Although ground conditions meant that Sunday’s scheduled Aberdeenshire Cup Final was unable to proceed, and the Bon Accord Cup needed to be re-located from Methlick to Inverurie, Saturday’s rain relented just long enough for Saturday’s three finals to be completed, with Inverurie and Grampian both completing league-cup doubles.

Please Note Due to a waterlogged pitch at the Lairds Ground (Methlick) the Bon Accord Cup final venue is now at Kellands Park (Inverurie). Our thanks to Methlick CC for making every effort to make play possible and to Inverurie CC for not only allowing use of their ground but preparing their ground as a contingency. 

Inverurie confirmed their promotion to Grade 1 in emphatic form as Chris Watson with an undefeated 143 and George Hadden combined to score 220 for an unbroken second wicket stand against third-placed Queens Cross-Stoneywood-Dyce at the Duthie Park, while in second place Kintore-Kemnay also confirmed their promotion with a win over Fraserburgh, whose points were nevertheless enough to see them along with Banchory, stabilise their positions in Grade 2 for a further year, and relegate 2^nd AGSFPs, whose game was the latest at Methlick to fall void.

The men’s national team have 2 very important games coming up against Hong Kong at The Grange, Edinburgh on the 8th and 10th of September.  In a new move we are looking to have a female mascot on each of the days to accompany Preston Mommsen (Captain) at the toss out in the middle as well as meeting women’s captain Abbi Aitken.  It will be a great experience for one lucky girl and I’m looking for girls U16 to declare their interest in being a mascot at one of the games.  On the day the mascot will get 4 tickets for family as well as getting to meet the players and a Cricket Scotland goodie bag. 

***************************************************************************************************************
It is with sadness that we announce the death of Dave Richie. Dave was Captain for the 2^nd XI Dunecht Cricket Club, and passed away last week, many clubs will know his brother Brian Richie. Dave’s funeral is scheduled for Wednesday 10^th August.
***************************************************************************************************************

With the sun finally on their backs Grade 1 leaders Bon Accord, anchored by another century from the prolific Fazal Awan, took another step towards their cherished aim of finishing the Grade 1 season with a hundred per cent record as they defeated relegation-threatened Mannofield at the Links; while Gordonians, bolstered by a century from all-rounder Chamila Perera, recorded just their second victory of the season over a Cults-Artisans-St Ronald side, who being unable to play at their home ground find themselves occupying an unfamiliar lower mid-table position this year.  Lahore Karahi meantime were pushed closer to Grade 2 as, despite a half-century from Kaleem Imran, they lost out to Academy at Sheddocksley, and there were also wins in the top league for AGSFPs and Crescent.

The Grades Select match against an SPCU Select has been cancelled due to the clash with the Turriff Cup quarter-finals. The Grades Select will however, play a NoSCA Select at Buckie on Sunday 4th September. All spectators are welcomed

There were few surprises in another rain-affected programme in the top division of the Grades at the weekend, as Bon Accord comfortably beat Crescent to remain on course for the Grade 1 title, while at the foot Mannofield, despite losing to Academy following a century from the visitors’ Abhinav Kache, gained valuable points ahead of Lahore Karahi & Gordonians; and there was a comfortable win for AGSFPs over homeless Cults-Artisans-St Ronald at the Duthie Park.

Dear All

Thank you to all that have responded so far.

We have plenty of places for the upcoming summer camp from the 9th, 10th and 11th August.

A 39-ball century from AGSFPs’ Karan Anand, backed up by half-centuries from Geoff Morrison and Alex Keith saw the visitors to a crushing win over local rivals Gordonians at Countesswells. 

Please find attached a flyer for the Girls only Kwik Cricket festival being held at the very picturesque Doo’cot Park on Sunday 21st August. The festival will be followed by a National Women’s Regional Series match; so the present and the future of Scottish Women’s cricket at the same venue!

If your club wishes to attend, please contact Kari Carswell direct (karicarswell@cricketscotland.com) no later than 19th August.

Due to the waterlogged pitch this camp has been postponed until further notice

As some of you may know Methlick cc were holding a Kwik Cricket festival at Lairds on Sun the 24th July. Unfortunately due to a number of reasons including the rearranging of grades fixtures and the damage done to the outfield by the recent weather this will not be possible.

