An Invitation:

The 5^th World Vintage Cricket Carnival for players over the age of 35 of whatever skills, experience, age or agility is taking place in Cape Town between 21 and 27 March, 2010.

Teams and players are coming from Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, India, Barbados, USA, Canada and Bermuda and of course our hosts, South Africa.

We are looking for more players and teams or part teams to take part as we have more host teams than visitors. There are plenty of Cape Town clubs lining up to host visitors and to ensure they enjoy a fabulous South African experience.

If you, members of your club or team wish to be a part of a celebration of cricket played in the spirit and manner that it should be please get in touch with us. We can find you a friendly team for you.

Contact: peter@vintagecricket.com and we will make sure that you have as good a time as we intend to have.  Brothers Sports in Cape Town have set up some great packages for us for the week with prices for share twin accommodation in excellent hotels ranging from ZAR9,100 (that’s GBP720) for the following:

As some of you know, a few years ago I started the training to complete the Association of Cricket Umpires & Scorers official scoring course.  I got as far as the final stage and just had the exam to sit when ACUS was disbanded and reorganised so that it no longer represented Scottish members.  I got in touch with Mac Wylie who’d sent round a circular to Scottish ACUS members asking their thoughts on their way forward and at that time (over a year ago now) I expressed an interest in whatever they might be doing for scorers.

I heard nothing beyond an acknowledgement until a few weeks ago when I got an email from Ken Nisbet.  It looks like they would be interested in setting up a course in Scotland under the auspices of ICC, but are short of numbers.  So far, there are just two of us and they need a minimum of six and I volunteered to put out a few feelers to see if anybody else in the North East might be interested.  Do any of you know of anybody else who might be interested?  It’s a one day course including an exam, accredited under ECB ACO, details can be found at www.icc-europe.org.

Please email me on isobelj.reid@virgin.net if you can think of any other “volunteers”.

Thanks & regards

Isobel

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Association for 2009 will held in the Bradman Suite, Mannofield, on Sunday November 29^th 2009 at 3.00pm.

Please find attached AGM Agenda; Spring Meeting Minutes 2009; Secretary's Report; Proposed Rule Changes 2010 and updated Financial Report.

DM Jones
Honorary Secretary

NB Buy your 125 years of Grades Cricket in the NE at the AGM. Please advise your club/grade representative of your requirements

Christopher Martin-Jenkins Speaks out "Scots know how to get on with the game" Read more CMJ Report

The Updated Grades 125 Year Book marking the History of the Grades from 1884 to 2009 is now available. This book contains a superb up-to-date history of Grades Cricket in the Aberdeenshire area including articles containing an updated history from existing and past Clubs; all the Grade Tables; Trophy winners; photographs and many many more interesting articles. This high quality Book with over 300 pages is a must read particularly to those new to the area.

This Book can be purchased by sending a £10 Cheque payable to "Aberdeenshire Cricket Association" to Ian Stephen, 18 Beechill Gardens, Aberdeen, AB15 7QH. Further information can be obtained by contacting either Ian Stephen 07775 817753 (ian.c.stephen@aberdeenshire.gov.uk) or Tariq Butt 07946 828376 (buttclan@talktalk.net).

Proceeds from the sale of this book will go back into the Grades and to help fund the 2010 Celebrations.

Many Thanks for your continued Support of the Grades Cricket.

Arising from a recent reference, the Disciplinary Committee has decided it would be helpful if it were to clarify the scope, and limits, of its jurisdiction under Association Rule 23.

Having taken legal advice, the Committee has concluded that its jurisdiction is confined to events which take place during, or arise directly from, competitive games during the period these are regulated by the Laws of the Game. This could for instance include subsequent published criticism of umpiring decisions taken during that period; but not non-cricket related misdemeanours in public locations in which players might be involved before or after a game.  These have to be a matter for the civil authorities.

 As in other jurisdictions (e.g. student discipline) where offences might be committed, the Association can only intervene and impose its own (cricket-related) penalties where – if legally challenged - it could prove to the satisfaction of a Court these were necessary and proportionate for the welfare of the Association, its clubs or players, within the Object stated in Clause 2 of its Constitution – “the general improvement and control of cricket in the district”. Any other intervention by the Association would normally be regarded as double jeopardy.

