Harpsden Cricket Club Dinner Speech 2011

Harpsden Cricket Club Dinner Speech 2011


Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening,

Welcome to our annual dinner as we near the end of the Club's 124th year. This evening's events are different from previous years for several reasons; firstly the location, many thanks to Lyn and the Henley Golf Club team for all their work in enabling us to move our dinner here. Secondly, Will is going to be presenting the 6 trophies, sponsored by Tabbits, the car repair specialists - and also the extremely prestigious catch of the season bit of wood. The benefit of this is that you are not going to have to listen to me wittering on for hours as normal. And finally, the other change is that we felt this dinner was a good opportunity to give you all a flavour of the much talked about square moving and pavilion extending project by showing you the very first draft of the presentation that a number of us are making to the Trustees of the Harpsden Trust at the beginning of next month. It is with this that we start the evening. Please don't hesitate to ask questions as we go along.


PRESENTATION


So now to the cricket - what has Harpsden Cricket Club's 124th year been like. Excluding the President versus Chairman's match, and before today, we have completed 40 fixtures. Of these we have drawn two, both good games but pretty boring draws as it turned out - against Concorde and Britwell Salome - however this belies an awesome unbeaten ton by Tom Nugent against the latter and a really high quality 72 by James Paice against a top class Concorde bowling attack. This time last season, we had lost six games, and interestingly enough, it is exactly the same this year. What's different though this year is that those defeats have been against sides that either were significantly overdue a victory against us or it is our first fixture against them and we have lulled them into a fall sense of security. It is also true that in most of these cases, beating us will have made their season!

Our first defeat of the year was against Reading Lawyers where a big South African and his brother got lots of runs to help them to 250 for 2 and then the same big South African took lots of wickets, but not before Ian Reissmann had scored a very impressive 74. This enabled them to beat us for the first time for several years. Their win should have kept the fixture for a few more years! We then had one of those really rare weekends where we lost on both Saturday AND Sunday. On the Saturday we bowled Turville out for 139, including lots of dropped catches, on what looked to be a classic Turville road. We enjoyed a great tea and were just settling in for a relaxing 8 or 9 wicket victory when first Jack Broome and then Andy Bryan made their way back to the pavilion for first over ducks. When Sasha departed soon after we were 9 for 3 and with thoughts of an easy victory far from our minds. Horatio and Adam Birkett batted serenely getting us to 90 for 4 before suddenly a flurry of wickets left us all out for 126. A surprising result and hopefully one that won't be repeated with tomorrow's hangovers! On the Sunday, we welcomed Medmenham. This was always going to be a good opportunity to rebuild our confidence after the previous day's defeat. The Medmenham guys are great guys but nobody could remember the last time they beat us. A short boundary, some wayward bowling, some average fielding and they got 251 for 4 off their 40 overs. This score was always getable although as it started to rain, the outfield played longer, the ball got softer and we fell behind the required rate - Medmenham weren't going to come off the field just because it was pouring with rain and miss the chance of beating the unbeatable. The rain got heavier - Neil, Mick, George, Ben and Toby all got really good starts but couldn't go on to get the big score. We ended up 30 runs short and in doing so, made Medmenham's season.

Against the Benedick Club we made it four defeats in a month - I suppose School exams may have affected things but this was a pretty insipid batting display on a wet pitch and only Justin, Ben and Ed showed us how to bat. In the end, we didn't even bat our overs. Benedick Club won by 6 wickets despite some quality bowling from Tom Hancock and Simon Lovelock. This certainly made Benedick's season - particularly as it's the only game they play each year!

As we moved into July, our fortunes turned and we started an 18 match unbeaten run which was only halted by those Friends of Oxford University. The Friends' 171 looked somewhat below par as Big George decided that their 6 foot 10 inch Blues opening bowler was there to be hit - the further George hit him, the faster he bowled. The faster he bowled, the further George hit him. This was fun to watch. Sadly the Friends played the dirty trick of bowling Harpsden bowlers at us - Ed, 8 overs 1 for 12, Will 5 overs 2 for 11 - which included the end of Big George and Horatio, 2 overs, 2 for 2, including both his unsuspecting little brother and also former batsman of the year, Andrew Norton.

