December

19th December – No play today !!

Newdigate Ninjas finished week 6 of the Surrey Slam with two close losses ( each by just 2 runs) to the number one and number three sides. The final table is below:

Maverchicks – 75, South Nutfield 68, Godalming 64, Outwood 58, Newdigate 43, Horley 34, Reigate Priory 32.

On the 2nd December we attended the Dynamos Cricket conference at the Oval. This is a new initiative aimed at 8-11 year olds. Click on here to see full details.

https://ecb-comms.co.uk/1FT6-6MKH1-7G0H50-3V5S72-1/c.aspx

We will discuss this at committee to see how this could fit in with All Stars and our existing coaching and league commitments.

November

The annual Fuller’s Dinner took place at Sandown Park on the 11th November. Gareth Batty was the guest of honour. Our Chairman collected Ben Cameron’s premier division 1st XI bowling award.

The Newdigate Ninjas ladies team played their first indoor match in the Surrey Slam League at Box Hill School on the 2nd November. They narrowly lost to South Nutfield by 2 runs and Horley by 14 runs.

October

As everyone knows the bonfire night is the main fund raiser for the club. This year (25th October) it was touch and go as we had experienced heavy rain in the few days leading up to the event. Thanks to the stoicism and optimism of Chairman James Penfold and his intrepid team they made it happen. The rain held off and a splendid firework display ensued watched by hundreds of people. The fire burnt well, the fun fair, food, glow sticks, social club bar and mulled wine all did a roaring trade. This is such a great event for the entire family, young and old.

None of this could have happened without the support of many people. Those who got soaking wet with the setting up before the event, the gate keepers, car park attendants, the food and drink cookers and servers, the bonfire attendees and all those who helped with the clear up on Saturday. Thanks also to our sponsors – Bill Kear, Edward Ford, William Harmsworth but especially to the organisational skills of the Chairman and his team.

Congratulations to Marion Hales, the wife of our late President, Colin Hales. She recently celebrated her 100th birthday at Nower Lodge Care Home. A fine century indeed.

The end of season clear up took place on the 12th October. Well done the dozen or so people who came and helped. The hedge by the nets was cut and cuttings put on the bonfire, gutters cleared, the nets dismantled, sight screen and mobile cage stored safely, etc. etc.

Our groundsman Derek Heselwood found a rare break from rain (10th October) and has worked really hard to get the autumn preparation completed on the square before the next deluge.

September

Congratulations to Pippa Beattie and Roger Beale who organised this years Dinner and Dance at Stanhill Court on the 28th September. Great venue, excellent food and brilliant music.

22nd September and the last game of the season. 12.30 and the rain is falling and the temperature is dropping after the most amazing spell of late summer sunshine. The leaves are falling and the hanging baskets are dead. Players start arriving including ‘Easy Rider’ Mark Rance playing his first match of the season. The rain stops and the final game of the season is played. The stumps and boundary boards are put away and the doors are shut as we say goodbye to another cricket season.

There was a bonanza of cricket on the Brocus on the 14th September. The weather was warm and sunny as players, coaches, parents, and guardians gathered for the finale of the junior cricket season. First off was a fun pairs cricket match consisting of players at under 9, 11, 12 and All Stars.

The coaches then took on the colts. Batting first the coaches scored 127 from their 20 overs. The colts kept up a good scoring rate of about 5 runs an over but fell behind at the end. With several players having not batted it was agreed to allow the colts to bat extra overs and they safely passed the target set by the coaches.

After the cricket a barbecue was fired and this was followed by the junior presentation which was attended by over 100 people.

See junior section for full details.

August

The Bank Holiday Monday saw a Six-a-Side competition in aid of Prostate Cancer.

Bringing Cricket to the People.

A glorious Sunday bank holiday saw the Brocus full of happy cricketers, young and old, for the Family Fun Open Day.

Four teams, including players from Capel and Westcott, played in a 10-a-side kwik cricket pairs competition. Some late arrivals played their own 6-a-Side match. So for much of the day we had three matches taking place at the same time.

There was a bouncy castle and games for young and old.

…. a barbecue and cream teas.

…. the bar did a roaring trade.

During the afternoon, Test Match Special was being played across the ground and as the day wore on we all hoped that something special was going to happen at Headingley. Could there be a repeat of Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff’s Ashes heroics of 1981 and 2005? Nine wickets down with Ben Stokes and number eleven Jack Leach batting and over 70 needed. No way. The tension mounted, Stokes was smashing fours and sixes – crowds on the club balcony were glued to TMS. Youngsters gathered around mobiles. Penners desperately trying to get the TV to work. ….. then Stokes smashes a square cut for four and the match is won. An historic moment. It was great to see so many people discovering the wonders and excitement of cricket.

Tyler gets mobbed …

… and it’s all too much for Martin Earp.

A nice Saturdayafternoon at the cricket but what drama. Newdigate needed to beat Thames Ditton in order to gain promotion to the Surrey Championship. Three terrific catches and a superb run-out were all that separated the two teams. The game fluctuated and when Thames Ditton looked comfortable Newdigate surged ahead and it was anyone’s game. But not to be and Newdigate’s dream of Championship Cricket in 2020 evaporated on a warm summer’s afternoon.

