The 4th World Vintage Cricket Carnival, the "Cotswold Classic"

Staged at various clubs in the vicinity of Stratford-upon-Avon. Classic is exactly what it turned out to be - an absolute classic on some beautiful cricket grounds in the Cotswolds region. 24 teams took part with players and teams coming from Ireland, Scotland, England, India, USA, Canada, Barbados, Australia and New Zealand. A range of welcoming host clubs willingly made their fields and club facilities available to teams and players with the only negative being persistent rain on the Wednesday causing the abandonment of all but one game.

Stratford-upon-Avon was a wonderful venue for the Carnival and the hotels used-the Holiday Inn, the Thistle and the Falcon were ideal for teams-centrally situated, close together and fully co-operative. The Carnival sponsors Cockspur Rum and NFU Mutual provided wonderful support and due to the generosity of NFU Mutual two Carnival news sheets were produced and distributed. Cockspur provided the bottles of their products which were the most popular Man of the Match Prizes we have had the pleasure to award as judged by the umpires. Cockspur’s support enabled the ever popular Vintage Cricket Ambassador, Joel Garner to break his busy schedule with a quick visit to Stratford-upon-Avon where he played a charity match and attended the Opening Function. Joel is strongly committed to Vintage Cricket and we are fortunate to have some one of his reputation and standing in cricket circles supporting us and attending Carnivals whenever he can.
 
World renowned past England Opener, Dennis Amiss was Patron of the Carnival and provided support for our efforts to stage a successful celebration of cricket in Warwickshire where he was for many years CEO of the Warwickshire County Cricket Club. Vintage Cricket Ambassador, Geoff Howarth captained the Cockspur Rum Dennis Amiss XI in the opening charity match and also capably captained the Fingletoads internationals and was again a welcome participant in the Carnival.
 
Vintage Cricket and the Carnival organisers were proud to be associated with two charities-The Sir Ian Botham Great British Walk against Childhood Leukaemia and The Lords Taverners. Donations were forwarded to both organisations at the conclusion of the Carnival Week.

The South London Association of Gentlemen and Temple Grafton Cricket Club arranged a new feature that worked a treat-”The Vintage Cricket Carnival Pub Night” at the Golden Cross in Arden’s Grafton. A great night out with good food, great drinks, fun entertainment and the real Vintage Cricket spirit was enjoyed by all who attended. The Vintage Cricket Carnival Pub Night will now be on all Carnival programs and will no doubt remain an integral part of the week’s celebrations.

We were pleased to have local club umpires stand in all the games and to thoroughly enjoy their experience of Vintage Cricket. A good number of them commented on how impressed they were with the manner in which the games were played-hard as the aging players could manage but in total friendship and good sportsmanship.
 
Michael Perkins of the Stratford-upon-Avon Cricket Club and his very able committee were responsible for much that was good about the Carnival-organising host clubs, teams, umpires and cricket gear. The Stratford-upon-Avon Cricket Club was despite inclement weather at times, an excellent and co-operative host club. The many clubs who made their facilities available and the Vintage Cricketers welcome  are well-appreciated and our thanks goes to them, their ground staff and members who worked so hard to ensure that cricket was able to be played despite uncooperative weather.
 
There were many positive responses to the Carnival with some high praise from well-travelled Golden Oldies and Vintage teams a number of whom rated it as the best Cricket Carnival yet. Teams enjoyed the relaxed ambience of the Warwickshire and Worcestershire cricket clubs and teams that were involved and the delightful cricket heritage clubs that were used. There was a strong endorsement for the announcement of Cape Town as the destination for the 2010 Carnival and a great reaction to the presentation from the smartly attired Western Province Cricket Club Chairmans XI who will be hosts for the 2010 World Vintage Cricket Carnival.

A Great Start to the Week:
The Sunday Opening Day of the Carnival saw a specially staged charity match take place at Stratford-upon-Avon Cricket Club. Despite indifferent weather a good crowd turned out to see the Cockspur Rum Dennis Amiss XI play a local Sunday club team, Avonside. The Dennis Amiss XI featured Vintage Cricket Carnival Ambassadors, Joel Garner and Geoff Howarth who were joined by ex New Zealand international, Vaughan Brown. Also in the team were ex Essex professional Brian Hardie and his brother ex Scotland international, Keith Hardie. The balance of the team was made up of members of various Vintage Cricket teams both visiting and local. The match was shortened as a result of a damp pitch surround and though there were good performances from Brian Hardie, Ricky Clarke and Alan Mann for the Dennis Amiss XI, they were unable to score sufficient runs to achieve a victory.

Prior to the game both teams met with Dennis Amiss and spent pleasant time discussing cricket with the distinguished players and guests who supported the fixture. Despite the effect of the weather, the match was a success, was well-publicised and provided a local focal point for the commencement of the Carnival.

