Blackheath Cricket Club

Newsletter

DECEMBER 2013

The new generation steps up The Club Chairman, Nick Harrison, looks back on a great year and forward to exciting developments in 2014 …

Please come to the club’s ...

CHRISTMAS PARTY

Saturday 21st December from 7.30pm at the Tangley Pavilion

All members (including older colts) welcome!

RSVP to Alexandra Jones alexjones65 @btinternet.com

It has been a big year for the club, on and off the pitch. For our league teams, this was supposed to be no more than a year to consolidate, with both the 1st and 2nd XIs facing the challenge of playing in higher divisions, rd and our 3 XI in their very first season. In the event, as the team captains explain in their reports, we did rather better than that. Although in the

end the 1st XI could not sustain their tremendous early season form when they threatened to take Division 1 by storm, we can look back on 2013 as the year when we announced ourselves as one of the top clubs in the Keep in touch with all the I’Anson Cup competitions. latest club news A large part of the credit for our success goes to Paul Nash, who as 1st X1 and register for the new season captain has stage-managed the introduction of a new generation of young by visiting the players from our junior section into our senior teams, whilst also attracting club website: valuable new talent to the club from elsewhere. As he explains below, Paul www.blackheath is stepping down as captain next season, though he will continue to play cc.co.uk and chair the selection committee. It speaks volumes about how far the club has come in recent years that

the torch can now be passed to one of the stars of that new generation, 2014 Subs st Pete Melhuish. Pete, like new 1 XI vice-captain Harry Giles, has been Frequent: £260 playing at Blackheath since he was barely able to hold a bat – but in the (no match fee) last couple of seasons has become a lynchpin of the team. Harry will Standard: £100 remain our Sunday captain in 2014, and will also be leading our team into (£10 match fee) the National Village Cup competition for the first time in many years. Occasional: £45 (£15 match fee) 2013 was a memorable year in other ways too, with a match against the Surrey Masters (see page 6) and a superb cricket week – although we were U21 frequent: sadly unable to repeat recent victories over the MCC. Our junior section £90 (no match fee) also continued to prosper, with over 200 colts and no fewer than 12 junior league teams. In a major highlight of the year, our junior section even U21 standard: £45 (£5 match provided the guard of honour for the England and Australia teams on the fee) first day of the Oval test match (see page 7). Juniors: Aside from all this, 2013 of course saw the completion and opening of the U9-U15: £90 Tangley Pavilion. Much has already been said about this and I won’t add to U7-U8: £60 it, save to say that the best testament to the club’s achievement is the reaction of the teams who visited us during the summer, many of whom commented that it was by far the best village cricket pavilion they had ever 2014 Committee seen. A big debt of thanks is owed to all involved in making it happen, Members whether their contribution was financial, or as a volunteer on one of our Chairman: many working parties, or in helping out with the Big No-Ball and Picnic & Nick Harrison Pimms evenings at Chilworth Manor, or in any other way. Secretary: With a facility like this one, running the club involves far more than it used Simon Jones to even a few years ago, but it also enables us do new things and to Treasurer: improve various aspects of what we did before. Thanks in no small part to Richard Brocksom our new bar manager, Terry Marter the success of the bar in 2013 Membership Sec: exceeded our most optimistic predictions, and we were also able to expand Graham Webb our catering operation. The plan is to take this further next year, offering hot food every Saturday night at least between May and August, as well as Ground Manager: our regular Friday barbecues and coffee and bacon rolls on Sunday Terry Brockman mornings, and we are now looking for a part time catering manager to help Fixture Sec: us with this. Tim Chambers The new pavilion also enables us to run more social activities, and the Senior Cricket: club’s new social sub-committee has already put together a program of Paul Nash events between now and the start of the new season (see the back page). Junior Cricket: The first of these is the club’s Christmas Party on Saturday 21st December, Nick Harrison to which all members – including older colts – are warmly invited. See you Welfare Officer: there! Sharon Thompson

Publicity Officer: Bar Manager Terry Marter made a huge Keith Poynter difference to the success of the bar this Other Committee year, as turnover more than doubled members: from 2012. Terry managed all year to Ed Allen strike the perfect balance between Harry Giles making everyone feel welcome and Simon Mansell keeping one or two of our slightly Pete Melhuish wilder members under control! Mark O’Brien