The cricket club took on the Surrey Oaks at Petanque on the 22nd August. We just lost a competitive match.

On the 18th August Andrew Major was short-listed in the Lifetime Achievement Award for making an outstanding difference to their club. The dinner and ceremony was held at the OSCA ceremony at the Oval. Here is Andrew with James Penfold and Charlie Major.

The 1st XI lost a vital game to Long Ditton and slip to third place. Here is the team prior to the match.

The junior summer camp took place between the 13th & 16th August. We had some sunshine but a lot of rain but the youngsters had a great time. Thanks to Andrew Major, Tyler Ridder and John Callcut who ran the week and to Imogen Collier who helped with registration etc. On the Thursday evening we took a group of 20 children to the Oval for the Vitality Blast T20 match against the Sussex Sharks which Surrey won! Thanks to the helpers and parents who had the onerous task of conducting the children home in the dark along with 20,000 other supporters!

More rain !!

Indoor Cricket

Day 1 at the Summer Camp

Table Tennis during the rain

July

Following an amazing win against Chaldon MO on the 27th July the first eleven moved to the top of the league. Despite heavy rain in the morning Andrew Major and his team got the pitch playable. Batting first in a reduced overs timed match is never a great option – even worse when the score stands at 15-2 but ‘cometh the hour, cometh the man’. Enter skipper Lewis Davies who hit a glorious century ably backed up by a half century from Tyler Ridder which enabled a declaration to be made after just 23 overs! Chasing an improbable 221 to win Chaldon were skittled out for 62 with Allan Cooper and Ben Cameron sharing the honours.

On Sunday the 14th July everyone witnessed the most amazing ICC World Cup Final which saw England beat New Zealand. The match was tied – the super over was tied – but England won as they hit the most boundaries. An unbelievable climax to a fantastic competition. The club hosted Coldharbour and the television was on showing the match on free to air Channel 4.

On the 13th July the Chairman hosted a dinner at the club for past and present stalwarts. A very convivial afternoon was spent enjoying excellent food and drinks provided by Constantin and Cristina Mitran. The guests stayed to watch the first team play against Merrow.

Julian Chamberlain, Dave Puddicombe and Nick Crawford

William Harmsworth can’t bear to watch the cricket, Nick Procter is more sanguine

Annette and Don Jones

Mike Quigley still smiling despite Australia’s defeat to England

The Chairman auctions a Jason Roy shirt. Jinny Osborne, Julian & Brian Chamberlain look on.

Past Chairmen, Roger Bailey

Dan Procter, over from Australia, couldn’t resist a go in the nets.

… and Martin Clabby turns his arm over.

Dave Puddicombe in profile

June

On the 17th June we hosted the Dorking Schools’ Girls Kwik Cricket Competition. This was a happy day and St.Josephs were the winners and went through to the Surrey finals at Epsom College. During the tournament we had a surprise visit from Cody Irvine and his family. They are over for a family wedding in Newcastle.

Once again Capel CC should be congratulated for staging their annual 6-a-Side competition. It rained heavily throughout the morning but they still managed to stage an under 9 knock-out competition for the stoic teams that remained. We lost to Southwater. The under 11s started on schedule but the number of pitches had to be reduced from three to two, so that presented enormous problems for Ben Brearley and his team. Nevertheless, the competition was finished. We lost to Southwater A and Capel B but beat Southwater B.

Soggy Capel

The optimists

Newdigate under 11s

Merstham CC have had ‘visitors’. Just shows how vigilant we need to be. Always lock the gate after use.

Chance to Shine came to a soggy end on the 12th June as the final session for year two was cancelled. Over the past few weeks we have delivered five sessions to year one and three sessions (two cancelled due to rain) to year two of Newdigate Infants School. This is the children’s first experience of cricket and through this they join All Stars on a Friday evening on the start of their cricketing journey.

On the 11th June we hosted the Dorking Schools’ Boys Kwik Cricket Competition. The standard seems to improve every year. This year’s competition was won by St. Pauls closely followed by St. Josephs and the Weald. This picture shows some of the players having a great day.

Despite the dreadful weather Village Day still took place on the 8th June. We took the mobile cage down to the area and invited people to bowl at the stumps. Here is Tom Stimpson having a go and Krisztina getting expert tuition from Roger Beale. Thanks to Pippa Beattie for supplying the balloons which decorated the cage.

Congratulations to Harry Ellis. He took a hat-trick against the Jesters on Sunday, 2nd June.

May

On the 30th May we hosted the Surrey over 60s fourth eleven who played against Kent.

Congratulations to Matt Clarke. He recorded his second century of the season with a chanceless 110 not out against Wandgas in the premier league match on the 18th May.

