. celebration of the role cricket can play bringing communities, both near and far together. Play got underway around 1pm Bradbrook. The ball was most definitely It was only the combination of Foster with Matt strolling to the crease with his missing both off and leg stumps but rupturing his Achilles tendon and the brother, Victorian First Class Cricketer quite possibly not middle. steady loss of wickets that halted the run and triple Ringwood Premiership Player chase and saw Great Preston eventually Michael Foster’s retirement after a David King for company. By 1.30pm dismissed for 176 in the long twilight typically hard hitting innings showed the crowd had swelled considerably with a couple of their allotted overs why he is the only Great Preston player as word swept through the village that remaining. Great Preston legend Gary to have gone on to first class honours Matt’s brother David was unleashing an Richardson showed courage under fire in the English system and brought 10 innings of poised yet powerful batting when Fotia was brought back in to the year old Sam Giles to the crease to the equal of any Berry Lane may have attack to try and wrap things up and get bat with his Dad for the first time in a witnessed. Meanwhile, some relative the GFS boys in the bar, which won him a game. Sam got off the mark in far more hasty re-assessments by those who had whole new generation of admirers. convincing fashion than his father before elected to park directly behind the wicket well-travelled GFS Invitational, Paul Smith Sam Giles was exceptionally unlucky were needed. of the Warwickshire Imps & Stoneleigh not to claim his first English wicket with By the time David departed at the canny CC, rounded the innings off with some a controlled display of economical leg bowling hands of David Flint, the GFS effective, if slightly unconventional spin, not helped by his father making Invitational XI were approaching 100 off stroke play. a meal of a relatively straight forward the opening 10 overs and this platform chance at mid-wicket off his 10 year old A break for afternoon tea involved a allowed the GFS Invitational XI to reach opposite number, Ben Foster. sumptuous spread, some strategically an imposing 3/302 (plus numerous encouraged pints for the two Australian Adrian Thomas delivered a mesmerising retirements) by the time afternoon tea Under 19 Representative GFS Opening spell honouring his brief visit to was called. After a typically scratchy Bowlers, Ringwood’s Matt Fotia and Ringwood. It should also be noted on beginning former GPCC Professional Michael Topp and a fundraising raffle the accompanying scorecard that David and Ringwood 1st XI player Jason Evans drawn by Epic Good Foundation King’s figures of 2/32 probably flattered produced a cameo of epic proportions. Co-Founder, Cathie Reid. to deceive after the scorers failed to Many in the crowd with memories dating realise during the middle part of the back to Jason’s 1995 season at Great When play resumed all eyes were on the Great Preston innings he shared the Preston were heard to rue the fact that two quicks, and they didn’t disappoint bowling duties (and wickets) from the far they’d got him 20 years too early and he snaring early wickets, and overcoming end with St Kilda’s Josh Drummond. was just maturing into a real player now the generously provided pre-innings beer in his mid-40’s. to bowl with great pace to an aggressive Great Preston Chairman, Andy Clark gave field. Great Preston’s start was aided by a brief but heartfelt speech and presented Other highlights of the innings included Michael Foster - who with his competitive some fantastic memento’s recognising the appropriate partnership of Giles/ juices flowing elected to bat again for the the Epic Good Foundation support via Foster arriving at the crease together home side - and they managed to find the GFS. This was reciprocated by the following a dual retirement. It was themselves ahead of the required nine presentation of a Kippax Cricket bat nearly a short lived partnership though run an over mark throughout the opening signed by all seven capped Ringwood and some might suggest that it was his overs. match participants to be displayed in the “Patron” status that allowed Giles to Great Preston clubhouse. survive a first ball LBW appeal off the bowling of his former teammate Dave MATT KING FLANKED BY SAM AND STUART GFS INVITATIONAL INNINGS BATTING HOW OUT TOTAL M.KING RETIRED 62 D.KING C: I.NEWTON B: D.FLINT 46 J.EVANS C: A.CLARK B: D.BRADBROOK 35 J.DRUmmOND RETIRED 36 M.FOSTER RETIRED 41 STUART GILES C: D.RANASINGHE B: R.WHITE 14 SAM GILES RETIRED 2 P.SMITH NOT OUT 18 D.TOpp RETIRED 29 M.FOTIA NOT OUT 1 J.CONLON DNB TOTAL 302 BOWLER OVERS MAIDEN WICKETS RUNS ‘THE GILES FOSTER L.RUssELL 4 0 0 37 D.FLINT 5 0 1 49 SCHOLARSHIP A.SHARP 6 0 0 34 A.CLARK 5 0 0 52 SELECTION D.BRADBROOK 6 0 1 23 COMMITTEE ARE D.RANASINGHE 6 1 0 17 R.WHITE 5 1 1 29 DELIGHTED TO BE PROVIDING AN GPCC XI INNINGS OPPORTUNITY FOR A BATTING HOW OUT TOTAL YOUNG CRICKETER TO M.FOSTER B: M.FOTIA 27 C.WORmsTONE B: M.FOTIA 9 ENJOY SUCCESS AT J.MARSTON C: M.KING B: D.TOpp 14 R.MILNER C: M.KING 9 GREAT PRESTON IN D.BRADBROOK C: J.EVANS 49 2016.’ D.RICHARDSON C: J.CONLON B: D.KING 11 B.FOSTER RETIRED 8 L.RUssELL C: M.FOTIA 16 G.RICHARDSON NOT OUT 7 R.WHITE C: J.EVANS B: STU GILES 20 A.SHARP C: P.SMITH 5 TOTAL 176 BOWLER OVERS MAIDEN WICKETS RUNS M.FOTIA 6 0 3 35 M.TOpp 4 0 1 25 A.THOMAS 4 0 0 20 D.KING 7 0 2 32 SAM GILES 4 1 0 15 STUART GILES 4 0 1 22 J.EVANS 3 1 1 6 P.SMITH 3.1 0 1 17 The friendship and fellowship displayed on the field of play lasted long into the evening and it would be remiss not to at least mention the fact that Great Preston won the drinking competition. Their decision to run that outcome as their lead social media story on the match possibly speaks volumes of northern English priorities, and highlights the exceptionally hospitable nature of Yorkshire-folk. It’s fair to say everyone departed sometime after last drinks were called fully committed to ensuring the 2016 GFS match would be an equally significant event on the cricketing calendar. The following week saw the GFS caravan (or more accurately Virgin East Coast Train) head south to London for a series of events at or around the final Ashes Test. Matt as the GFS holder and the current Ringwood First XI players in the UK were all in attendance and performed admirably in the dual role hosting their own guests from their respective UK clubs, whilst networking with friends and supporters of the Epic Good Foundation.

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