Armagh Cricket Club News Letter 2013.
Club Web Site
Dear Member
As you know Cricket has been played on The Mall for over 150 years. The Mall is our City’s most treasured asset.
The Cricket Club is responsible for the upkeep of the two main playing areas covering nearly 7 acres. During 2013 we have been looking after both fields on a voluntary basis. We have been very fortunate to have the services of Ian Mitchell, David Courtney and Eric Davidson. Ian and David took care of the wickets and weekly repairs. Eric ensured we had straight boundary lines for all our matches
The twice weekly mowing was looked after by Ronnie McConnell and William Dougan. Charlie Coulter ensured we kept our machinery in good repair. Many thanks to all the Team.
Improvements
Many of the Members and general public commented how well the Mall looked in 2013.
We have just spent £1,200 on improvements to our main playing square we scarified, reseeded, top dressed and fertilized 6 wickets. The wickets in 2014 could be up to representative standards.
Please find my e mail address. Please send me yours we can keep in touch and avoid the 50p stamps
1st X1
Captained by Gareth Mc Carter for the 4th season. Gareth received an Award from the Club for having played 100 1st X1 consecutive matches
The 1st X1 started the season with three straight wins and finished strongly with wins over Saintfield and Larne. The middle of the season was disappointing, the Team lacking consistency in both batting and bowling. Matthew Steenson was leading scorer, Andrew Walbran was the Team’s best bowler. A century from Colin Russell marked a strong season, he was well supported by Michael Villiers, Andrew Smyth, Stuart Lester and Harry Doyle.
Young players in Jonny Morton, Jordan Wright, Stuart McCall and Robin Sinton all performed well and we look forward to their continued development in 2014.
2nd X1
Captained by Matthew Brownlee, who brought inspiration to the Team after being relegated in 2012.The 2ndX1 were league leaders for much of the season but fell away later as they lost key players. However Matthew stuck at the job and they finished a creditable 4th in the league. With better fixture arrangements in 2014 the 2nds can be a real asset to the Club and challenge the 1st team players.
3rd X1
Captained by Keith Wilson the Team won the Minor Qualifying Cup beating Ballymena at Templepatrick by 18 runs. Keith scored a great century during the season, well done, he also encouraged many senior players to return to Cricket Peter Hazleton and Mark Elliott made notable contributions.
Mid Week League
This was re entered, it is a 20 over system, and it allows players who cannot play on Saturdays to enjoy their Cricket.
Taveners
Great fun with this lot, older players past it all but still believe they have it. Dundalk was a popular away fixture, we are looking forward to proving ourselves in 2014
Juniors
This was the success story of the 2013 Season. We fielded Under 11s ,13s,15s and 17s.The Team of the year was the Under 11s.They beat Cregagh in the league Final but lost to Derriaghy in the Cup Final. The Under 13s were beaten again by Derriaghy in the League Final and the Under 15s lost to Muckamore in their League Final.
The Under 17s reached the Colts Final but were narrowly beaten by Waringstown.
Team of the Year were the Under 11s
Awards
Most Improved Player Ben Nichol
Most Promising Player was Adam Wright
Under 11s Player of the Year wasJordan Wright
Under 11s Batting AwardPeter Taylor
Under 11s Bowling AwardAdam Wright
Under 13s Batting Award Stuart Mc Call
Under 13s Bowling Award Mathew Rainey
Under 15s Batting Award Robin Sinton
Under 15s Bowling AwardJordan Wright
We had a Winter Academy in the Royal School, this started on 9th January and continued every Wednesday evening until we could get onto the Mall. We plan to repeat this in 2014, more news on this later.
Many thanks to Ryan McCarter and all the Senior players who gave their time at the coaching sessions. George Breakey is responsible for the Junior success. George was awarded The Coaching Award at the Sports Award Dinner
Also thanks to the parents for the transport. McDonalds was a serious stop on the way back to Armagh.
Ladies
Captained and organised by Lauren Breakey. They performed well on the field, even beating Waringstown. The Ladies Team are planning to enter the NCU Leagues in 2014.Come on Ladies get stuck in. We also want to set up Junior Ladies Coaching starting In January 2014.
Finances
These are under the strict control of Arnold Courtney and Treasurer Keith Wilson.
As Members you will be interested to know that it takes approximately £40,000 per year to finance the Club. Our Income varies but is budgeted in year ending July 2014 to be approximately £42,000, so we are just in the black.
The Pavilion Bar is our main source of Income. It is now well organised with improvements made this year to the upholstery, with more planned in 2014. Foul language and drunkenness is banned, so please call in for a quiet drink on Saturday evenings, we have started to serve light complimentary snacks.
Subscriptions
Thank you all for your continued support by paying your subs on time. They are again due on 1st January 2014. We cannot survive without your help to ensure Cricket continues on the Mall.
Many of the players do not pay their subs, this is very unfair to those who do pay, so come on guys pay up.!!!!
Web Site
Our thanks to Colin Graham for setting this up. We have had 20,000 hits since March 2013 from over 5,000 visitors. 27 Club members have registered on the site.
See enclosed details of the Cash back facility allowing the Club to raise funds from your Internet purchases at no cost to you.
The site provides a weekly update to all registered Members. You will be interested to learn that after our Awards Night your site was ranked in the top 50 most visited Cricket Clubs in the UK.
Events
Race Night Held 30th November. This was a great success. Thank you for all your support.
AGM
This was held on the 6th December. More details later.
Members Evening
This is planned for 14th December, complimentary supper and hopefully music is on the Menu. Do come, it is the Clubs way to say thank you.
Starting at 8.00 pm with Supper at 9.30. Bar open of course.
Enclose are 10 ways you can help your Club
Ladies
We are reforming the Ladies Committee, it has lapsed for a few years, and we need more sparkle and drive in our organisation. Volunteers welcome. More details later.
Carnival Day
This was held on the 26th August. We had over 1000 people on the Mall. The Newry Hospiceheld a collection day, they were very pleased with the results.
Many thanks to all who supported this effort.
The Funding was by Peace 111, without their support we could not have organised such an Event. Thank You All.
Members
We hope when you read this 2013 Newsletter you will see that your Club is thriving. The success of the Junior players bodes well for the future.
We need new Members, please ask your Friends to consider joining if not as a Full Member but a House Member and enjoy the good facilities on The Mall.
Pavilion
This is available for organisations to use for their functions or Private parties, there are Kitchen facilities available not forgetting our Pavilion Bar.