THE COTSWOLD CLASSIC – STRATFORD-UPON-AVON NEWSLETTER No2

In this issue:  Better prices for the Carnival Packages

For the Love of the Games-Geoff MacLeod-Smith-Fingletoad Extrordinaire

Feature Host Club -the impressive and appealing Temple Grafton Cricket Club

Entries to date-numbers are climbing

Welcome to Dennis Amiss, former England Test player is our Carnival Patron

South Africans on Tour-England 2008

Looking after the Ladies-special plans for the important people

First Entries In for the World Vintage Cricket Carnival, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, August 2008

The 1st teams have reserved their spots at the 4th World Vintage Cricket Carnival- “The Cotswolds Classic”. To be played in and around beautiful Stratford-upon-Avon, there is mounting interest from teams and players from all parts of the cricket world.

In this newsletter you will read about teams who have entered, news of some very favourable price changes; about a feature host club; about our new and distinguished Carnival Patron; learn a bit about the Cotswold region; meet our "Love of the Game" personality; find out who is touring England next season, and see what our partners can do while we cricketers labour under the English sun on beautiful heritage cricket grounds.

Welcome to our June 2007 Newsletter and read on as we commence the countdown to the 2008 World Cricket Carnival in Stratford upon Avon…….

Yours in cricket

Peter McDermott
Vintage Cricket Office

10 Teams from 5 Countries Already

We have been delighted at the responses to the invitations to join the 2008 Carnival.

The early entries have come from:

Vancouver Island Vagabonds (Canada) who were first up
Tawa Turtles (Wellington, New Zealand)
University of Auckland Fingletoads Merlots (Auckland, New Zealand)
University of Auckland Fingletoads Chardonnays (Auckland, New Zealand)
Western Australia Masters (Perth, Australia)
Kingsley-Woodvale Kings (Perth, Australia)
Wheatons (Armidale, Australia)
Hollywood Golden Oldies (Los Angeles, USA)
Beyond Boundaries (Mumbai, India)
Troupys Troopers from all over but mostly Australia and New Zealand
Fingletoads Internationals also from all over but mostly USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and England.

We have plenty of room at the Stratford-upon-Avon Inns and we can take up to 40 visiting teams. So if you are thinking of joining the interesting group of teams already planning their visits to Stratford-upon-Avon and their pre and post tours of Europe and England. Check out the website www.vintagecricket.com and enter the 2008 Carnival which promises to be the best yet. Click here to download the Entry Form.

Don't forget entries received prior to 31st July 2007 qualify for Early Bird awards and also go into the draw for special Early Bird prizes.

Teams Coming to Stratford-upon-Avon – Meet the Fingletoads Internationals

The Fingletoads Internationals are a group of players from various parts of the world who came together for the 1st Vintage Cricket Carnival in Adelaide in 2003 and will be making their 4th appearance at Vintage Cricket in Stratford-upon-Avon. To be captained for the 3rd time by ex New Zealand Test Captain, Geoff Howarth who was with them in Perth and Barbados, the Internationals draw their players from Canada, USA, England, Australia and New Zealand. Manager of the team is intrepid cricketing traveller, Tony Bateman whose delightful wife Sandy is by far the best scorer ever to grace a Vintage Cricket score sheet.

The Fingletoads Internationals are building a reputation as one win wonders having managed to achieve an average of 1 win per Carnival although there have been a few near misses along the way.

The derivation of the team name has been of interest to a good number of followers of Vintage Cricket. The Fingletoads is the name of “Old Boys” teams of rugby players and cricketers at the respective Auckland University Rugby and Cricket Clubs in New Zealand. The Internationals are players who have experience of the original Fingletoads having at various times played for or against them.

A Fingletoad is an invention of the slightly unusual mind of John Lennon who used the term in his book "In His Own Write" published in 1964. Written at an interesting time in his life, a Fingletoad is interpreted to be a “Ambassadorial Cavalier”. Later the name Fingletoad was usurped by a young Bohemian American music group called Fingletoad, Strange and Siho who were no doubt unaware that the Fingletoads Rugby and Cricket teams were re-writing the ethics of their respective sports in the veterans grades in Auckland, New Zealand. Incidentally the band made two LP's in their brief career and we understand that less than 100 copies of each were sold-serve them right for purloining the name!

The true Fingletoads will be in Stratford-upon-Avon in force with the Merlots who are coming via Rome, Paris and Brussels; the Chardonnays who are coming via San Francisco and the Internationals who will be making some great pre-Carnival stops in the south of England.

Sandy Bateman keeping the score in Perth 2005 and the Internationals line up.