The Management Committee of the Association met on Friday July 15^th to review a range of issues relating to outstanding fixtures, and to make provisional arrangements for the Cup Finals due in August.

The Vice-President informed the Committee that, due to personal circumstances, the President had recently had to return to India, and was unlikely to return before the end of the season.  While he would be continuing in office and kept informed of developments, it had therefore been agreed that the Vice-President would need to assume responsibility for overseeing day-to-day affairs of the Association, and Clubs would need to be advised of this.  The Committee agreed to formally place on its record its best wishes to the President and his family at this difficult time.  The Vice-President also reminded the Committee of the need to act collectively, and should not express individual views on representations received from member clubs, rather referring these to the Committee for resolution.

This weekend it seemed to be problems of holiday player non-availability that dominated the programme, rather than pitch or weather issues, as only 2 games were completed in Grade 3 and only 1 in Grade 4.

At the top of Grade 1 meantime Bon Accord’s progress towards the title continued unabated as, with yet another century from Fazal Awan, they comfortably disposed of Gordonians at Countesswells, while Mannofield strengthened their chances of grade 1 survival as they beat Lahore Karahi at the Duthie Park, and Cults-Artisans-StRonald recorded a 32-run victory over Ellon at the Links.

Women’s Cricket Manager required. Please find attached documentation.

The weather gods once again had the final say in the Aberdeenshire Grades, as following a week of confusion in which the Management Committee tried their best to bring cup competitions back onto schedule, the vast majority of games finished up being void or scratched.

The scratchings included the remaining quarter-final of the Aberdeenshire Cup where Lahore Karahi scratched to Gordonians, rendering the changes agreed by the Committee to Saturday’s league programme, including bringing forward the game between Academy & Crescent, abortive; while at Grade 3 level arrangements for the Reid Cup Semi-final between Grampian & Siyapa remain unresolved, with the clubs still seemingly unable to agree a mutually acceptable date to replace the 7-day replay Rule which a majority of the Committee had earlier indicated that, in default of agreement, they would probably be required to enforce.

Further to the posting below http://www.acagrades.org.uk/node/1383 as part of the restructuring at Cricket Scotland our Aberdeenshire Cricket Association along with other Associations/Unions were invited to each nominate a Director to sit on the board of Cricket Scotland Holdings Ltd.  Details of the roles/responsibilities can be found in the previous posting.

The Management Committee are delighted to announce the appointment of our long standing Treasurer, Ian Stephen as Director on the Cricket Scotland Board  along with representatives  from WDCU (Sandy Strang), ESCA (Scott Russell), SPCU (Gordon McKinnie) and NoSCA (Jerry Bishop, probably a well-known name to many of our more elderly cricketers).

The first board meeting was held last month at Sport Scotland’s headquarters in Edinburgh. Prior to the appointment an intensive induction was undertaken into the responsibilities of being a Company Director registered at Companies House.

There is an acceptance that there needs to be far greater links between Cricket Scotland and the local Associations and these appointments are the first steps on this journey. Ian intends to keep as all updated with developments at Cricket Scotland.

The photograph shows Ian Stephen (Centre) with Tony Brian ((Left) Chairman) and Malcolm Cannon ((Right) Chief Executive).

Clubs will be aware that last weekend’s Reid Cup semi-final between Grampian & Siyapa, and Sunday’s postponed Aberdeenshire Cup quarter-final between Lahore Karahi & Arrowdawn Gordonians were both washed out.

Under Association Rules the default date for these games to be rescheduled is within 7 days or at the discretion of the Management Committee, should clubs jointly approach the Committee with an acceptable alternative arrangement.  To date no such submissions have been received.

Weather again took a hand in the Aberdeenshire Grades on Saturday, as a majority of the league games in Grade 1 finished as void; and affairs between the clubs will now need to be determined in the reverse fixtures scheduled for the final weekend of the season.

Those involved in the cup semi-finals proved however to be made of sterner stuff, preferring to finalise matters dodging the showers rather than have to play re-scheduled ties; and allowing participants in two of the three Cup Finals to be determined definitively at the first attempt.

