Every season I say the same thing at this time of the year –
‘I can’t believe we will be playing on that ground in four week’s time’. However, that is when the first game is scheduled for! Fingers crossed for lots of sunny, dry weather. We are always looking for new players of all abilities so please come and meet us if you would like to play – you would not be committing yourself to playing every weekend – just whenever you are able.

Our Juniors have been using the Rawson Hall for indoor nets this term and it has proved extremely popular. We will begin outdoor summer coaching from 29th April 5.30 – 7.00 p.m. at the cricket ground the same as last year. There will be 3 categories:
1 New children and younger inexperienced children
2 Softball coaching for developing children
3 Development of hardball cricket for older, experienced children.
All children are welcome, please contact me if you would like a registration form.

A big thank you is owed to all of our Vice Presidents who have renewed their support for the Club again this year – this is vital to us and much appreciated.

Thank you so much  to everyone who supported our Jumble Sale, either by donating jumble, helping on the day or by coming along to buy.  We made £1,128 profit!   This is a great result and everyone’s efforts are much appreciated, in particular our thanks to Derek Kirkham for his mammoth effort in selling raffle tickets.  Many people who come to help have no connection with the Club, in fact it’s becoming rather like an annual reunion for some of us!  Once again our thankyou to everyone

For those who are not aware, this year was the 175^th anniversary of the Club’s first recorded game.  To celebrate this we commissioned a painting from Mike McCulloch, a very talented local artist.  Mike has created a beautiful, gentle watercolour of part of the ground, whilst a game is taking place, and has captured absolutely the atmosphere which makes Bolney special.  From this original we have fifty limited edition prints which are signed and numbered by the artist.  If anyone would like one of these in their home as a keepsake we are selling them for £50 each.  If you would like to view the painting please do contact me.

By the time you read this we will have held our Annual Award’s Dinner, hosted by Waz and Emma at the Eight Bells.  Recipients this year are:

1^st X1 Batsman  –  Kingsley Morris

1^st X1 Bowler     –  Jack Collins

1^st X1 Fielder     –  Himal Jayarathne

2^nd X1 Batsman  –  Luke Martin

2^nd X1 Bowler     –  Peter Buch

2^nd X1 Fielder      –  Garion Gilchrist

Danny Earp Cup for the Most Improved Player   –  Terry Paton

Trevor Warburton Cup for player making the most runs in the season – James Flower.

Congratulations everyone!

Finally we would like to thank our Vice Presidents and everyone in the community who has supported the club this year, in whatever capacity, and to wish you all

A very Merry Christmas!

Our last game of the season was on September 27^th and I feel as though I am still waiting for the season to start – weatherwise!!  It has been a very good year with the First X1 finishing only six points behind Balcombe who were winners of the 1^st Division – we could never have hoped to do that in only our second year in that division.  Bolney are a very good team but next season they will have to do it without Jack Collins, who is moving to the Manchester area with his wife Steph – we will miss them both.

Our second X1 look as though they may be relegated to Division 5, unfortunately we struggled to field two teams each week.  A large number of players are needed to do this when injuries, family commitments, holidays, work etc. are taken into account.  However, they finished on a high by winning three of their last four matches so this bodes well for next season.

We had a great day on September 12^th which was our Club Day.  This comprised of a tournament with mixed teams of colts, parents, siblings and senior players, a picnic, a barbecue and ended with trophies for winners on the day and the Colt’s Annual Awards.  There are pictures on our Facebook page and we have received many compliments from everyone who took part and, with the help of the children, we managed to keep the parents from falling out!!

Lastly we must thank Mark Barrow and his team at Bolney Nursery for generously providing us with our lovely hanging baskets again this year – they have been beautiful – and without any help from the weather!

PLEASE remember our JUMBLE SALE!!  Saturday October 24^th at the Rawson Hall at 2 p.m.

Thank you to all of our Vice Presidents and everyone who came to watch this season – we very much value your support as ever.

Bolney 1^st X1 are currently 3^rd in Division 1, only 1 point short of 2^nd –  an excellent position to be in considering it is only the second season in that division.  The team has played really well and enjoyed some very exciting matches.  The 2^nd X1 have struggled for players but have enjoyed two good consecutive wins and the team is really beginning to gel.  We still play friendly games on Sunday afternoons if anyone would like to play – we are always looking for players of all abilities.

The juniors have had a very good summer, the progress they have all made is amazing.  The Under 10 and Under 11 teams have enjoyed their league games and have acquitted themselves admirably – in skills, spirit and good sportsmanship – an important part of the game to learn at an early age.  We have been very fortunate this year to have had the expertise of three qualified Sussex CCC coaches.  This has been heavily subsidised by ECB funding and we are very grateful to the Development Team at Sussex for making this possible.

We will be holding a Club Day on Saturday 12^th September when senior players, colts and parents will all play in a mixed team tournament.  It should be good fun and a chance for everyone to get to know one another.   Feel free to come along to spectate if you are not playing, bring a picnic and enjoy the fun!

On Saturday 24^th October we will hold holding our long awaited JUMBLE SALE – this has been delayed as the Rawson Hall was not ready for use before the beginning of the season.  This will commence at 2.00 p.m. and as usual there will be teas, homemade cakes and a raffle.  If you have jumble please could this be taken to the Rawson on the morning.  Thank you.

At the time of writing we are two weeks into the league season.  The first team lost to Chailey for the first game but soundly beat Edenbridge for the second game.  The way the points system works resulted in the 1sts being fourth in the division.  The second team have not fared quite so well, losing both games.  The beginning of the season is always very difficult with some players still playing football and others not yet back from university.

