The Nomination Form for this year’s Regional COV Awards is now live at the link  http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/cov-awards-2015

Cricket Scotland announced their new `Last Man Stands Club Awards` for 2015. The awards are part of Cricket Scotland’s continued efforts to support clubs and volunteers.

Please find attached school packs which have been distributed to schools in the areas where ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier games will be taking place, sadly none in the north of Scotland!

Please feel free to distribute to your schools/contacts.

A century from ACA Management Committee member Andy Win sees last season’s champions Bon Accord now the only side in Grade 1 with an unblemished record, as the league season entered its fifth week.  Cults-Artisans meanwhile remain closely on their heels following a comfortable win over previously undefeated Ellon, Himanshu Saraswat taking six wickets and Grades President Vai Bode three to follow up on an earlier batting performance of 84 from former Mannofield player Krishna Trisal.

Clubs without games are encouraged to ask their respective members if they would be willing to umpire. Please contact Blair Thomson on 07710515685 or email btaaoco@gmail.com 

Neil Cameron is delighted to announce that Cricket Scotland’s latest version of the Annual Volunteer Awards scheme was launched this week - http://www.cricketscotland.com/news/article/cs-launch-last-man-stands-club-awards/

Ellon cricket club invite you to attend their Junior Festival at the Gordon Park Ellon on Sunday the 21st of June starting at 10:30am. Hopefully the weather will be kind to allow the games to take place and the kids to enjoy.

To help Ellon cc cater accordingly, can clubs please indicate if and how many they expect to come along by Friday the 19th. Many thanks in advance. Ian Duncan (07733 212957)

Your Management Committee have a scheduled meeting on the 3rd June 2015 with the council that deal with the Links and Sheddocksley. We are keen to feedback what needs to be done to improve these facilities, in order to lend weight we would very much appreciate if you could write a short email paragraph (or longer if you like), that we could take to the council to show first hand what our members think of the facilities and what could be done to improve these facilities.

Derek Welch will be delivering a Coaching Conference, Coaching Women & Men – What’s the Difference? on Sunday June 14th, West Park, Dundee. Click here to access the hyperlink that will take you directly to EventBrite for sign-up and further information on the presenters. Derek Welch, Partnership Manager, sportscotland, Lynch Sports Centre | South Road | Dundee | DD2 4SR, t: 01382 431852 | m: 07805694730

Bon Accord and Ellon remain joint leaders of Grade 1, both on maximum points following the latest round of games, which also saw Cults-Artisans move up into third place following an emphatic win over Mannofield, Himanshu Saraswat leading the way for the Allan Park side with a knock of 138.  Skipper Ben Webb meanwhile returned figures of 6 for 28 for Ellon against Fraserburgh as the home side were dismissed for just 83.  AGSFPs recorded their first win of the season, squeezing home by two wickets against Banchory; while Knight Riders climbed above the relegation zone defeating Crescent at Groats Road.

Following a recent meeting of the Aberdeenshire Association Of Cricket Officials (AAOCO), it has been decided that to encourage recruitment and continued commitment from existing officials to implement the following benefits for being an active member.

The AAOCO to pay £20 for one active umpiring member or £10 for two active umpiring members on top of what clubs pay, for any AAOCO Appointed games only.

You are invited to an exciting Girls Kwik Cricket Festival hosted by Cricket Scotland:

Sunday 31st May, Stirling County Cricket Club, 10am - 2pm

Bon Accord and Ellon remain the two sides with unblemished records at the top of Grade 1, following a round of games which also saw Cults-Artisans and Fraserburgh return their opening wins of the season.

At the Links Bon Accord defeated Grade 1 newcomers Crescent by two wickets in a low-scoring match, Nawaz Mirza taking 4 for 11, before top-scoring for the title holders with 33. While a knock of 40 from Cory Bowie and 32 from Fraser Lawrance saw Fraserburgh to victory over a AGSFPs side who have yet to find their form this season.

Further festivals will be taking place at Gordonians and Cults at the end of May and in June (see update below).

If you have any teams or a few juniors who are keen to come along and take part, please turn up at 10:30 am at People's Park (Stoneywood-Dyce).

Read more on update below:

It is sad to report that, whilst fielding, a player had his bag stolen. Clubs are reminded that when fielding to secure any valuables and to be vigilant at all times, particularly when using facilities where the public have free access.

It was first blood to title holders Bon Accord as they took on close rivals Cults-Artisans in their first meeting between the two sides for the season at the Allan Park on Saturday.

Bon Accord’s victory was founded on a solid total of 213, Fazal Awan and Nawaz Mirza both notching half-centuries – a total which Cults-Artisans were unable to overhaul despite a half-century from Aqeel Ajazi and 48 from Himanshu Saraswat.