Grade 1 Batting: Fazal Awan (Bon Accord) 55.63

Grade 1 Bowling: Doug Anderson (Kintore) 8.67

Grade 2 Batting: Steve Murphy (Methlick) 62.85

Grade 2 Bowling: Alan Rennie (Fraserburgh) 13.07

Grade 3 Batting: Chris Forbes (Anchorians) 50.55

Grade 3 Bowling: Nigel King (2nd Stonehaven) 6.15

Grade 4 Batting: Mohit Khosla (2nd St Ronald) 33.78

Grade 4 Bowling: Mohit Khosla (2nd St Ronald) 7.09

Wilson Cup (WK): Mark Woodhouse & Chris Clelland (Methlick/AGSFP) 14

Thompson Shield: Bon Accord & 2nd St Ronald

Wallace Cup Batting (U18): L. Ferguson (Huntly) 29.57

Wallace Cup Bowling (U18): L. Thom (Kemnay) 13.00

With the last of the outstanding Grades games played over the weekend, Inverurie narrowly missed out on the Grade 1 runner-up spot when they got the better of this year’s Grade 1 Champions spoiling the Bon Accord 100 percent win record.

With the Grades season all but over the weekend saw most of the postponed games played with Cults setting a blistering end of season finish with a substantial total (332 for 7) led by centurion S. Rane (118) and new boy L. Kapil (98) which Kintore never looked to chase down as they were bowled out for 86 with notable bowling for Cults from N. Jadhav (3 for 14). This win has allowed Cults to frog jump Inverurie back into the runner-up slot and only a win by Inverurie against Bon Accord in their outstanding Grade fixture can now reverse this. At the bottom of the table, the two sides; Gordonians and St Ronald, promoted from Grade 2 last year are relegated. The Stonehaven and Mannofield Game was postponed once again and scheduled to be played next weekend.

In Grade 2 the Caledonian total (199) proved too much for the struggling 2^nd Kintore side as they were skittled out for 71 led by the batting for Caledonian from C. Hall (61). Down at Balmoral Castle the home side; Crathie were restricted to a total of 95 led by the bowling from G. Miller (4 for 23) and G. Stewart (2 for 20) which the AGSFP visitor’s cruised past spearheaded by the batting from G. Morrison (47) who narrowly missed out on his half century. Over at Burnett Park, 2^nd Banchory continued with their winning streak as they passed the Artisans total (74). On Sunday 2^nd Banchory entertained Queens Cross who had to settle for a draw as the 2^nd Banchory team clung on to their last wicket (104 for 9) struggling to chase down the Queens Cross total (209 for 8). 2^nd Cults scratched their match against Fraserburgh. This now leaves AGSFP as Grade 2 champions with Queens Cross as runner-up and at the bottom of the table Artisans and 2^nd Kintore relegated to Grade 3.

On Saturday Bon Accord reconfirmed their Grade 1 Championship status as they comfortably beat Stonehaven and are now only 1 game away from officially being crowned champions of Grade 1 with a 100 percent win record. Over at Alan Park, Banchory returned to winning form as they chased down the Cults total (170) with 3 wickets in hand, with pick of the batting for Banchory from W. Ali (59) and bowling from A. Keith (4 for 50), this slip-up has allowed the runner-up position to be grabbed by Inverurie who at first looked in trouble as they were restricted to just 89 runs led by some tight bowling from the Gordonians bowlers G. McIntyre (4 for 17) and C. Aggrawal (3 for 20), but the Inverurie bowlers responded to the challenge as they skittled out the home side for 55 led by the bowling from G. Coutts (3 for 7) and P. Skevington (3 for 28). Down at the beach the Kintore visitors’ total (124) was not enough as the strengthened Mannofield side comfortable chased down the total with 7 wickets in hand with pick of the batting for Mannofield from G. Johnston (50 not out) and bowling from youngster Calum Johnston (4 for 35) and R. van Oorschot (3 for 26). The postponed St Ronald v Ellon game scheduled for Sunday was rained off and is expected to be played next week.