Chris Poil LEAGUE SEASON REPORTS Winter nets start Sunday 1st X1 – Paul Nash 12 January at Cranleigh 2013 started with much anticipation, with 3 new recruits (Andy Stedman and brothers Tom and Ed Smith) joining us from league rivals Frensham, Please note and Australian overseas player Matt Hart making the long journey north. that Sunday

winter nets Early season results did not disappoint. Wins over Grayshott, Elstead, will be starting Tilford and Harting in the first 4 matches saw us topping the league at the at the slightly beginning of June. earlier time of Confidence was high going into the eagerly awaited match with Frensham, 9.30am this who were very keen to prove a point. After losing the toss and being year. inserted on a green top we managed to put together a competitive total of Because of 178, which looked more than enough when the opposition collapsed to 60 another for 6 after some hostile bowling from speedster Ed Smith. But what booking, some happened next turned the match on its head. An unbroken stand of 119 for weeks we will the 7th wicket saw Frensham romp home to a victory that was no doubt have to finish at 10.30am, celebrated long into the night.

whereas other After this disappointment results were much harder to come by. weeks we can Nevertheless at the end of the season a comfortable 4th place was continue until achieved, which overall was a job well done. A major plus point was the 11.30am. See successful integration of the new recruits who added much in the way of the website for further details. competitive spirit, ability and experience to the team. Equally pleasing were the performances of the youngsters, who showed that they will be a major force for many years to come. Captains and vice-captains for 2014 will bring further changes as I have decided to step down as 1st X1 2014 captain after 3 years of my second spell in charge. The reins will be handed over to Pete Melhuish, with Harry Giles as his vice captain. The club’s st 1 XI Captain: future lies in our youth and these two talented young cricketers have been Pete Melhuish charged with continuing the transition from the old guard. 1st XI VC: Harry Giles My thanks to all of the team for their effort and support, especially to vice captain Dallas McDermott who is also standing down. Thanks also to 2nd XI Captain: Ed Allen Robbie Burns for being the best scorer in the I’Anson – and of course to 2nd XI VCs: Billie for doing the teas! Ben Hodges James Turner 3rd XI Captain: Next season’s 1st XI skipper Pete Melhuish Simon Mansell has been playing at Blackheath since he was 3rd XI VC: 8 years old. He has made the 1st XI No.3 TBC spot his own in recent seasons, and also Sunday Captain: played for the I’Anson representative side Harry Giles this year. With older brother Tom also a Sunday VCs: regular and younger brother William one of Ben Hodges the up and coming stars of the junior section, Tim Chambers it looks like the Melhuish family will be having Nick Harrison a big impact at the club over the next few Chris Poil years.

2013 SEASON 2nd XI – Ed Allen STATS After back-to-back promotions for the 2nd XI in 2011 and 2012, the All teams objective for the 2013 season was to finish in the top half of Division 3, which the side did finishing fifth having played 20, won 7, lost 3 and drawn Most runs: 10. Harry Giles: 1110 Highest score: With 42 players taking to the field for the side, there were many notable Josh Milton: 133 performances, both from experienced veterans of many campaigns and from colts breaking through into adult cricket. Best batting average: Over the course of the season, the leading batsmen where the imperious Tom Melhuish: 56.1 Josh Milton, elegant Fred Martin-Dye, indefatigable Connor O’Brien, Most wickets: explosive James Turner, evergreen Bobby Lowe and the gutsy Colin Matt Hart: 64 Parrott. With ball, the team was heavily reliant on the long-term opening partnership of Ben Hodges and Edward Allen supported by Toby Webb and Best bowling: Danny Harrison: 6-16 Eliot Cozens (who impressed with both bat and ball). Best bowling Next season we’ll be aiming for promotion but, more importantly, average: developing a team blending youth and experience which enables players to Graham Webb: 10.2 play to the best of their ability whilst enjoying representing Blackheath. Most catches: Harry Giles: 39 3rd XI – Simon Mansell st 1 XI What a great first season for the 3rd XI! It may have been a struggle Most runs: some weeks to get out a team but we found 11 players every week and all Pete Melhuish: 429 who played put in some fine displays and helped the team in one way or Most wickets: another to finish 3rd in Division 6 – pretty good going for a newly Andy Stedman: 28 established team.