The AACO, though independent in terms of governance, is the body recognised by the ACA under Section 8 of its Constitution as the provider of independent umpires for matches under the jurisdiction of the Association.

It also interfaces with other cricket leagues organising matches within the ACA area of the former Grampian Region.

Its status is therefore that it has close official links with the ACA – just as does SCOA with Cricket Scotland – advises it on matters relating to the interpretation of the laws, and has two votes at General Meetings of the ACA.  To avoid any confusion on disciplinary matters, if they were to go to appeal, it has no direct representation on the Management Committee, but Vai Bode has indicated it would be given right of audience on any matter it wished to refer.

Our congratulations to both Ewan Davidson (Stoneywood-Dyce) and Connor Shorten (Mannofield) for being selected to play for the Regional Cale u15. 

Dear Friend in Sport

Please find attached, information relating to a Club Funding Seminar, being held at the WestburnParkAberdeenAll Local Sports Clubs, should find this of interest. lease intimate numbers attending, by contacting -  Also attached, is a reminder requesting your Club/Association, to submit Nominations for Friday 26th June. Please consider your Nominations for your Members’ achievements 

Intermittent showers, sleet and hail stones did not prevent the majority of games being completed on the opening day of the new Grades cricket season, on a day when no less than seven centuries were recorded.

Closest result came at Kellands Park as tenants Mannofield eased out AGSFPs by just two runs, Graeme Johnston top-scoring for the City club’s third string in a low-scoring match.

You may or may not have heard yet that we have formed the new Aberdeenshire Association of Cricket Officials

I’ve been appointed chairman of said Association and wanted to touch base with you regards your club and any potential Umpires/Scorers and their availability for the coming season.

I’ve attached a report card we’ll be asking captains to fill in on any appointed umpires. This allows us to review the performance and any training issues required for any officials standing in matches.

If you have anyone keen to umpire this season please contact me asap with their details. I will be building officials profiles to allow us to store info on our officials and work on individual’s development.

There is a Facebook Group that has been set up to support this for those who FB its

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AAOCO/

And there will be in time a group website too.

Any questions drop me a line or give me a call

Player registrations should by now have been submitted to Tariq Butt, using the form on the website.  All players must be registered before playing in any game – notice of late registrations can be left on the Association Answer phone at 01224-822835 before 1pm, and followed up in writing the following week.  It is the responsibility of clubs to ensure new players are not already registered for 2015 or in debt to any club from previous seasons

Info attached regarding a Safeguarding Children’s course at Inverurie Town Hall on Monday 27th April. Particularly relevant for those involved in coaching children.

Hi everyone,

I hope you’re all looking forward to the official start of the season, at both junior and senior level, in the next few weeks.

I wanted to inform you of a Club Development opportunity coming up on Monday 11th May, 7pm at Inverurie CC. Cricket Scotland, in conjunction with Sports Marketing Network, will be hosting a `Grow Your Cricket Club` Workshop for all clubs in the East to attend on this evening.

Any Clubs using the wickets including the artificial wicket please note email received below

Good Afternoon,

I have been informed that 2 groups had unauthorised access to the Duthie park for cricket practice on Sunday past.

As intimated at the successful and well-supported Umpiring Workshop held last week, and Open Meeting is scheduled at Mannofield on Tuesday coming, 21st April 2015 at 7.30pm, to take matters forward and hopefully reactivate the former Aberdeenshire Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers.  A draft Constitution for this is appended, which builds on those of the former body and of the national organisation, SCOA.

Please find attached a copy of a Quick Reference Guide for players

NB There is a mistake on the downloadable Grades Handbook the Balls are £105 per box for the Grade 1 balls and £95 per box for the Grade 2,3 and 4 as per last season.
All Club Secretaries are advised that Thistle Sports now have the first batch of cricket balls in stock for the forthcoming season. To avoid any delays you are urged to place your requirement with George Burnett of Thistle Sports ASAP

Please find in the “Downloads” section an updated version 2.0 of the Grades Hand Book, the book has been updated with the latest Junior fixture updates and is formatted for A5 which can be printed as a A5 booklet. In order to do this you will need a duplex printer capable of printing both sides and by selecting the “Booklet” option when printing, also please remember to enable the “Auto-rotate pages within each sheet” button.

Your ACA committee are delighted to announce HPR as our new main sponsor for the 2015 season.
HPR is a provider of skilled and specialist personnel to the offshore construction and Oil & Gas industries. HPR offer their global Client base access to some of the best skilled specialists from around the world.