It may be winter but Rye Cricket Club is still hard at work developing itself as a club and preparing for the 2018 Season.
At present the club has two indoor teams playing in the EACA Indoor League, with the 1st team top of Division One and the seconds mid-table in Division Three.
The Club has also recently been re-accredited with the ECB Clubmark Award, to reflect the high standards the club attains in the way it is managed and run, and for the quality of its Colts Coaching programme.
The club has commenced work on expanding the upstairs area of the Sidney Allnutt Pavilion, and improving the ventilation. Thanks to Rother District Council and Rye Town Council for their financial support.
Rye CC has arranged a game against Western Court Wanderers in August 2018, where the contribution of the Club’s late President, Richard Merricks, to the club will be recognised.
The club recently attended the Rye Primary School Club event where a number of young people registered their interest to play cricket. The Club is also providing Taster Sessions for Playden School, and pupils of Winchelsea Primary. An offer is extended to all local Primaries to run taster sessions.
Rye Cricket Club has a winter coaching programme starting on February 21 at Rye Sports Centre for 10 weeks, at 5-6pm for primary school children (£30), and 6-7pm for Years 7 & 8 and 7-8pm for Years 9-12 (£50) To reserve a place please contact Martin Blincow on blincsfamily@aol.com or 07535482006.
The club is preparing for the 2018 season, and has secured the services of pace bowler Cleon Reece (pictured above) from Montserrat as the overseas player.
Originally from Guyana, the only English speaking country on the South American mainland, he began playing organised cricket for Montserrat in the Leeward’s inter islands tournament starting from the under 13s and progressed through the years to the under 15s and under 19s.
In his final year representing Montserrat in the inter islands U19s competition, he was selected for the Leeward Islands Under 19s Team to take part in the Caribbean Regional U19s. Since then Cleon has gone on to represent Montserrat at the senior levels, with dreams of progressing to higher levels.
Cleon said he would like to “thank the Rye CC family for giving him the opportunity to represent Rye in the Sussex premier league in 2018. It’s all been a surreal experience thus far and a tremendous honour to be part of a club with so much promise and potential.
“In my first ever overseas stint, I’m looking forward to growing as a cricketer playing in foreign conditions, and also share my knowledge of the game, hopefully making a positive and lasting impact on the Rye cricket club and its future endeavours.”
Rye CC will be holding its AGM on Sunday January 28 in the Sidney Allnutt Pavilion at 7pm, to which all members are invited, and potential new members are welcome.
Photo: Martin Blincow
Photo: Martin Blincow