The only other defeat came against Hurst, a new team this year. It is at this time that we should take a step back to appreciate all the efforts of Suzie Bradley. Suzie took over as fixture secretary many years ago from an un-named male who having been given the job, did what any normal male would do, which was to assume that all the teams who turned up the previous year would do so in the same order the following year. As the season started, the oppos didn't arrive .....and Suzie started the re-building process, in a way that only a woman can. She has been doing it ever since. Suzie spends ages over the winter finding us new and better victims and convincing the old victims that it will all be better in the new year and to give us another try. Every week she makes sure that the oppo are going turn up, on time and at the right place. We wouldn't be here tonight celebrating another superb season if it weren't for all the efforts of Suzie. A small token of our appreciation, to Suzie Bradley. [FLOWERS].

Back to the defeats. Hurst only made 151 and at halfway we were in charge. Despite the early loss of Tom Nugent and Andrew Norton, Horatio and Adam were battling.....and winning. Sadly another middle order collapse meant we slipped away quietly but at least Hurst will be back next year, and we're already looking forward to it.

2 draws and 6 defeats has left us with another quite outstanding 80% win ratio - 32 wins in 40 games. If you look at the stats on Play Cricket.com, nobody gets 80% win ratios! So which ones of those wins have been most memorable. Let's start with the first weekend. Henley on Saturday and a very chatty Wargrave on Sunday. The Henley game was a 40 over match against a good Henley side - they batted first and were always ahead of par, finishing on about 200, which was about 25 ahead of anything we wanted to chase on an early season strip. When we batted we were always behind the rate - good bowling made life difficult and only Horatio who constructed a really good 70 kept us anything like in the game. Sadly wickets kept falling and before we knew it we were 9 wickets down with our number 11, Miles, coming in to join debutant James Brooks, with still 20 needed for victory and less than 2 overs to go. 2 fours and a single from Miles towards the end of the penultimate over meant we needed 11 to win off the final over which was to be bowled by former Harpsden player, John Gould with the last pair at the crease. Henley had been ahead of us for all 79 overs of the day so far. Miles then proceeded to hit three of the first four balls of the over for four and Harpsden screamed past Henley just before the finishing line. What a way to start the season and surely that couldn't be bettered. Well, the next day, it possibly was. From the first over of the day the Wargrave bowlers were on top, and the slips were noisy (and not in fact very amusing although the well built one did laugh at his own jokes). A really good 65 from Will and a cultured 45 from Miles, allowed us to get to 159 for 6 off our 40 overs which was well below the 200 we felt we needed. All our bowlers bowled well, Ed, Johnny, Toby, Will and Tom Mitchell, but Wargrave always looked comfortable. As the game wore on suddenly they needed a still very doable 30 off the last 5 overs which crept up to 18 required off 2. A great 39th over of the innings from Toby and we were ahead for the first time in the game. Will finished it off with a quality final over and we ran out winners by just 6 runs. 2 confident oppos mugged in 2 days. What a way to start the season.

The next really good win was a 9 run victory, under the skippering of James Paice, against the Bradfield Staff. This was followed 11 days later by the victory of all victories. Hillingdon Manor were invited to the Harpsden arena for a bit of gentle Saturday afternoon jousting - Captain Stevens was gentle on the oppo, encouraging them to a barely competitive 162 as he finished them off himself taking 4 for 13. Suddenly both the openers, Ian Reissmann and Will, were out for ducks. But there was nothing to worry about as Jack Broome came in to join Robbie Harris.....or was there? When Jack fell for 26 and the middle order collapsed, we were 7 down and not even halfway there. Rob worked with the tail to try to bring some respectability to proceedings and by the time Richard Moyle came in at number 11 with the score on 120 - at least respectability had been achieved. Suddenly it became apparent that Robbie was knocking off the runs and Richard was holding his end up. 43 for victory became 30, which became 20, which became 13. All of a sudden a dangerous moment, Richard and Rob running a fourth and Richard requiring a full length dive to make his ground - which somewhat dustily he did. The field came in, Robbie went aerial, and all of a sudden 4 to win - one more shot to leg and victory was Harpsdens with Rob scoring a career best 86 not out. For the best rearguard of the season a little something, and a big round of applause, for Robbie Harris. [WINE].