Cockspur Rum Dennis Amiss XI:
Keith Hardie (Tartan Ton)           c. Perkins b. Paton         2
Brian Hardie (Tartan Ton)           c. May b. Perkins          28
Alan Donges (Wheatons)            b. Hollands                     0
Alan Mann (SLAGS)                  c. Duguid b. May          25
Mike Baish (Hollywood)             b. May                            2
Ray Kingsey (Hollywood)           c. Malone b. Perkins      0
Ricky Clarke (Barbados)             not out                          24
Kevin Pike (Wheatons)                run out                           2
David Moulson (Harvington)       run out                           1
Vaughan Brown (Internationals)  not out
Joel Garner (Barbados)                did not bat
Geoff Howarth (internationals)   did not bat
Extras                                                                                 4

Total for 8 wickets (25 overs)                                            88

                        O   M   R   W
J Paton            3    1   5    1
R Hollands       5    1  11   1
M Whitehouse  5    0  24  0
M Perkins         5    0  13  2
B May               3    1    8  2
K Black             2    0  10  0
B Graham        2    0   13  0    

Avonside Cricket XI:

W Guguid               c. B Hardie b. Moulson          31
M Glanfield             c. B Hardie b. Garner              5
J Rhodes                st. Carroll (sub) b. Moulson   26
M Malone                c. Donges b. Baish               14
B Graham               not out                                     6
K Black                   not out                                     0
DID NOT BAT: G May, J Paton, M Perkins, R Hollands, M Whitehouse
Extras                                                                     7                                                                                

Total for 4 wickets (23.3 overs)                             89
                           O   M   R   W                             
Joel Garner        4    2    5    1
Ricky Clarke       4    0   10   0
Vaughan Brown  3    0   10   0
Keith Hardie        3    0   19   0
David Moulson    3    0   14   2
Alan Donges       4    1   17   0
Mike Baish          2    0     4   1
Brian Hardie       0.3  0    3    0                                

RESULTS: We don’t normally print results but the manner in which score sheets were kept and returned to us plus a good number of enquiries has meant we have done a summary of the results that we have. We apologise if what you are looking for isn’t listed below but we can only do what we are given. The results are considered to be less important than the enjoyment of the game but for better or worse we have listed those results that we have received and even put in some performances that may or may not have been of note:

DAY ONE:    
Vancouver Island Vagabonds v Belbroughton Strollers at Kenilworth Cricket Club:
Belbroughton 215 for 6 (G Day 38 retired; P Masters 35 retired; M Hindley 35 retired; P Wheaton 2 for 38; D Harding 1 for 31; K Harris 1 for 22; M Skene 1 for 36)
Vagabonds 156 for 9 ( N Northeast 40 not out; Wides 38; J Lee 4 for 24; A McKenzie 1 for 11; D Doolittle 1 for 19, M Hindley 1 for 15; C Chattaway 1 for 7; and A Denton bowled 4 overs 2 maidens 0 for 2)
Notes: 47 extras in the Vagabonds innings was highest of the week and very neat score sheets supplied by Vagabonds scorer Judi Andrews)

Worcestershire Over 50s v Auckland University Fingletoads Merlots at Stratford-upon-Avon Cricket Club
Worcestershire Over 50s 204 for 7 (K Truswell 30 retired; A Babar 30 retired; M Johnson 30 retired; L Jackson 3 for 30; G Poultney 2 for 33, C Rosie 1 for 37)
Merlots 204 for 3 (J Steer 30 retired; S Coleman 30 retired; G Poultney 30 retired; R Storey 30 retired; M Johnson 1 for 42; G Thomas 1 for 20; S Singh 1 for 41)
Notes: An honourable tie setting the scene for the planned rematch in Auckland in November 2008)

Stratfordshire v Fingletoads Internationals at Exhall and Wixford Cricket Club:
Stratfordshire 145 for 4 (J Smith 30 retired; K Smith 30 retired; W Duguid 30 retired; R Clarke 2 for 16; S Nicholls 1 for 7; G Howarth 1 for 16)
Internationals 142 for 7 (R Clarke 32 retired; D Joseph 33 retired, M Perkins 4 for 25; T Wickson 1 for 15; A Gregory 1 for 24; M Waters 1 for 17)
Notes: A great game in a fabulous setting-a particularly pleasant host club).

Hollywood Golden Oldies v Worcestershire Over 60s at Winchcome Cricket Club:
Worcestershire Over 60s 244 for 2 (K Middleton 33 retired; D Ebbage 30 retired; B Scott 30 retired; R Price 33 retired; M Woodward 30 retired; B Rogers 30 retired; I Naisai 2 for 48)
Hollywood 96 for 4 from 28 overs (M Baish 32 retired; I Naisai 30 retired; G Wadley 3 for 24; P Tudge 1 for 16)
Notes: It rained with 12 overs to play.

