150 Not Out (red ink)

On Saturday the club held a dinner to recognise the 150^th Anniversary of HWRCC at Hampton Court House. 130 guests dined and wined in the company of Gladstone Small and host of former presidents including Michael McMahon, Nevil Tideswell and Graham Mansfield.

The evening kicked off with a drinks reception, followed by a three course supper before Gladstone spoke eloquently and with a host of amusing anecdotes about his time in cricket.

He was modest about his playing career. In his test alone he removed some of the era’s finest batsmen including Border, Greenidge, Haynes, Richardson, Dean Jones, Steven Waugh, Carl Hooper and Gus Logie. He also neglected to mention destroying the Aussies at Melbourne on Boxing Day 1986 which Matthew Engel summarises on Cricinfo:

“Gladstone Small had his moment of glory to help England retain the Ashes in 1986-87. Small, a last-minute replacement, stunned a Boxing Day crowd of 58,000 at the MCG by splitting Australia's first innings wickets with Ian Botham. Small took 5 for 48 and Australia were rolled over for 141. When England won, Small was named Man of the Match, Gladstone Small had his moment of glory to help England retain the Ashes in 1986-87. Small, a last-minute replacement, stunned a Boxing Day crowd of 58,000 at the MCG by splitting Australia's first innings wickets with Ian Botham. Small took 5 for 48 and Australia were rolled over for 141. When England won, Small was named Man of the Match.”

The winners of the awards for cricket in 2013 received their trophies (well – the ones we could lay our hands on) from Gladstone.

Phil Linter picked up fielder of the year for his extraordinary work in the 4s picking up 14 outfield catches and contributing to a run out beating off stiff competition from Ben Stephens (18 catches and a stumping), Alex Dare and Robbie Oliver.

Iain Tong was named bowler of the year for a fine all round season mixing up his medium pacers and impressive leg spin to take 38 league wickets. Fahad Tanveer, with four five wicket hauls and 41 at 16 in the league, was unlucky only to be nominated as were Nomaan (45 wickets) and Phil Linter.

Nomaan strolled the batting prize despite stiff competition from Ian Collier who dominated the 3xi statistics with 442 runs at 42 in a side that seldom passed 200 all season. Zohaak was nominated for his often brutal batting in the 2xi. Mark Mackie was also mentioned in dispatches for his phenomenal 180 not out - currently the highest score in living memory at the Wick. But Normy scored 660 league runs at 55 this year and is probably the only bat in Wick history to have worse average when you take into account his contributions in friendly games. Saving it for the big occasion won him the trophy.

With such a fine all round performance from Nomaan, this year’s Player of the Year was going to have to done something spectacular to nudge him off the top spot. Phil Linter’s incredible all round year in the 4xi, twice inspiring his side to win with 9 men and topping the West Division was almost enough. Iain Tong’s contributions with bat and ball were spectacular too.

But the Player of the Year was Greame Tong. Graeme took on a team following a couple of major defections with the year before’s top bowler and arguably best bat departing and lost the quality of Adam O’Mahoney and Alex Day but moulded a new side that had resolve, grit and passion and took them straight up into Division 4… well done Tongy!

The Chairman’s Award had to be split this year. Two individuals made 2013 a year to remember. Adam Selves organised the first cricket week at the club since the Millennium – three successes against touring sides including The Gentlemen of Yorkshire contributed to confidence across the club and the 150^th Anniversary celebrations including the Victorian Cricket match were an indication of a club in rude health. The tour to Barbados is already becoming the stuff of club legend – for all sorts of reasons. The hard work and diplomacy of Tom Crowther ensured that we made new friends and for those who travelled, new friends and memories for life. Well done Adam and Tom.

Thank you to Keith, Dom, Adam and Jelly for organising the evening and to all the friends of the club who generously donated prizes for the auction – Mark Webster, Ian Geddes, David Fudge, Stephen Riley, Keith Nicholls, Nick Clark, Michael McMahon, Marc Holland and Hampton Court Palace Golf Club. Finally to our sponsors – Grass Roots, Paragon and Le Cloche at The Lion. We couldn’t do without you.

Happy 150^th birthday to The Wick. Let’s have another great season in 2014.