Before moving on with the cricket I would like to pause again to thank two people who drive everything we do - our President and his wife. Firstly Monsieur le President, Julian. He has worked so hard over the winter doing all the initial work for the temporary net and also for the square moving project. Let alone everything else he does for us. He provides me with invaluable guidance, and when necessary, motivation, he is always seen wheel-barrowing in the booze....and wheel-barrowing out the rubbish, cutting the shrubs, turning off the watering....and just about anything else that needs a wise head. Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding for our President, Julian Burtt. [WINE].

Now, his wife. Given how many years I have been doing this speech I am running out of superlatives to describe everything that Jane does for us. But that is not fair on Jane - I have to find new superlatives! Jane is the guiding hand behind everything that is good about Harpsden Cricket Club and is the drive behind so many of the activities. We all need to find a way of helping her more but in the mean time let's give her a roof-raising round of applause to say thank you for everything- Jane Burtt [FLOWERS].

The last of the close matches I'd like to mention is the game against Morgan. A really damp pitch and with Toby and Ed taking three wickets each and Morgan got an indefensible, or so we thought, 116 all out. Big George opened the batting and decided that nudging and nurdling our way to the small target was not the best plan. 42 from George in the first 5 overs and we were well on the way. But only 10 runs between Henry Ellis, Sam, Charlie Stevens, Miles and Alfred and suddenly we were in trouble - double figure contributions from the Stevens boys and we were edging closer but still needed over 30 when Simon Lovelock came to the crease. A wonderful knock of 24 from Simon left us needing 2 to win when Ed joined James Paice - a poke through the covers from Ed and another one wicket win for Harpsden. Winning the close ones is always more satisfying.

No club can thrive without an amazing amount of organisation. The committee do a brilliant job; David Heath as Treasurer, Will as Club Captain and Andy and James as Vice Captains, Richard Moyle who has done an amazing amount this year including the net, Joanna Cary for her valued input and Ian Whittaker as chief requisitions officer with the new caps and shirts going down really well this year. I would like to give special thanks though this year to Mick Greenwood as secretary as he is stepping down after our October Committee meeting as the Olypmics is going to make 2012 a really busy year for Mick's anti- terrorist group. Please give a round of applause to all these people for everything they do to make Harpsden cricket club what it is, and particularly Mick for all he has done behind the scenes over the last few years. Mick, we have a little something for you. [WINE].

A few more thank yous before we move on to a couple of final cricketing moments before Will presents the trophies. We are very lucky to have a number of people who are happy to take on that thankless task of umpiring. Firstly Neil Craig who turns out for us almost every Sunday and is becoming as well known on the circuit as Billy Bowden, and also David Heath, Tony Wright and Charlie Stevens who are always really happy to help out. Also a thank you in absentia to Alfred who did a tremendous job organising another great Sixes event and all the tea-makers and spectators throughout the season..

Four other special moments have stood out for me this season, two of which occurred in the BBC Caversham game and two against Greys Green. Firstly BBC Caversham: Toby opened the batting and proceeded to hammer the BBC Caversham attack into submission. What was most impressive was that this was against a background of loose shots and wickets at the other end - no nerves as he got into the nineties and in the company of his big brother pushed a single to bring up a marvelous maiden ton. The second event in that game came immediately after the drinks break. BBC Caversham were 73 for 3 and needed to survive the last 20 overs for a creditable draw. They say that drinks breaks often bring a wicket - that is an understatement! First ball after drinks, wicket for Johnny Wright, next ball, wicket for Johnny Wright. Third ball after drinks and Johnny was jumping around having got a hatrick. Next ball, Johnny gets another wicket - four in four. An uneventful fifth ball before John picked up a wicket from the final ball of the over. 73 for 3 and coasting, to 73 for 8 in one Johnny Wright over!