nd Throughout the season there were some strong batting and bowling 2 XI performances from both the older members of the team and the up and Most runs: coming colts who are going to be key players in the coming years. It was Bobby Lowe: 382 good to see the colts grow throughout the year. Although for most of them Most wickets: it was their first season of adult cricket by the end of the season you would Ed Allen: 41 have never have known it, each of them being able to hold their own.

rd It was also encouraging to see some of the older players stepping up to the 3 XI mark, scoring some runs and supporting the team. Well done especially to Most runs: Tom Harfleet for winning 'Come tea with me' for the 2013 season! Tom Carmichael: Next season the 3rd XI will be aiming for promotion and a more consistent 267 team of core players. Hopefully the colts enjoyed the team spirit this year Most wickets: and will continue to play and develop through the coming seasons with the Simon Mansell: 28 support of some of the 'oldies'. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing everyone at winter nets in January for some pre season training. Heathens Most runs: Harry Giles: 711 Most wickets: Matt Hart: 23

2013 Awards SUNDAY CRICKET The annual awards dinner was held on 28 Heathens and Development XI September and saw the return of stage hypnotist Chris James. Further details of the evening are on the website – these were the senior award winners ... Longacre Cup: Jamie Bloomfield Alan Ward Tankard: Pete Melhuish Humphry Cup: Danny Harrison Cope Cup: Josh Milton President’s Cup: Sue Brocksom John Macdonald Cup: Ben Hodges These days we play a huge range of different opponents at the heath on Roy Lonsdale Trophy: Sundays, ranging from extremely friendly matches against local opposition Harry Giles to high quality games against excellent touring sides. This year we had Robinson Cup: both the Surrey Masters (see next page) and a team from the Singapore Ed Allen Cricket Club (above) amongst our visitors, but we also had many enjoyable Alan Hall Cup: contests against long-standing opponents. Pete Melhuish As usual, Sunday skipper Harry Giles starred with the bat, knocking up an Chairman’s Cup: Harry Giles amazing 711 runs on Sundays alone, with Josh Milton, Matt Hart and Ronny Harrison also scoring heavily. On the bowling side, the wickets were Francis Hayes Cup: Matt Hart generally shared around. A particular highlight was Tim Chambers’ now customary five-for against Sunbury Squires, who were as bemused as ever The Monty: by his inimitable leg-breaks. Tom Harfleet The Development XI also had some great matches, including what was possibly the game of the season. Set 212 to win at Bramley, the team was taken to the brink of victory by U14 Harry Poil, until he was ninth out in the Senior Colts final over with 3 still needed from the last 2 balls and all results possible. Awards 2013 Enter as number 11 his brother Jamie, who was promptly dropped by the keeper off his first ball, before hitting the last ball of the match for four! U15s Player of the Year: Elliot Next year, aside from our usual fixtures, we will also be re-entering the Cozens National Village Cup, which will require a bit of flexibility in our Sunday fixture list. We are also hoping to arrange a celebrity match against a U14s Player of the Year: William team including several former Test cricketers – more details to follow. Melhuish There will however still be lots of opportunities for players of all standards and all ages …

Surrey Masters 23

June 2013: Surrey Masters visit Blackheath

David Ward (Capt) After negotiating tricky fixtures against Wonersh and then Shamley Green, on 23 June the Heathens faced a slightly different challenge as they took on a Scott Newman Surrey Masters XI at Blackheath. This is a team of Surrey players from the Zahid Sadiq recent past including a couple who played Test cricket for England, and anybody who has followed Surrey cricket over the last 20 years will recognise Chris Murtagh most, if not all, of the names in their team for this match (see opposite). The Ali Brown Surrey Masters set a challenging 178 in their 20 overs. In reply the Heathens got to within 20 runs reaching 158 for 7, with a fine 50 from Alan Cope. Below Chris Bullen Ali Brown is pictured facing Rob Parrott. Keith Medlycott Martin Bicknelll Tony Murphy Neil Kendrick Joey Benjamin