Wellesbourne v Western Province Cricket Club Chairmans XI at Wellesbourne:
Wellesbourne 191 for 6 (R Ogg 33 retired; D Jarrett 34 retired; R Murlaine 30 retired; G Maynard 30 not out; N Kees 3 for 24; L Lasuschagne 1 for 12; J Coles 1 for 25; N Watson 1 for 49)
WPCCC XI 138 (C Brothers 45; P Louw 38; R Purser 4 for 29; D Purser 2 for 28; G Maynard 1 for 12; D Jarrett 1 for 14; P Rothwell 1 for 11)
Notes: A very hospitable club off the field but just a bit young and lively on it for our 2010 Cape Town Carnival hosts).

Wheatons Golden Oldies v Shropshire Over 50s at Tanworth-in-Arden Cricket Club:
Wheatons 130 ( A Geddes 48; G Andrews 31 retired; J Phillips 2 for 5; P Phillips 2 for 6; M Robinson 2 for 16; E Ashlin 2 for 56; P Massey 1 for 2; S Huxley 1 for 9)
Shropshire Over 50’s 132 for 6 (T Fern 33 retired; P Massey 31 retired; G Wood 2 for 33; G Griffith 1 for 17; A Geddes 1 for 19; A Donges 1 for 24)
Notes: Shropshire Over 50’s as they were in Perth (in combination with Sussex Goldies) are a good team for old fellas.

Auckland University Fingletoads Chardonnays v South London Association of Gentlemen at Temple Grafton Cricket Club:
Chardonnays 222 for 7 (P Malcon 30 retired; G McLeod-Smith 30 retired; J Mahoney 30 retired; C Pitts 2 for 39; R Barrett 1 for 26; D Rogers 1 for 18)
SLAGS 222 for 6 (M Russell 33 retired; A Mann 39 Retired; D Rogers 30 retired; C Pitts 31 not out; T Benjamin 31 retired; T Knight 2 for 24; P Malcon 2 for 26; G Crole 2 for 43)
Notes: Amazing that both Fingletoads teams tied on the opening day and neither of them were jack-ups.

DAY TWO:

It rained and was washed out everywhere except miraculously at Fladbury-still can’t work out how it happened on what was a very wet day.

Wheatons v Worcestershire Over 50s at Fladbury Cricket Club:

Wheatons 107 (G Andrews 40; K Truswell 3 for 5; T Whittingham 2 for 11; Shim 2 for 19; Surrender 2 for 25; A Ali 1 for 7)
Worcestershire Over 50’s 102 (K Truswell 30 retired; A Donges 3 for 26; P Allen 2 for 12; G Wood 2 for 17; G Griffith 1 for 8)
Notes: How come they didn’t get wet-everyone else did and must have had a great groundsman.

Vancouver Island Vagabonds v Harvington at the Harvington Indoor Cricket Centre:
Vagabonds 77 for 5 (D Moulson 2 for 11; B Young 1 for 27)
Harvington 76 for 3

Harvington 92 for 3 (P Wheaton 1 for 31; K Harris 1 for 26)
Vagabonds 78 for 3 (A Green 1 for 11)

Notes: Great initiative by Harvington Cricket Club to organise two games indoors.

DAY THREE:

Auckland University Fingletoads Chardonnays v Harvington at Harvington Cricket Club:
Chardonnays 112 for 4 from 24 overs (P Malcon 31 retired; C Richards 2 for 15; N Dore 1 for 14; P Marshall 1 for 0)
Notes: What happened next is a mystery-did it rain; did they adjourn to the bar or did they just stop scoring or perhaps lose the remaining score sheet.

Stratfordshire v Western Province Cricket Clubs Chairmans XI at Blockley Cricket Club:
WPCCC XI 115 for 9 (G Wild 3 for 4; R Murphy 2 for 19; M Palmer 2 for 34; R Cooper 1 for 9; M Perkins 1 for 24)
Stratfordshire 118 for 2 (D Graham 32 retired; W Duguid 33 not out; H Clay 1 for 17; P Louw 1 for 28)
Note: Another hard day for the boys from Cape Town after a night out the night before with the opposition-clever planning that.

Wheatons v Sussex Goldies at Winchcombe Cricket Club:
Wheatons 157 for 8 (K Pike 30 retired; J Stuckey 33 retired; J Coxall 2 for 16; A Jenner 2 for 16; D Osborne 2 for 31; N Warry 1 for 25; D Cobill 1 for 40)
Sussex 148 for 7 (G Hart 34 not out; J Moore 30 retired; J Hall 30 retired; K Pike 2 for 14; G Wood 1 for 19; J Stuckey 1 for 21; L Cannon 1 for 24; A Donges 1 for 24)
Note: An excellent game between two of the Vintage Cricket Foundation teams and great supporters of the Vintage concept and Carnivals-likely to have rematch in Cape Town.

