Shipton-under-Wychwood Cricket Club

2016 Season Review
A season of more lows than highs, we start our review with a departure.

Stephen Brain
It is the end of an era at the Cricket Club with our Chairman of the last eight seasons, Stephen Brain, stepping down from the role after a passionate and energetic time driving the club forward. Stephen was a Chairman who liked to get stuck in and if he is not behind the bar with wife Deborah during our busy youth nights on a Friday, can often be found strimming the verges or performing some other manual task around the ground. Stephen oversaw the club’s ascension to the Home Counties Premier League, and notable success in 2010 with two Oxfordshire T20 titles and a visit to Lords in the Final of the Village Cup. Since then the 1st XI have established themselves in the Home Counties, and until this season our 2nd and 3rd XI teams had reached their highest ever league positions, and a 4th team has just about maintained its existence. Stephen assures us he will still be around the club to help and offer advice, but he leaves behind particularly big shoes to fill!
The club presented Stephen with the Arthur Badger Award and a framed cricket shirt at the end- of- season dinner in October, signed by all current committee and playing members of the senior squads, and this has taken pride of place in his study.

The Cricket
To the field of play, and the good news was that our 1st XI maintained their position in the Home Counties Premier League, supported once again by Indian professional and coach Anupam Sanklecha. Moving to the Cherwell League, unfortunately our 2nd XI was relegated by a single point, edged out by bitter rivals Oxford Downs. The good news was that several youth players such as Ben Norgrove, Harry Davies and Emily Day performed admirably despite being promoted to the “twos” perhaps a little ahead of schedule. Our 3rd XI endured a difficult season and was also relegated, and our 4th XI did well to get a side out most weeks. We encourage youth players to stay in the game and the transition to adult cricket, and the 4th XI provides a great platform for them to adapt before progressing up the club. Our ladies XI won all their games during the season, but were unable to defend their 2015 title on Finals Day with a change of format to 10 over games not suiting their style of play.

Onwards and upwards
We look forward to a more positive 2017, which will also see us entering a side into the ECB’s U19’s competition, which started this season, and includes coloured kits and flashing stumps! Please keep an eye out for these fixtures as we hope to make a mid-week social event out of them. We are proud to announce that Smurfit Kappa is providing the main shirt sponsorship for the U19s and more details about their support will be available online soon.
Our youth section goes from strength-to-strength with participation numbers increasing, and this is down to Graham Nelson and his team of coaches and volunteers who manage all the different age groups. We provide cricket from U7s to U17s, so if you have a child who would be interested in learning about the game, please get in touch with Graham on youth@shiptoncc.co.uk. If you would like to volunteer to support one of the teams, or go on a coaching course to help us maintain our Clubmark certification, Graham or Sue Sumner (clubmark@shiptoncc.co.uk) will be able to provide the necessary information. We are only able to provide cricket to this vast array of age groups due to the support provided by our volunteers, so if you feel you might be able to help in this capacity, please don’t be shy!

Dotting the Is and crossing the Ts
As we head towards the turn of the year and our January AGM (Wednesday 18th) it is a great time to thank all of our Vice Presidents and sponsors such as FWP Matthews and Oathill Quarry who provide much, vital financial support and allow the club to continue to thrive. We could not exist without you!
Thanks also to the Shaven Crown for their sponsorship towards the new practise net development, the ECB grant for it which was ably administered by Graham Nelson. This new facility has already had a huge impact on the number of practise sessions we have been able to hold throughout the summer, for both Senior and Youth sections of the club.

Looking ahead to 2017
By the time you read this we hope to have had some additional drainage installed at the club to help reduce the number of games cancelled due to a waterlogged outfield, and enjoyed our annual Fireworks Night in conjunction with the Wychwood School PTA.
The first major social event of 2017 will be the Golf Day, usually held in April, so please keep an eye out for that – it is usually a four-ball competition and everyone is welcome. Contact our Youth Welfare Officer Steve Bates for information on childwelfare@shiptoncc.co.uk.
We are always looking for new playing members, and with four Saturday sides, there is plenty of opportunity for all levels, and any questions about membership can be directed to me on the email address below.
Winter well, and we look forward to dusting off the whites next Spring.

Justin Hemming, Hon. Secretary
secretary@shiptoncc.co.uk

December 2016 – January 2017