Welcome to and from our Carnival Patron:

Vintage Cricket has been fortunate to have had a number of wonderful and supportive Carnival Patrons-Greg Chappell in Adelaide; Barry Richards in Perth; Sir Clyde Walcott in Barbados and now we are honoured that former England batsman, Dennis Amiss has agreed to be Carnival Patron for the Stratford-upon-Avon Cricket Carnival.

"I am honoured to be chosen as the Patron of the World Vintage Cricket Carnival which takes place in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2008. The ground at Swans Nest Lane is a unique and very beautiful setting in the heart of Warwickshire countryside and has recently been the venue for Warwickshire first class cricket matches.

Vintage Cricket encapsulates all that is good about this great game of ours and long may it continue to grow and prosper. Having only recently retired as Chief Executive of Warwickshire County Cricket Club I am still very closely involved with cricket at both domestic and international level and am well placed to view the game as a whole. So the development of Vintage Cricket is just another example of how the future of cricket globally is in safe and secure hands. I would commend the Vintage Cricket Carnival wholeheartedly to cricketers everywhere."

Dennis L Amiss MBE, Patron, Vintage Cricket Carnival, Stratford-upon-Avon, August 2008.

Dennis Amiss played for Warwickshire from 1960 to 1987 and for England from 1966 to 1977.
He averaged 46.30 in tests and of his 11 test centuries, 8 of them were in excess of 150 with the highest being 262* against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. Overall in first class matches he scored 43423 runs at an average of 42.86 including 102 centuries. Scoring over 100 1st class centuries is extremely rare and places Dennis in a very exclusive batting club.

"Two of my most poignant cricket memories are from 1976 and both feature Dennis. I was at Lord’s and witnessed Dennis get 9 and 11 for the MCC. He was hit by Michael Holding (I think). It was a very sombre moment and we wondered if we had seen the last of him at international level. A couple of months later I was emotional as everyone else at The Oval when Dennis got 203 against the same team-this in a series where England had a different opening pair in every test!"

- Roger Carroll, Auckland University Fingletoad

New Prices for the Vintage Cricket Carnival

The Carnival Ground Operators have come up with some great new price options in response to a number of requests from teams that will be bringing significant numbers of supporters and in some cases will be accompanied by children.

So take a look at the prices below which are current and operative for the Carnival.

All prices are in GBP, per person and on the basis of share twin or double accommodation except as shown above for people under the age of 18.

Package Inclusions:

FULL PACKAGE

1. Six nights half twin/double room accommodation in the hotel of choice.
2. A cooked English breakfast each morning.
3. Return coach transfers to three cricket matches.
4. Welcome Party to include 3 hours of beer, wine and soft drinks; finger food and entertainment.
5. Three cricket matches including tea and coffee upon arrival and tea between innings.
6. Final Dinner - 8 to 12.30 am. To include a sit down three course buffet meal plus coffee/tea, wine, beer and juices, two bands, large screens and speeches.
7. All invites to the functions, a Survival Guide and ID badge.
8. A high quality souvenir polo shirt.
9. Access to the special Vintage Cricket Carnival Themed Hospitality Bar at a centrally located hotel.
10. Three fixtures hosted by top clubs with official umpires, balls and stumps supplied.
11. One weeks free membership to Stratford-upon-Avon Cricket Club.
12. One team photograph per player.
13. Stratford-upon-Avon handbook, discount vouchers and local information.
14. One souvenir Carnival publication to be circulated after your return home.

LIMITED PACKAGE

1. Six nights accommodation in double or share twin accommodation in the hotel of choice.
2. A cooked English breakfast each morning.
3. Return coach transfers to three cricket matches.
4. Teas at the cricket matches.

The Limited Package does not include the Carnival Opening Function (subject to availability, tickets can be purchased closer to the time of the Carnival); Closing Dinner (subject to availability, tickets can be purchased closer to the time of the Carnival and upon arrival at Stratford-upon-Avon); Souvenir Pack; Souvenir Shirt and other cricket related costs.

Package Exclusions:

Carnival packages do not include:

• Airfares
• Transfers to and from airports
• Gratuities
• Team and personal insurance

On line entry to the Carnival is available on our website at www.vintagecricket.com or by faxing or emailing and requesting entry from Facsimile Number: ( 64) 9 425 6956 or per email to mail@vintagecricket.com

South Africans on Tour in England

Edgbaston on opening day of the season 2006-home of the Warwickshire County Cricket Club and nearest international ground to Stratford-upon-Avon (approximately 30 minutes drive). 

The international cricket scene in the second half of the England Cricket season in 2008 will feature the South Africans. Always popular and competitive the South African team itinerary is yet to be finalised but it is sure to include matches in the vicinity of Stratford-upon-Avon. We will be keeping a close watch on the international program and the release of the full South African itinerary.

