Bredon Cricket Club celebrates junior season successes

Successes: Club chairman Neil Hall presents Ollie McGrath with his best junior player 2017 award
Club chairman Neil Hall presents Ollie McGrath with his best junior player 2017 award. Picture by Brad Cooper

Bredon Cricket Club celebrated the successes of its junior players today.

Families gathered on a warm autumn afternoon at Hill Close to enjoy a fun day and acknowledge efforts on and off the pitch in 2017.

There was a bouncy castle, barbecue and Americana music from the excellent Malvern Hillbillies.

Chairman Neil Hall presented a number of awards and paid tribute to those behind the scenes who had worked so hard to make the season a success.

There were words of praise, too, for Neil, who has led the club through a season of great achievement.

Junior players, Third XI and club supporters’ end-of-season awards

Third team batting: Johnny McGrath

Third team bowling: Ruben Ibbotson

Junior player: Ollie McGrath

Club person of the year: Jennie Warren

Gifts were presented to:

Lucy Washbourne, for her contribution to cricket teas

Mandy Clements-Hunt, for being an unsung hero for the club

Adam Gallagher, for his exceptional work as groundsman

Will Rollett, for his work behind the bar

 

Yum! Jan continues high standards with last cricket tea of season

Last tea of season: Jan Washbourne's cricket tea for the Second XI and their opponents
Jan Washbourne’s cricket tea for the Second XI and their opponents

Jan Washbourne continued the club’s high standard of cricket teas with a delicious feast for the Second XI and their opposition, Kempsey, at Hill Close yesterday.

Thanks, Jan, and all those who have contributed teas to the club over the summer. Your efforts are most appreciated!

Players’ end-of-season celebration marks successful year for Bredon

Awards: End-of-season awards at Bredon Cricket Club 2017
End-of-season awards at Bredon Cricket Club

The senior players’ end-of-season awards and celebration last night marked a highly successful year for Bredon Cricket Club.

The party was held in our Hill Close clubhouse after the teams had finished the day’s games, which both sadly ended in defeat: the Firsts lost away at Enville while the Seconds fell at home to Kempsey.

There were good spirits in the clubhouse, however, with the Second XI turning out in fancy dress for the occasion.

Prior to the presentation of the annual awards, chairman Neil Hall thanked all who had contributed on and off the field to the club over the last year.

He said it had been a highly successful one for Bredon Cricket Club.

The First XI finished fourth in the Worcestershire County League’s division two, while the Second XI, playing in division three, also finished fourth.

Both the first and second teams had performed well, finishing in commendable positions in their leagues. The Thirds had continued their precious development work with the younger players.

The input of coaching from Tom Walsingham and Andy Stovold had helped develop the skills of both junior and senior players.

Facilities at the club had continued to improve, and teething problems with our new nets are expected to be solved well before preparations begin for next season.

Neil paid tribute to Will Rollett’s dedicated hard work behind the bar throughout the year.

And he thanked everyone for their contributions to off-the-field activities such as the Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017 in May, which in its first year had been a huge success and raised valuable funds for both the club and the Midlands Air Ambulance.

The inaugural Bredon Hill Bash 20-over competition, organised by Jake Denton, landlord of the Crown Inn at Kemerton, had also been hugely popular. It was held on the August bank holiday weekend and scores of families arrived at Hill Close to enjoy a fabulous day of cricket in the sunshine.

Neil said he expected the club to next year continue working towards its goal of becoming a first-rate social and sporting venue for the area.

Senior players’ end-of-season awards

First team batting: Martin Hill

First team bowling: Dominic Fenney

Second team batting: Jamie Annand

Second team bowling: Simon Riches

Fielding prize: Charlie McVicker

Most enthusiastic cricketer: Sam Draper

First team bowling prize: Dominic Feeney
First team bowling prize: Dominic Feeney
Second team batting prize: Jamie Annand
Second team batting prize: Jamie Annand
Most enthusiastic cricketer prize: Sam Draper
Most enthusiastic cricketer prize: Sam Draper

Second XI end the season with a smile

Humour: Bredon Cricket Club's irrepressible Second XI end the season
Bredon Cricket Club’s irrepressible Second XI end the season with good humour

Bredon Cricket Club’s irrepressible Second XI ended the season in defeat, but with their trademark good humour intact.

Visitors Kempsey reached the 276-run target set by the hosts with nine wickets to spare, largely thanks to an outstanding performance by a single batsman.

He defied dismissal despite the determined efforts of Bredon’s pace and spin bowlers, and background banter from the home team.

But the mood at Hill Close remained upbeat as the last fixture of the season drew to a close, and the team swapped their whites for fancy dress at the end-of-season party.

Would you like to play for our second team next season? Use the form below to get in touch:

 

 

 

Thundery showers send Second XI for an early tea

Dark skies at Fiveways Old Edwardians, where showers sent Bredon Second XI for an early tea
Dark skies at Fiveways Old Edwardians, where showers sent Bredon Second XI for an early tea

Thundery showers on the edge of Birmingham disrupted the Second XI’s game against Fiveways Old Edwardians today.

With many regulars unavailable, stalwart Derek Ebbage and several of the club’s junior members were drafted into the team.

Play had barely got under way, with Bredon batting first, when a heavy downpour forced the players to the pavilion.

After a break to allow the squall to blow over, the opposition decided to call an early tea to give the weather even more time to settle.

After resuming play Bredon were all out for 80, and conceded the game with the opposition at 56 for one.

The First XI’s game at home to Harborne was abandoned.