- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
Devon County Seniors Cricket Club Canada Trip 2014
The cocoa should have been drunk and those of that age should have been abed but at 01:35 am on a Thursday morning in July a group of the Devon County Seniors Cricket Club met at Exeter Services for the mammoth 24 hour trip to British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. Travelling 5,000 miles to arrive at Vancouver at 11:15 in the same morning!!
The first stop was Victoria on Vancouver Island, an idyllic spot where tourists were heard to say “I could live here” However, despite sleep deprivation the following days match was versus The Beacon Hill Pavilion Society XI. Despite being offered a two course meal & copious amounts of alcohol between innings the Devon XI captained by Mike Canning (Sandford) won with six overs to spare. The Tourists were warned that all matches were to be played on artificial pitches and all the home side batters were not afraid to hit hard to the leg side.
A highlight of that ground was meeting a 95 year old ex pat from Yorkshire who sat on the boundary at midwicket with a sign on the bench stating “The rules of cricket explained here – For Free”. He was kept busy with stream of Canadian and European visitors.
A longed for day off followed and tourists were free to take a seaplane ride, or whale watching in survival suits on fast rib boats. Hump back whales were seen apparently a rarity in this area and Dave Gambie and “Ronald Stanley” Cruse, on a late trip, saw an angry encounter between a hump back and orca whale.
The second match was against a Vagabond XI and it was noticed that there was an injection of several players from the sub-continent to bolster the home side obviously they had taken note from the first match. We lost the match as we were still adjusting to leg side hitting from the home side.
At the team photo, with our playing team in white on one side and our ladies and followers wearing their red tour shorts, I thought I saw a tear in Danny Daniels eye. I am sure our welsh umpire thought he was at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Our third match was up country at Cowichan and the home side being skippered by Howard Martin an old Exmouth stalwart who had a great deal in ensuring that the Victoria part of tour went exceedingly well. However on a lightening outfield Devon had the best of a high scoring game.
It was then a reversal of our route, via the ferry, back to Vancouver City for several nights.
The two matches in Vancouver resulted in a won one lost one result. Against West Vancouver our batting collapsed and West Vancouver managed to overtake the total after a great comeback by our bowlers but faced with a Sri Lankan under 21 cap at the end saw Devon lose their second match.
Against a Vancouver International XI on a very hot day at the famous Brockton Oval, Devon managed to prevail after a very close and hard fought match. As far as the cricket went and despite injuries to key players, Devon managed 3 wins and 2 losses. The scenery at the Oval was breath-taking with cruise liners departing, sea planes flying overhead and horse drawn carriages all within our view. A wedding party even moved the boundary markers in order for their photographs.
One cannot thank the home team’s organisers enough for their hospitality and generosity showed to us on this tour.
Rod Stewart was performing in Vancouver and trust the Chudleigh players to meet him whilst strolling in Gastown and get him to pay for a pint, whilst being watched by the eagle eyed security man.
Our visit also coincided with a diversity parade through the City. It was the only time the RCMP Mounties in full uniform were seen. It did make for a hilarious account by “Ronald Stanley” Cruse and Dave Gambie when they got lost in the gay area of the town returning from a meal.
The cricket gear was then put away as the next part of the tour was a tremendous 2 day trip following the Rocky Mountaineer rail route to Banff. We were introduced to our coach driver “Will” who would point out notable sights and places including his honeymoon route in the 50’s. It was a spectacular drive, huge mountains, wide rivers and temperatures reaching 100 degrees. We saw trains some about 2 kilometres long slowly making their way eastwards and westwards. At our overnight stop off at the new Sandman Hotel at Kamloops. It appeared that to work there you had to be female, tall and able to wear tight tops and short skirts. There were several bleary Trout like eyes the following morning.
At Banff sightseeing was the order of the day. This included a raft trip, a gondola trip to the top of Sulphur Mountain. A day trip to walk on the Colombia ice fields and a visit to Lake Louise and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel. The only disappointment was the non-appearances of the wild life. Apart from a bear and an elk in Banff and possible other sightings of bear no other large wild life was seen.
A farewell dinner and gifts to Chris and Jacky Theedom for their excellent organisation followed at Georgios Italian restaurant. A good evening starting with the waiting staff believing that Phil Thorn and Liz Fulner were Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. This was caused when the group stood and sang the National Anthem.
Then on to Calgary leaving the Rocky Mountains behind and on to cowboy country. This included a stop at the 1988 Winter Olympic site famous for Eddie the Eagles “flight”. A bonus was then a delightful barbeque at the home of Andy Wakefield. Andy being a former Bovey Tracey cricketer who had emigrated some years ago. Superb cheese straws.