In Grade 2 the 2^nd Banchory team also returned to winning from as their total (189 for 7) led by the batting from D. Yadav (57) and A. Pillai (56) proved too much for the 2^nd Cults team as they were skittled out for 57 led by the bowling of veteran T. Wilkinson (5 for 17) with support from R. Brown (2 for 14). Down at Balmoral Castle the Crathie total (171) proved too much for the Fraserburgh visitors to chase down and settled for a draw with 4 wickets in hand, with some notable batting for Fraserburgh from M. Watson (59) and all round performance from C. Souter (2 for 17 and 36) and for Crathie bowling from W. Slee (4 for 38). Over at Rubislaw the Methlick visitors total (134 for 8) led by the batting from C. Murphy (51) was nearly not enough as the AGSFP home team fell just 5 runs short of a win and at the end had to settle for a draw as they ran out of overs; however, with a 8.9 percent advantage over their nearest rival and only 1 game left to play the AGSFP side will be crowned the Grade 2 champions. The runner-up position looks to have been secured by the side over the wall at Harlow, despite the Queens Cross total (93) looking very gettable for the Caledonian visitors, the tight bowling for Queens Cross from Rory Taylor (4 for 13) supported by K. Findlay (2 for 10) got the better of the visitors as they were skittled out for 50. The battle of the two teams who are now destined for relegation to Grade 3 was won by Artisans led by a good all round performance from S. Dickie (3 for 19 and 30 not out) as they comfortably passed the 2^nd Kintore total (93) who are now too late to find a consolation first win despite the bowling efforts for 2^nd Kintore from 12 year old Lee MacIntyre (1 for 8).

In Grade 3 Anchorians who have led this table for nearly all season and; will be crowned champions of Grade 3, cuffed the Turriff visitors as they were skittled out for 33, this slip-up has put the Turriff side into one of the relegation spot. 2^nd Gordonians secured in the runner-up position; travelled up to the Lairds ground and set a total (131) restricted by the bowling from T. Duffy (6 for 49) that the 2^nd Methlick side were unable to chase down despite the batting effort from 15 year old youngster Sam Williams (39), with notable bowling for 2^nd Gordonians from A. Nalam (4 for 24) and all round performance from N. Garda (2 for 31 and 31). The Dunecht side who have spent much of the season in the 2 relegation spots were only 6 runs from a win against Academy and had to settle for a draw as they ran out of overs, but gained 19 valuable points allowing them to leap frog Turriff, with 1 game left for both sides to play and only 2 percent separating the 2 sides any slip-up by Dunecht could be fatal. Kemnay’s low total (73) was not enough as the 2^nd Ellon side cruised past with notable batting from youngster Harry Woolridge-Gordon (26 not out). 2^nd Stonehaven scratched their encounter with Crescent allowing Crescent to confirm their 3 position on the table and a chance of promotion should the 2^nd Gordonians side decline promotion?
Sunday saw a re-arranged fixture with 2^nd Methlick setting a total (125) led by the batting, once again, from 15 year old youngster Sam Williams (36) and all round performance from S. Murphy (4 for 9 and 25), proving too much for the 2^nd Ellon side as they were skittled out for 49 despite bowling for 2^nd Ellon from B. Fuller (4 for 19).

Grade 4 saw only 2 of the postponed games played; 2^nd Mannofield travelled to Huntly and setup a total (143 for 8) restricted by the bowling for Huntly from L. Patterson (5 for 28) and led by the batting for 2^nd Mannofield from 15 year old youngsters Fraser Proud (50), which proved not enough as the home side comfortable cruised past the total with 9 wickets in hand led by the batting of the Huntly 15 year old youngster Calum White (59 not out). 2^nd St Ronald set a total (180), which the 2^nd AGSFP side were only 12 runs short of victory despite the batting for AGSFP from I. Johnston (41 not out) but tight bowling from a strengthened St Ronald side from V. Bode (4 for 27) scuppered an AGSFP win and catapulted 2nd St Ronald into pole position and the Grade 2 title with 2nd Queens Cross taking runner-up position.