Shipton under Wychwood Cricket Club

I am hoping that when this article is published the dreadful wet month of June will be but a distant memory. I squelched my way to the nursery ground yesterday only to be met with an outfield that was rapidly turning to marsh; we certainly have not been able to play cricket on it for weeks. If last year’s big winter project was the work on the nets, next winter’s must be to improve the drainage of both grounds, and the nursery pitch in particular.
That said, every cricket ground in Oxfordshire has struggled. I feel sorry for our juniors and their coaches who have had to cancel most of their matches and are scrambling to find pitches on which to play at least some of the backlog.

Some Play
Our First team have navigated their way into the last 16 of the Davidstow National Village Cup and will play Cookham Dean in the next round. This is our best run for several years it is great for the club to be back in the final stages again. The under 15s got to the county semi-finals of their competition where they lost to Challow and Childrey in a rain affected match. A wonderful milestone has been the hugely successful debuts of Emily Day and Ella Gorton for the Seconds, who play in League 3 of the Cherwell League. Ella has not been available to play regularly but Emily, a wicket keeper of great talent, has held her place in the team every week.
Apart from those highlights, when we have been able to play, our senior teams have mostly struggled, but we have always succeeded in putting out four senior teams, a major achievement in itself, and all teams have featured players from the junior section.

Cricket Summer Schools for Juniors
Our club pro, Anupam Sanklecha, is back with us for the third year running and is as popular and as effective as ever. He led the coaching for our cricket summer schools which took place in July. As I write the U17 season is starting late, but we have what looks to be a strong side this year so we hope to do well, if the weather ever gets better!

Ride Our Big Mower
We are looking for a person, or a small team of people, with a little time on their hands who can help maintain the grounds and prepare the pitches. There is already a small group of volunteers but we shall be losing Simon Hole our head groundsman at the end of the season. There is no money in it but you will be out and about in a lovely environment. Warning, you must like riding on mowers and fiddling with big machines!

Graham Nelson
Youth Coach, Shipton under Wychwood CC
youth@shiptoncc.co.uk
www.shiptoncc.co.uk

August-September 2016