Rye Cricket Club (CC) has been working hard throughout the close season to prepare for the forthcoming 2016 cricket season. The committee has also been working hard with Rother District Council to get the Sidney Allnutt Pavilion into a condition to finally allow the 99 year lease to be signed.
Last weekend was NatWest Cricket Force Weekend, and over 30 members of Rye CC were busy digging a soakaway, painting walls, dusting the cobwebs away, cleaning the artificial wicket and rolling the wicket, plus many other jobs after the winter shut down.
During the winter the adult section has had six weeks of nets at Claremont School in Bodiam, whilst nearly 50 colts have had a 10 week coaching programme at Rye Sports Centre.
Elise Jorgensen has been working through the winter with the Sussex Ladies U15 squad, and Beth Chamberlain with the U11 squad. Three U13s Ewan Fricker, Freddie Mackenzie and Luke Payton have been selected for the Kent Spartans District team.
Secretary Martin Blincow accepted an invitation to go to Mumbai to visit last summer’s overseas player Kshemal Waingankar, and experience cricket on the sub-continent.
This summer’s overseas player Hugo Nel arrives on April 15 in readiness for the first game of the season on Saturday April 16 against Old Elthamians at the Rye Cricket Salts.
This season will be as busy as ever with three Saturday League teams, a Sunday XI and a midweek XI playing friendlies, a T20 team and five Colts teams, U11, U13 Red, U13 Black, U15 and U17.
Gary Willis continues to skipper the 1st XI, with James Hamilton as Vice Captain. The 2nd XI will be led by Neale Hopper with Martin Blincow as vice captain, and James Jury once again leads the 3rd XI.
The club has a series of social events booked, but the pavilion is now available for hire by individuals or organisations. Recently Rye Runners held a very successful Race Night for charity. If you would like to hire the pavilion, please contact Martin Blincow through blincsfamily@aol.com.
Former Colt, Harry Smeed enjoyed a highly successful winter playing for Port Melbourne CC in Australia, where he was the Division’s leading wicket taker and is already considering offers to return next winter. He is now back and looking forward to his next summer.
Comments by his Port Melbourne teammates “A pretty popular duck this one…Harry Smeed 0ut for 0 vs Old Mentonians 1st XI. In the post match interview, Smeedy commented ‘got the worst decision by a woeful umpire for my first GLOBE in Australia’ All 10 of his team mates said it looked pretty plumb to them with one saying he was surprised Smeedy didn’t walk.”
Signing on night is on Friday April 29 from 7:30pm onwards. Potential members of any age, gender or ability are welcome to join the club. Please contact Martin Blincow through blincsfamily@aol.com for more details.
Photos: Rye CC