I am writing to confirm that, following consultation, the Management Committee of the Aberdeenshire Cricket Association, exercising the powers given to it at the 2015 AGM, has nem con agreed by the necessary two-thirds majority of its total voting membership, that the qualification required by Rule 13i for players who have played in the current season in a higher Grade/level of cricket, or in a senior Saturday league outside of the Grades, to appear in the semi-final or final level of a cup competition, be reduced, in respect of the semi-final round of the Grade 3 & 4 (Reid & Johnston) Cups only from the current 3 games to 2.  This decision is based on the earlier date of the semi-final rounds this season, and the number of games voided due to weather or scratchings in the first nine weeks of this season, effectively reducing the opportunity for achieving the previous qualification.

1.       Grade 3

Notice has been received that due to problems with player & ground availability Cults St Ronald (2^nd Cults) have decided to withdraw from Grade 3.  Accordingly results & fixtures against them will now be void, and only one team will now be relegated to Grade 4 at the end of the season.

Cricket Scotland are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the Last Man Stands Club Awards 2016.

The new awards were launched last year and the exciting categories resulted in a record number of nominations, and we’re hoping we can top that for 2016.

Waterlogged outfields from rain during the night and early in the day mean that a number of games in the Aberdeenshire Grades again had to be declared void at the weekend. This included a number for the second time, meaning that they will now need to be re-scheduled for the first available date.

Among these were the games at Links between Crescent and Knight Riders, which the teams were hoping to re-schedule for Sunday, and the game at Kintore between Cults-Artisans-St Ronald and Academy, which will now need to take place on Sunday July 3^rd,  assuming a pitch can be found.  The Grade 1 game between Gordonians and Lahore Karahi was also off, but as the two teams met at the end of April, will simply be left void.  In the two top-tier matches to be completed, however, AGSFPs and Bon Accord both completed league doubles over Mannofield and Ellon respectively, Fazal Awan notching up another century in the game at the Gordon Park.

Following the monsoon conditions of the past week it was unsurprising that a number of fixtures in the Aberdeenshire Grades again had to be declared void.

As well as the weather having set back the re-opening of a second square at the Duthie Park to replace the ground at Harlaw Road meantime closed due to safety considerations, ground conditions meant that play was ruled out on both Saturday & Sunday at Kings College, as well as a number of other grounds around the north east.

Ellon CC are holding their Junior Cricket Festival at Gordon Park, Ellon on Sunday 26^th June 2016. The Junior matches will commence sharp at 10:00am to be completed by 12:00pm as the ground is required to host a senior Small Clubs Cup match at 1:00pm

Ian Stephen (ACA Treasurer) would like to thank all clubs that have paid their Annual subscriptions and reminds others that they require to be paid in full by 1 July 2016. He would also request that the invoices that have been sent to clubs for pitch hires are paid timorously as invoices are now being received from Aberdeen City council, Sport Aberdeen and Aberdeen University.

PVG meeting to be held at Mannofield tomorrow (Monday 13^th) at 7:00pm. The ACA Management Committee would like as many clubs as possible to be represented, irrespective of whether they have a junior section, at this important event.

Flaming June it may supposedly be, but overcast conditions and persistent drizzle meant only a proportion of games could be completed in the Aberdeenshire Grades on Saturday.

At the top of Grade 1 however Bon Accord maintained their 100 per cent record, comfortably beating Knight Riders following yet another century from prolific opener Fazal Awan at the Links; while an undefeated innings of 97 from Ben Webb saw Ellon inflict another defeat on Mannofield at the Gordon Park.  Faced with deteriorating weather conditions, and with their opponents well on top, Lahore Karahi chose to concede their game against Academy at Sheddocksley.

Summer Sport Camp (Cricket, Football, Touch Rugby, Athletics and Various other Games)

People’s Park, Wellheads Drive, Dyce, Aberdeen AB21 7GQ

Aberdeenshire/Mannofield cc Summer Cricket Coaching

Aberdeenshire cc will be running a series of cricket coaching days at their Mannofield ground during July the sessions cover the following areas