And so to Calgary airport for the trip back to Blighty and another great tour organised by Chris Theedom with much help from his wife Jacky came to an end. And the next tour…….
AGM Details
The first stop was Victoria on Vancouver Island, an idyllic spot where tourists were heard to say “I could live here” However, despite sleep deprivation the following days match was versus The Beacon Hill Pavilion Society XI. Despite being offered a two course meal & copious amounts of alcohol between innings the Devon XI captained by Mike Canning (Sandford) won with six overs to spare. The Tourists were warned that all matches were to be played on artificial pitches and all the home side batters were not afraid to hit hard to the leg side.
A highlight of that ground was meeting a 95 year old ex pat from Yorkshire who sat on the boundary at midwicket with a sign on the bench stating “The rules of cricket explained here – For Free”. He was kept busy with stream of Canadian and European visitors.
A longed for day off followed and tourists were free to take a seaplane ride, or whale watching in survival suits on fast rib boats. Hump back whales were seen apparently a rarity in this area and Dave Gambie and “Ronald Stanley” Cruse, on a late trip, saw an angry encounter between a hump back and orca whale.
The second match was against a Vagabond XI and it was noticed that there was an injection of several players from the sub-continent to bolster the home side obviously they had taken note from the first match. We lost the match as we were still adjusting to leg side hitting from the home side.
At the team photo, with our playing team in white on one side and our ladies and followers wearing their red tour shorts, I thought I saw a tear in Danny Daniels eye. I am sure our welsh umpire thought he was at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Our third match was up country at Cowichan and the home side being skippered by Howard Martin an old Exmouth stalwart who had a great deal in ensuring that the Victoria part of tour went exceedingly well. However on a lightening outfield Devon had the best of a high scoring game.
It was then a reversal of our route, via the ferry, back to Vancouver City for several nights.
The two matches in Vancouver resulted in a won one lost one result. Against West Vancouver our batting collapsed and West Vancouver managed to overtake the total after a great comeback by our bowlers but faced with a Sri Lankan under 21 cap at the end saw Devon lose their second match.
Against a Vancouver International XI on a very hot day at the famous Brockton Oval, Devon managed to prevail after a very close and hard fought match. As far as the cricket went and despite injuries to key players, Devon managed 3 wins and 2 losses. The scenery at the Oval was breath-taking with cruise liners departing, sea planes flying overhead and horse drawn carriages all within our view. A wedding party even moved the boundary markers in order for their photographs.
One cannot thank the home team’s organisers enough for their hospitality and generosity showed to us on this tour.
Rod Stewart was performing in Vancouver and trust the Chudleigh players to meet him whilst strolling in Gastown and get him to pay for a pint, whilst being watched by the eagle eyed security man.
Our visit also coincided with a diversity parade through the City. It was the only time the RCMP Mounties in full uniform were seen. It did make for a hilarious account by “Ronald Stanley” Cruse and Dave Gambie when they got lost in the gay area of the town returning from a meal.
The cricket gear was then put away as the next part of the tour was a tremendous 2 day trip following the Rocky Mountaineer rail route to Banff. We were introduced to our coach driver “Will” who would point out notable sights and places including his honeymoon route in the 50’s. It was a spectacular drive, huge mountains, wide rivers and temperatures reaching 100 degrees. We saw trains some about 2 kilometres long slowly making their way eastwards and westwards. At our overnight stop off at the new Sandman Hotel at Kamloops. It appeared that to work there you had to be female, tall and able to wear tight tops and short skirts. There were several bleary Trout like eyes the following morning.
At Banff sightseeing was the order of the day. This included a raft trip, a gondola trip to the top of Sulphur Mountain. A day trip to walk on the Colombia ice fields and a visit to Lake Louise and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel. The only disappointment was the non-appearances of the wild life. Apart from a bear and an elk in Banff and possible other sightings of bear no other large wild life was seen.
A farewell dinner and gifts to Chris and Jacky Theedom for their excellent organisation followed at Georgios Italian restaurant. A good evening starting with the waiting staff believing that Phil Thorn and Liz Fulner were Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. This was caused when the group stood and sang the National Anthem.
Then on to Calgary leaving the Rocky Mountains behind and on to cowboy country. This included a stop at the 1988 Winter Olympic site famous for Eddie the Eagles “flight”. A bonus was then a delightful barbeque at the home of Andy Wakefield. Andy being a former Bovey Tracey cricketer who had emigrated some years ago. Superb cheese straws.
And so to Calgary airport for the trip back to Blighty and another great tour organised by Chris Theedom with much help from his wife Jacky came to an end. And the next tour…….
AGM Details