Neil Saker

Young Australian Matt Hart from Prospect District CC in Adelaide was a great

asset to the club this year, both opening the bowling for the JUNIOR CRICKET 1st XI and helping out with The Blackheath junior section is going from strength to strength at the our junior moment. We put out no fewer than 12 teams between U9 and U15 in section, where 2013 with all sides finishing at least mid-table. The stand-out squad of this he was a very year was probably the U15s, who in addition to a very strong season in the popular coach WSYCL reached the final of the Bowey Cup, where they eventually lost out for the U10 squad. Matt also to Aldershot. The U10s A team also had a great year, notching up a series made a big of thumping victories, with their only defeats being by the narrowest of contribution to margins. the success of the bar! We are Aside from matches and of course our regular Friday night training optimistic that sessions, the junior section runs an increasing number of other activities we will be and events. This year, these included another U14s tour to Devon, a welcoming him back in 2014. highly successful junior cricket week run by a group of the club’s young players, and a couple of trips to Surrey matches at the Oval. However the highlight of the season for 10 lucky juniors drawn at random Junior Awards from the U9-U11 squads was to provide the guard of honour for the 2013 England and Australia teams on the first day of the final Test at the Oval (pictured below). The boys also provided a Kwik cricket demonstration on Medals or awards the outfield during the lunch interval and over the course of the day for all age groups managed to gather between them an extremely impressive collection of between U7 and U13 were autographs! presented by Club President Peter A few changes to note for 2014. First, the league season has been Herbert at the extended by the WSYCL until the end of July. This means that there will be junior section end a couple of extra Friday evening practice sessions. Second, for the first of season awards time the U8s squad will be playing regular matches, as a new friendly on Friday 5 July. league for that age group is being started. Third, we are hoping to start a Players of the girls’ section, at least for the younger age groups – further details to Year for the league age follow. groups were as follows: Registration for 2014 will be opening shortly, and this year will be done entirely online, thanks to a new system designed for us by membership U13s: secretary Graham Webb. Subs will be £10 higher for all age groups this Toby Pakenham year, however this simply reflects the longer junior season – we think we are still excellent value! As in the past couple of years, there will be a U12s: Ben Church priority window for existing members to register, after which any available places will be offered to those on our waiting lists.

U11s: Finally, winter coaching will be starting on Sunday 12 January, with the William Cluff U9s-U13s all training at Duke of Kent School and the older squads at U10s: Cranleigh. As for the last few years, the younger age groups will all be Ben Stefanik coached by our main club professional, Louis Lynch. Further information on timings will be circulated when registration opens. U9s: Joe Dewar

2014 Squad Managers U15s: Chris Poil U14s: David Raderecht U13s: Andrew Burgess U12s: James Turner U11s: Nick Harrison U10s: Max Gibbs U9s: Chris Poil U8s: Mark O’Brien U7s: TBC

Head coach: Chris Poil Colts Membership Sec: Sue Brocksom

Hiring the What’s coming up … Pavilion The club does not go to sleep in the winter months and there is a series of The Tangley Pavilion is social events between now and the start of the new season. Kicking off available to hire with the Christmas Party on 21st December, the Pavilion will also be by club members hosting a club Quiz & Curry Night on 1st March and a Race Night on 12th for appropriate April. private functions on a small The club has also joined up with the Blackheath Village Hall Management number of Committee to put on a traditional Burns Night Dinner and Dance in the occasions a year. village hall on Saturday 18th January – tickets for this cost just £15 Use of the bar and catering can (contact Alexandra Jones at [email protected]). also be provided To make it easier to see exactly what is happening when, the club website if desired. (www.blackheathcc.co.uk) has now been updated so that the “what’s Contact Simon Jones (01483 coming up” list on the home page now gives you the option to view just st 892860) for certain types of event, such as “social events” or “1 XI matches”. The link further to the “Full Events Page” lists all events in more detail. information.

A picture for Christmas? The club has acquired a selection of superb photos of the ground, taken this summer by professional photographer Stuart Tree. One of Some dates for these is shown below: go to www.blackheathcc.co.uk/gifts.htm to your diary … see the full selection. Framed prints of these can now be ordered by contacting Simon Jones at [email protected]. Prices vary Sat 21 Dec: depending on size and frame chosen. Orders placed in the next few Christmas Party days should still be in time for Christmas. Sun 12 Jan: Winter nets start Sat 18 Jan: Burns Night dinner and dance in the Village Hall Sat 1 March: Quiz & Curry Night Sat 12 April: Race Night Sun 20 April: First Sunday fixture Fri 25 April: First Friday evening junior practice night Sat 26 April: First I’Anson league fixtures