2010 Pre-Season Letter

Beechlands,
Rotherfield Road,
Henley-on-Thames,
Oxon, RG9 1NR.

6th February, 2010

Dear All,

I do hope you have had an enjoyable autumn and winter so far. Despite all the cold weather we’ve experienced, the cricket season is approaching and hence here is the Harpsden Cricket Club pre-season letter.

The fixture list is again taking shape due to Suzie Bradley’s hard work over the winter. There is the usual array of weekend jousts combined a number of weekday fixtures. After such an outstanding season in 2009 it has been decided to drop a few of the weaker opponents, for example those where we scored 270 for 1 declared and bowled them out for less than 50, and replace them with considerably stiffer opposition. We do hope that this will provide a suitable test for our talented group of youngsters (anybody less than 60 is included in this bracket!).

Andrew Norton has decided to step down as Club Captain after many years of sterling service. Our thanks go to Andrew for a tremendous job over the years although we are certainly not saying goodbye as we expect Andrew will continue to play for us, and probably even captain, on a regular basis. I am delighted to announce that Will Stevens has accepted our offer of becoming Club Captain and he will be supported by Andy Bryan who will continue in his role as Club Vice-Captain.

Andrew Imlay has accepted our invitation to become a Vice President. Having immediately preceded me as Chairman, Andrew was most influential in setting Harpsden Cricket Club on the successful path that it is today. Hopefully we will see more of Andrew in 2010 than we did in 2009.

Over the winter, various works have again been done including a lot of loam having been put on the square, hopefully resulting in an even firmer and somewhat flatter track. The big roller has been repaired which will also hopefully contribute to a faster, bouncier surface. And after all the damage to the stumps from our increasing array of speedsters, we have splashed out and bought some new ones! Also Horatio is kindly preparing some honours boards to put up in the pavilion, so hopefully some of those will be around by the start of the season.

There is one other major project that is under consideration and is being driven by Joanna Cary. We have become increasingly concerned about the number of balls being hit over into the road and the golf club car park on the other side of the road and we are considering whether a larger hedge and a net might dramatically reduce the risk of serious injury, or worse, to people on the other side of the hedge. More on that in due course. Also, after much consideration the Harpsden Trust has decided that the number and speed of cars driving along Harpsden Road has deteriorated to the point that the narrow opening in the middle of the boundary is now too dangerous to remain in place. As a result, that gate is going to be permanently closed so that anybody needing to go over the road to recover the ball, will need to do so via the car park or the gate by the golf practice area.

We have organised a spring curry at the Asiana Spice (34 Reading Road, Henley – just near to the Himalayan where we ate last year) on Saturday 20th March at 6.30pm for 7.30. Although I suspect the amount and quality of the food will be better than last year we have managed to keep the cost down to £15 a head for Adults and £10 for Students for an all-you-can-eat blend of starters, mains, popadoms, nans etc. Like last year, everybody will need to pay for their own drinks. I would be grateful if you could let me know (rodbirkett@btinternet.com) whether you will be able to attend. We can fit in about 40 people and hence it would be great to see as many cricketers, spouses and siblings as are able to attend.

The reason we are starting the curry night at 6.30 is that, again like last year, we have decided to have the AGM then, preceding the dinner. If anyone would like to come for the formal part of the evening, then please arrive promptly for a 6.30pm start, whilst if you wish to just attend the dinner then some time around 7.15pm would probably be about right.

A few dates for your diaries;

Saturday 20th March, 6.30pm to 7.15pm; AGM at Asiana Spice at 34 Reading Road, Henley.

Saturday 20th March, 7.15pm for 7.30; Curry at Asiana Spice in Henley.

Because the Henley College nets are no longer available to us for health and safety reasons we have had to revert to Sunday mornings at 11am at Shiplake College. Nets at Shiplake College, Sunday March 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th; from 11am to noon.

Take A4155 from Henley towards Reading. Shiplake College is on your left after ‘Shiplake Cross’. Take the 2nd entrance, the ‘All Visitors’ drive into the College. Follow the drive down to the main house, bear left and go past the main building on your right and park in the car park straight ahead. The Sports Hall is a wooden building with glass doors on the left hand side just opposite the car park.

Sunday 11th and Sunday 18th April at 10.30am to noon, nets at Harpsden Cricket Ground.

Sunday 18th April 9am to 10.30am: pre-season working party at Harpsden Cricket Ground. There are various jobs that need to be done before the season starts and the more support we have for this the better.

Practice Sessions from 6pm at Harpsden every Wednesday starting on April 21st. We have a group of organisers who have kindly offered to arrange practice sessions at the Club on Wednesday evenings throughout the season. These will commence at 6pm with the first one on Wednesday 21st April.

Saturday 24th April; 1st Harpsden match.

Sunday 27th June at noon; President’s XI vs Chairman’s XI.

Monday 30th August; Harpsden Six-a-Sides. If you want to put a team in, please book early to avoid disappointment!

Saturday 18th September; Annual Dinner.

The cost of playing and membership is being increased marginally from last year, although I’m sure it remains among the lowest in the country! The 2010 charge for Adults will be £75 for a season ticket OR £10 per game and for Students it will be a £35 season OR £5 per game for those who don’t buy a season ticket. We are also introducing a charge for evening games of £5 and £3 respectively for those who don’t buy a season ticket. Any increased revenue that we raise will go back into the club through improved facilities.

If you want to enhance your wardrobe, Ian Whittaker is still in charge of clothing and he will be taking orders for shirts, jumpers or caps so do email him (familywhittaker@hotmail.com) as per the attached/enclosed schedule.

Thanks to Joanna Cary the Harpsden Cricket Club blog is in fine fettle so do have a look if you get a chance (http://harpsdencricketclub.blogspot.com). A copy of this letter is going onto the blog so that the net dates will be there if you misplace this letter! There are also some outstanding photos of Harpsden Cricket Club in the snow taken by Ben Hancock, so do have a look.

Team organisation remains an onerous task and Jane has very kindly offered to do it again this season but if you were able to contact her (jburtt@shiplake.org.uk or 01491 575126) before the season starts with your early season availability that would be very helpful. Also, please contact Jane if you have had any change to your contact details.

Will Stevens has kindly offered to prepare the statistics again this season (with back-up from Ed Birkett when/if he goes away) and we would be grateful if you could all ensure that the scorebooks are filled in fully, and correctly, including details on the fall of wickets, so that we can monitor not just individual scores, but also partnerships.

We are always looking to enhance the membership of the club as it is the people who make it what it is. Do please bring your cricketing friends along to the pre-season nets or introduce them as the season progresses.

Look forward to seeing you at the AGM/Curry/Nets,

With best regards,

Rod.