Fingletoads Internationals v Vancouver Island Vagabonds at Wellesbourne Cricket Club:
Internationals 137 for 7 (G Robinson 38 not out; G Smith 30 retired; B Adie 30 retired; W Dustow 3 for 21; P Wheaton 2 for 20; D Harding 1 for 16; K Harris 1 for 27)
Vagabonds 93 for 8 (G Howarth 2 for 3; G Stephens 2 for 20; G Robinson 1 for 7; S Nicholls 1 for 13; D Joseph 1 for 16)
Note: Another good one-notable for the fact that Mike Andrews, the sprightly Vancouver wicketkeeper (still playing 1st Grade Cricket at his age) let through a bye-a rare moment indeed.

Tartan Ton v Hollywood Golden Oldies at Exhall and Wixford Cricket Club:
Tartan Ton 157 for 5 (A Kings 31 retired; P Shannon 31 retired and someone called “The Mole” made 15; C Rosie (on loan from the Fingletoads) 2 for 33; someone called “Aston Villa” 1 for 26; N Phillips 1 for 23)
Hollywood 106 for 9 ( A Higginbotham 2 for 5; The Mole 2 for 7; J Price 2 for 12; A McKenzie 2 for 8; P Shannon 1 for 10)
Notes: The Tartan Ton are great guys, good cricketers and wonderful dancers to Bay City Rollers music but they are dreadful scorers and provided the messiest score sheet of the week.

Auckland University Fingletoads Merlots v Worcestershire Over 60s at Moreton in Marsh Cricket Club:  
Worcestershire Over 60s 147 for 8 (K Middleton 30 retired; P Burgess 2 for 12; D Burton 2 for 20; O Oliver 1 for 16; G Poultney 1 for 18; L Jackson 1 for 18)
Merlots 123 for 9 (R Thomas 34 not out; J Shepherd 3 for 36; C Rawlings 2 for 14; M Woodward 1 for 15; G Thorne 1 for 16; K Middleton 1 for 16)
Notes: Merlots managed to beat the Over 50s but couldn’t repeat it against the Over 60s.

Summary: Great fun, good cricket, wonderful host clubs, lovely grounds and friendly people-what more could a cricket team need-perhaps fine weather on Day Two would have helped but it was a wonderful Vintage Cricket Carnival and fantastic celebration of the great game of cricket played the way it should be.

FUTURE CARNIVALS

The Trans Tasman Vintage Cricket Carnival in Armidale, New South Wales. Sunday March 29 to Saturday April 4, 2009.
Contact: Kevin Pike (Wheatons Golden Oldies Cricket Club) at kevanddiane@bigpond.com
Open to teams from Australia and New Zealand (and further afield if there are teams who wish to make the trip).

The 2nd USA Vintage Cricket Carnival in Florida. Sunday October 11 to Sunday 18, 2009.
Contact: Mo Ally (American Cricketer Magazine) at  mally@americancricketer.com or Peter McDermott (Vintage Cricket) at peter@vintagecricket.com

The 5th World Vintage Cricket Carnival in Cape Town. Sunday March 21 to Saturday March 27, 2010. Contact: Neil Watson (Western Province Cricket Club) at ntwatson@mweb.co.za

Interested in Touring?:

Vintage Cricket is able to assist you with cricket tours pre and post Carnivals-in the case of the Cape Town 2010 Carnival - please contact Chris Brothers at Brothers Sports Travel  chris@brotherssport.co.za

In all other cases contact Dianne McDermott at Dianne@vintagecricket.com

If you can’t make it to the Vintage Cricket Carnivals and would like to do a cricket tour please don’t hesitate to contact Dianne and we can assist with itineraries, accommodation, transport and most importantly with games. We have close contacts with clubs and teams throughout the world and will be pleased to put together tours for clubs, teams or schools in various parts of the cricketing world and particularly in Australia and New Zealand.

We have managed tours for the following:

Auckland University Cricket Fingletoads to:    

• Italy, France and England - 2008
• Ireland and England - 2008
• USA and Barbados - 2006
• England and Malta - 2004
• England and Scotland - 1999
• USA and Canada - 1990
• USA - 1977, 1979, 1981
• Canada -1990
• England - 1986   
• Australia - 1972

British Columbia Golden Oldies to New Zealand (twice)

Hollywood Golden Oldies to New Zealand (twice)

British Columbia Representative XI  to New Zealand

Brentwood College (England) to:

• Fiji and New Zealand
• New Zealand

Worcestershire Over 50s to:

• Australia
• Hong Kong and New Zealand

We look forward to assisting more cricket teams wanting to tour to various parts of the cricketing world.