Graham Smith and his team will be anxious to confirm their status as one of the leading international sides in both Test Matches and One Day Internationals. The 2008 tour is their chance to confirm they are the side best equipped to challenge Australia for the position of top dog of world cricket.

Teams visiting the Stratford-upon-Avon Vintage Cricket Carnival will no doubt have the chance to catch some South African cricket in England and to enjoy what is likely to be a very competitive series.

Looking after the Ladies

Vintage Cricket is conscious that a trip to a Vintage Cricket Carnival at an attractive destination is not just for the blokes - in fact, it is the ladies who often make the final decision as to whether their man or men are going to be allowed to play their "silly little game" and anyway why shouldn’t they have as much fun us.

A growing number of ladies are joining the new WalCaps Club (not quite akin to the Black Caps). The WalCaps stands for the following motto.."Watch as little cricket as possible".

To accommodate the wishes of the WalCaps, the organisers are in the process of arranging a number of optional alternative activities including tours, activities, special visits and lunches. Each newsletter will feature a tour or activity that may attract the WalCaps membership and those partners, supporters and wives who feel like a day away from the game.

Our first featured tour is a North Cotswolds Gardens Tour. There are a wide range of gardens in the Cotswolds including rose gardens, herb and kitchen gardens, private gardens, landscape gardens and National Trust properties. Visitors taking this tour will find a rich variety of gardens and parkland full of rare shrubs, herbaceous borders, topiary as well as those old fashioned cottage garden favourites. A relaxing full day tour including lunch at one of the Cotswolds attractive pubs, full details will be released closer to the commencement of the Carnival.

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.

... A Midsummer Night's Dream

For the Love of the Game

Our worthy recipient of the Love of the Game Award for this newsletter is Geoff MacLeod-Smith of the Auckland University Fingletoads. Often known as Hyphen (it is easier to remember and say than MacLeod-Smith), Geoff has been a regular to the Vintage Cricket Carnivals having played in Adelaide, Perth and Barbados.

Geoff, a displaced Englishman, for a number of reasons (principally marriage) has made his home in Auckland, New Zealand. Geoff learned his cricket at school in England at Stowe and at Limpsfield Cricket Club in Surrey.  Upon eventually graduating, he played for the Stowe Templars, some games for Kent Club and Ground, the MCC and other Kent wandering teams before moving to Reno, Nevada.

Upon arrival in the Land of the Free, Geoff joined another MCC- (near San Francisco) and drove 220 miles from Reno every weekend to get a game. Geoff worked hard to form the Colorado Cricket Association in Denver before being overwhelmed with affection and emigrating to New Zealand with his Kiwi wife, Sandie and joined University of Auckland Cricket Club.

In a career that has featured strange cricket in some strange places, Geoff played for a California Cricket team in his only international match against a Tonga X1 at Nukualofa in front of about 2,000 spectators close to the Kings Palace. The game came to a halt when the King of Tonga drove by complete with motorcade as both teams lined up to pay their respects.

On a tour with Northern California, Geoff played at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club during a Horse Racing Meet which about 10,000 Thais had come to support. The game had to stop every time the horses came into the home straight not only because of the huge crowd noise but also as a number of the players had money at stake too!

Geoff's Denver club was the first to play on a mat in the region instead of extremely dangerous grass wickets. The club procured half a mat from Marin Cricket Club who were upgrading theirs. The bowlers only bowled from one end-easier than moving the mat. Geoff managed to field cover point for entire games without having to move-a habit that some people would suggest he has not shaken as he still manages not to move in the field!

Geoff is a well-respected and fantastic tourist with Fingletoads Cricket teams. The trip to Stratford-upon-Avon is a bit of a home coming for Geoff and his team mates are fervently hoping he will not start to reminisce about his youthful exploits on beautiful English cricket fields when all they will be doing is trying to enjoy themselves.

Feature Host Club

One of the many fine clubs that will be hosting the Vintage Cricket Carnival is the Temple Grafton Cricket Club in the unique setting of Grafton Court, Temple Grafton.

The Court was once a casino where the former England legend Freddie Trueman was a regular at the tables.

The Club was founded in 1879 and is now a member of the Cotswolds League where their top team currently plays 3rd Division.

Temple Grafton is a middle England oasis, located between the villages of Ardens Grafton and Binton and  has many distinguishing features, the cricket club and the Blue Boar pub.

The club has two pavilions-the changing rooms are to the left and the main pavilion to the right.
Temple Grafton is a classic English village club with a history of hosting visiting teams and is one of the feature host clubs for the 2008 World Vintage Cricket Carnival.

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