125th Anniversary Year Sunday 14th July 2024 - PAST v PRESENT

The opening event got proceedings off to a fine start with a 40 over game between Past and Present Players. An excellent squad of players made themselves avaailable and although the main attention was on the Past XI credit is due to the the present team for the way they entered into the spIrit of the occasion. The combined teams PAST V PRESENT 14th July 2024

Past v Present Back Row: Neil Cox, Andy Finlay. Steve Cope. Simon Walker, Steve Cokayne, John Aldred, Martin Starr, Graham Farnsworth, Adam Leigh, Mark Starr, Rob Wilkinson (umpire), Paul Aldred, Grahame McDonough, John Whitaker, James Cokayne, Matt Murfin Front Row: David Shaw, Steve Walker, Jack Murfin, Jake Cherry, Joe Lacey, Jake Storer, Harriet Parkin, Kevin Farnsworth, Arthur Lacey, Neil Parkin, Dylan Moorhouse, Charlie Murfin. The captains for the day were Matk Starr (Past (it)) and Jake Cherry and upon winning the toss Mark asked the Present XI to bat

Graheme McDonaugh and Paul Aldred opened the bowling with both showing that their enthusiasm had not been dampened. Paul still has the cLassical action of his county cricket days and any aspiring bowler should take note of the easy run up, high arm action and follow through.

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Here are a few of the past XI players

David Shaw- who hit his first ever six for Shipley

Graham Farnsworth of leg theory fame

Martin Starr

Stve Cope

Simon Walker

It must be said that the Past XI bowling was treated with scant respect by the Present batsmen and the final total of 239 from the 40 overs sent both teams off to tea in a contended state of mind. To add to their contenment the ladies had produced a delcious feast (it cannot be described as anything less as the tables groaned under the weight of the goodies) which had the players and guests frequently returning for seconds, thirds and more. Sue, Carole, Merell and Christine weRe responsible and are deserving of the highest praise. Suitibly sated the Past sarted their chase of the total and David Shaw and Adam got things off to a bright and breezy start with a stand of 42 during which David scored his first ever six whilst batting at Shipley. Frilly went on to 40+ when he took pity on the bowling and retired. A collapse of sorts was followed by an elegant 45 from Neil Cox ( living up to his Lord Edward title) and the score was mounting nicely. There followed the innings of the game from the ever fit Steve Walker who, in partnership with Graham,and, in true dramatic style hit a straight six off the inal ball of the match to win the game for the Past. Great entertainment enjoyed by all and a framed picture of the team,and a scoresheet signed by the players is a fitting testimonial to an event that epiomised all the good things about cricket at Shipley. One final word of thanks to Bob Wilkinson who umpired for much of the proceedings

One (unfotuneately) lasting memory

2024 - The125th YEAR

The club reached it's 125th year in 2024 and formed a small committee to consider how this achievement might be celebrated. Their ideas resulted in 3 distinct actions, a. A programme of events over a period of a fortnight from 14th to 28th July. b. The pubication of an Anniversary Book. c The production of a Anniversary Polo shirt. It was difficUlt to ascertain the strength of feeling within the club for the celebrations. Whether in this day and age such matters were important to members was perhaps debatable and the actual implementation was clearly going to fall on the shoulders of a limited number of volunteers. However a programme was agreed and published

The Anniversary Book was one for me to write and Andy Finlay to produce. It did not prove to be easy but eventuaLly production was completed

Steve Cokayne took on the task of polo production and the result was

The experience and input of Andy Finlay proved vital in many areas of the event planning and the whole was overseen by Steve Cokayne who needed considerable patience and perseverance.I will descibe the event in more detail in a subsequent post. The workload did fall on "the few" and their efforts were rewarded.