It is a shame that we have had to withdraw from the under 11 ‘Smash-It’ league. In the past the Surrey Youth Games has featured girls cricket. Under ‘Chance to Shine’ we have visited local primary schools and each year have had a good squad. This year, for various reasons, cricket has been withdrawn from the Games thus the incentive for schools to run after school cricket has been lost. Our approaches with the exception of one school have been negative. We have several under 12 girls and we hope to be giving them matches with the ladies and some of our ESCL games.

Tyler Ridder, our overseas player has arrived. We introduced him to all the juniors at the 3rd May training session. The temperature dropped and the heavens opened. Welcome to England Tyler!!

The next ‘On the Front Foot’ broadcast on Susy Radio will take place on the 2nd May from 7.00 – 9.00 pm.

April

Spare a thought for our midweek general, Graham Capel. He has had a serious altercation with a circular saw that has severed the tendons in his left hand. Brilliant surgery at the Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead has returned movement to his fingers but it will be some time before we see his flighted left arm spin on a Wednesday evening.

Susy Radio are great supporters of the club. Hear the latest ‘On the Front Foot’ broadcast. Go to 10 minutes at the following site to hear what they said about us. http://www.susyradio.com/2019/04/08/local-cricket-chat-with-the-first-on-the-front-foot-of-2019/

We regret to announce that Roger MacKinnon of Sturtwood Farm has sadly passed away after a long illness. Over the years Roger has been a generous benefactor and supporter of the club. We send our condolences to Bridgit and the Clark family – Caroline, Neil, Samuel and Thomas.

NatWest Cricket Force (6th April) is traditionally the day when it is ‘all hands on deck’ to get the club ready for the new season. As usual there were lots of jobs to be done in order to get everything ready for the new season in just one weeks time! Here is the group having a break and a well deserved cup of tea and a bacon roll. JC is missing as he took the picture.

Publicity is ramping up for All Stars Cricket. On the 2nd April we did a promotion at Newdigate Infants School.

March

On the 22nd March we held a parent’s evening during which we discussed all the plans for junior cricket in 2019. Our Chairman, James Penfold, gave a presentation outlining all that will be happening during the forthcoming season. He made an appeal for assistance and in particular he requested help with doing the weekly registration and organising the selling of second-hand equipment.

Two mates from Australia – Matt Dedes and Dylan Mares.

On the 10th March a group of Coopers and Thompsons took part in the Banham Marsden March – a walk from the Royal Marsden Hospital in Fulham to the Marsden in Sutton. This was organised by Susannah the sister of Surrey’s Richard Thompson who herself has undergone breast cancer treatment. Our own Allan Cooper took part along with his sisters Angela and Suzie. So far they have raised nearly £10,000.If you would like to donate to this very worthy cause then go to:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/themarsdenmarchforsupersuz

Throughout the winter Redhill Probationary Service has been supplying us with teams of workers. Their primary job has been to clear leaves and a very good job they have done too. They came again on the 7th March and cleared all the twigs that had fallen from the trees in the centre of the field and cleared more leaves around the pavilion and on the side next to the woods. They also removed the netting from around the square and put up the posts and rope.

February

100 days to go until the start of the ICC World Cup Cricket Competition. The event was launched on the 19th February at Trafalgar Square. We are one of 1800 clubs throughout the country who have registered to be a Cricket World Cup Club and we have applied for a £1,000 grant to improve club facilities.

Winter nets are being held at the Belmont School in Holmbury St. Mary. See the calendar for the session programme.

The Russell Haigh Bursary is under way at the Surrey Cricket Centre. Here are the players with their coaches Andy and Neil.

Following the cold snap we have had problems at the pavilion. Jill Earp was walking her dog on the 1st February when she heard an alarm going off. James and Charlie inspected only to find water cascading from the changing room ceiling. Fortunately, plumber Nigel Pankhurst, was in the village and he cut off the water and identified the faulty joint.

Water stained walls

The faulty joint

The drying process is now taking place but new lagging is required and the stained walls will have to be re-painted.

January

Our AGM held at the club on Thursday, 10th January was extremely well attended. Chairman, James Penfold gave an excellent illustrated presentation describing the aspirations of the club within a Five Year Development Plan. This can be seen under Club Information on this website. We said goodbye to a number of committee members – James Bettesworth (membership), Stephen Kehl (treasurer), Tricia Kehl (social), Andrew Mayne (junior co-ordinator), Allan Cooper (1st XI Captain) and Paul Bettesworth (2nd XI Captain). They were replaced by Graham Capel, Jon Pritchard, Pippa Beattie, Phil Mumford, Lewis Davies and Dan Jones. Contact details of all the new committee can be found under Who’s Who. At the meeting Monjur Elahi was presented with the Club Person of the Year Award.

Evette Burton and John Callcut ran a two hour coaching session at the club on the 2nd January to blow away the cobwebs. Ten players attended and enjoyed a variety of fielding, batting and bowling exercises.

Many congratulations to William Harmsworth who was awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for services to the magistracy. William has been a magistrate for 35 years serving East Surrey and Mole Valley. We think he should have got an MBE for umpiring the mid-week team for so many years!!