Now to the Greys Green game. We wanted to give a little something to somebody who does an amazing amount to help around the club and who also scores his fair share of runs. But this season, I'm quite sure he has the somewhat dubious honour of being the second highest scorer AGAINST Harpsden. Greys Green turned up one short so we provided them an opening bat and after a somewhat cautious start he accelerated to a quite awesome 86 against the best that Will, Johnny Wright, Ed, both Tom and Ben Hancock and I could serve up to him and although he was out in the 34th over, that proved to be more than half their total. We won so he was allowed home in the evening. A little something for Adam Birkett [BALL].

The final cricketing bit from me comes from the second half of the Greys Green game. James Paice had scored a quite stellar and match-winning 96 not out against Dulverton earlier in the season and seemed destined to score his maiden century when the target was reached. Another opportunity would come.....and that day proved to be against Greys Green. Chasing 173 to win, James Paice and Sam Imlay were well in control, and as we neared the target, the message got out to the centre that James needed nearly the same number of runs for his maiden century as there were runs to win. Sam was going to help James over the line - after alot of very generous blocking by Sam to try to avoid scoring any runs, James found himself on 98 not out with three runs to win. This was to be James' maiden ton......or was it? Matt Skilleter came in to bowl, the keeper missed it and it ran away, very slowly, for 4 byes. Harpsden had won by 8 wickets but James was again stranded in the nineties. For everything that James does for the Club, plus a little consolation to be saved and drunk when the maiden 100 does arrive - James Paice [WINE].



WILL - TROPHY PRESENTATION


Now to the award of the Club Man shield for 2011. I have already mentioned a lot of people who do so much for the Club but there are a few people who I would like to make a special mention of here. Alfred has done a great job this season preparing pitches, as has Ben, and both of them have been tremendously happy to help whenever asked. Adam does an incredible job on the square and clearing up after games, Tony Wright and Charlie Stevens have had a very busy year helping on the major project, and will certainly be doing even more over the winter months and Miles who does a lot of clearing up around the pavilion on a Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Ed has done an awesome amount for the club this year including inputting, and organising others to input, all the stats for the last 8 years, helping with pitches and without whom we wouldn't have been able to manage the workload associated with the filming project of two weeks ago that made the Club over £2,000. I would be grateful if you could give a really big round of applause for all those I have just mentioned.

The previous winners of the Club Man shield have been Will, Miles, Ben, Richard and last years’ winner Adam, and hence the bar for this years' Club Man is extremely high. He has scaled those heights with ease and in the quietest possible way. What characterizes a clubman is somebody who gets on and does things......with a smile and a joke. This year our Clubman designed and sourced a new plate for the gearbox for the Roller, and wouldn't even let us pay for it, helped to design and then spent untold hours putting up the net by the road with Richard, which has saved us a fortune in car damage. He has also , provided us the equipment and a lot of time helping us to clear out the trees at the top corner of the ground, repaired the chain on the roller when it broke (which is no easy task), serviced and repaired our new aerator and even phoned up and spoke to the Aerator's designer to tell him where he had gone wrong in the design process(!) and is always around to watch the last few overs of the matches, except when his sons finish the matches early. Very well deserved Clubman of 2011 goes to Lucius Cary [SHIELD].

So what does 2012 hold for Harpsden Cricket Club, our 125th anniversary? The major project is clearly going to take up a lot of time for many of us this winter but we also need to do some more work strengthening our fixture list and dropping teams who let us down by not being able to raise a team. We have already weeded out much of our weakest competition replacing them with what were hopefully stronger teams but we have more work to do on that.

But now it is time to just take a moment to appreciate how lucky we all are to be members of Harpsden Cricket Club. We have a great spirit and good facilities, which will hopefully be tremendous facilities by the start of 2013. We have a lot of people helping to make the club what it is and a real desire to involve everybody in the cricket and the Club.

I would like to propose a toast to Harpsden Cricket Club.