Numbers for Juniors are very healthy with 41 children on our register for coaching sessions on Fridays, this is great for the future of cricket.  We have three qualified Sussex coaches and adult helpers also participating – I’m not sure who enjoys it the most!

The Under 10s have played their first game in the friendly softball league and beat Rottingdean.  The Under 11s played St. Andrew’s in their first hardball game and lost to possibly the most experienced team in the league.  All of the children said how much they enjoyed the games – and that is what we strive for.

We are always looking for new players of all abilities, nets have now commenced on Wednesdays, from 6.00 p.m.  Anyone wanting to wander up to the ground for a try will be made very welcome.  Players who may like to join should not feel that it is too big a commitment, some players play both games at the weekend, some play only one and many play only the occasional friendly when they are able to spare the time.

We welcome back Bolney Stoolball team again this year – they play Tuesdays or Thursdays (check the website) commencing 6.30 p.m.  I am sure they would appreciate spectators on a nice summer evening!

By the time you read this plans will be well under way for preparation of the ground for the forthcoming season – where did all of those free weekends go!! As I have no ‘cricket’ news I would just like to mention a few things.

JUNIOR COACHING

This will begin again after Easter with three Sussex CC qualified coaches, one of whom is Alan Perrin (Reg) who has been with us from the start. Children will be welcome from 7 – 14 years and will be divided into three groups to cater for all abilities. One coach will be taking the more experienced children for hardball coaching. This season we will be entering two league teams, one softball friendly team and one hardball team. Coaching sessions will be Fridays 5.30 – 7.00 p.m. at the cricket ground. More details will follow.

JUMBLE SALE

Many people have been asking about. We normally hold this before our cricket season starts so that members are able to help (which they all love!) However this year, as the new village hall will not be completed by the start of our season, we intend to re-schedule it for the end of the season during October. Please hold on to your jumble – we will need it in October!

BOLNEY WINE ESTATE

We are delighted to learn that the Wine Estate will be sponsoring the Club again this season, this is very welcome news and appreciated by us all. Even if you do not enjoy cricket what could be nicer than a glass of Bolney wine on a relaxing summer day evening – or day!

VICE PRESIDENTS

If anyone would like to support the Club by becoming a VP we would be very grateful, our VPs are a vital lifeline for the Club. There are no tasks to perform and you can be assured of a free tea during home games! Please contact me if you are able to help. Many thanks go to all current VPs who have already renewed their subscription for this season.

We held our Annual Awards Evening at the Eight Bells on Thursday, 20th November. Our thanks to John Snow for joining us and presenting the awards. This is always a very enjoyable, sociable evening when everybody has a chance to catch up after the summer. Our thanks go to Waz and Emma for making us so welcome every year.

Winners of the awards are on the awards section of the website, congratulations to everyone!

On behalf of all of our players and members we would like to thanks Vice Presidents and members of the community who so generously continue to support us in so many different ways, and to wish everyone a very

Merry Christmas

Good news to report on the cricket front. The first team, at the time of writing, has played four games, lost one, drew one and won two. The seconds have played three games and won three and the Colts have played two and won two – having had the other two games cancelled due to the weather. So – the firsts are fourth in Div 1 and the seconds are top of Div 5. The Colts have all really enjoyed the experience of playing in a team against unknown opposition and have played, and conducted themselves very well. Well done everyone, excellent news all round.

Some Bolney records have tumbled as well. James Flower hit 179, in just 145 minutes off 85 balls, against Colemans Hatch during a league game on 17th May. The previous record of 160 not out by Terry Sayers had stood since 1994. During that game another record went. James Flower and Rory Delves recorded a partnership of 244, the previous one of 212 had been held by Trevor Warburton and Ian Jarrett since 1975. It was also the highest ever Bolney score, the previous one being 301-3 in 2010.

As there will be no magazine published during August I would like to let you know that we will be organising a sponsored Treasure Hunt on Sunday August 31st in aid of Club funds. This will be held during the morning and will consist of two routes, one for younger members when hopefully the Colts and their families will be taking part and a longer route for adults. It would be lovely if everyone could bring a picnic for lunch and end up at the cricket ground where Bolney will be playing a game at 2.00 p.m. The bar will be open!

We will be raising a glass to a new era as the Club embarks on its first season in the Mid Sussex Stoner League Division One.  This will be a double celebration following the development of a new partnership with Bolney Wine Estate who will be generously sponsoring new shirts for the senior and junior teams.  We are delighted to have them aboard and trust this partnership will be mutually beneficial to all.

 

Colts training, which has been ongoing throughout the winter, will now take place at the cricket ground during the week commencing 21^st April.  This is now likely to be during the afternoon on Fridays but please check local posters as this day is not yet confirmed.  This season will be very exciting for the juniors as they will participate in the Southern Area Junior League, the first home game will be on 10^th May.

 

Our coach, Reg Perrin, is hoping to tap into funding for women’s cricket through the Sportivate initiative which is aimed at women of all ages to participate in recreational cricket in their local area.  This training will commence on Friday 25^th April 7 – 9 p.m. for a six week trial period.  The cost would be £30 for the course.  Who knows, we could have mums and dads, sons and daughters all playing together!

 

Our first home game will be on Saturday 12^th April against Streat & Westmeston, commencing 1.00 p.m. weather permitting!  All games are ‘friendlies’ until the league starts on 3^rd May.

 

If anyone would like any further information please contact me.

 

Wendy Lambourne