It's April and the season is less than 2 weeks away. The field would be better suited to a canoe than a set of stumps but our ground staff assure us all will be well come 15th April.
In the meantime we've been busy behind the scenes as always. We managed a certain amount of tidying up at the weekend to get nets, covers and various bits ready for the season. The paint brushes and rollers very much still need an outing on a dry day however!
Good Friday will see approximately 175 children and parents join us for what might possibly be the first Egg Hunt carried out at Blackfyne, we may have to stand corrected on that one. Eggs will be hunted down as well as faces painted, castles bounced on, raffles and tombolas imposed on the visitors and refreshments available to all. Well done to Mrs Pyke for pushing to get this one out there and brilliant to see that the idea has proven so popular. Easter Sunday sees the now customary quiz hosted by Sunday slogger Aka as he welcomes club members and his Tesco colleagues for one of his fund raising evenings from 7pm, all are welcome to attend.
The club would like to welcome 19 year old Max Fletcher, who will join us for the first half of the season. He currently studies at Durham Uni and will be available until the mid point of the season. The leg-spinning all-rounder will give added options and depth to an already strong looking 1st X1 squad. Best of luck to his spinning fingers when it inevitably snows during his debut game...
Our final indoor training session takes place tonight at the lousia centre at 7.30 and it has been great to see some members have already taken to using the outdoor facilities too. You will all notice that the scruffy end of the net has now had astro turf laid thanks to MB Driveways and will make for a much tidier and safer surface for the bowlers when running in!
We are thrilled that the club will field it's first female team in 2023. Our under 11 girls team comes as a result of the hard work put in by our coaches through All Stars and Dynamos. The fixtures haven't yet been released but they will appear on our website shortly. A huge thanks to new sponsor AGH Engineering for sponsoring the team. Whilst a mention goes to them, a big welcome to our new sponsors for 2023; Eclectic Coffee Roasters, The Derwent Manor Boutique Hotel, AW Construction, Joseph Page Solid Fuels and Lorimers Sports. We thank them and our returning sponsors very much for their support. To find out more about these new sponsors or any of our existing ones, just click on their logos on our home page which will redirect you to their websites.
The majority of the cup draws are now in and the two Saturday sides have come up trumps with home ties in most! In the Hedworth Williamson cups both our 1st and 2nd X1 play host to Burnhope, in the Roy Coates the 1st X1 host Tynedale, in the David Greener the 2nd X1 host Durham City. After finishing runners up in the James Bell in 2022, the 2nd X1 get a bye in the first round and then play host to Lintz in round 2. The 1st X1 start their league cup campaign on 26th April against Clara Vale who are in the same division as our 2nd X1 (we've no idea either) and in the Charity Bowl face a trip to Tynedale on 10th May. The 2nd X1 start their league cup campaign on 24th May hosting the winners of Stocksfield or Allendale. Great news for those who enjoy a weekday T20 at Blackfyne, heads in hands for our ground staff as they work out if the square will be big enough for so much cricket.
Oh and on top of all this, the 1st X1 play host to Woodhouse Grange of the North Yorkshire Premier League in the ECB National Knockout on Sunday 30th April in a 40 overs per side contest. A great way to spend your bank holiday Sunday with a few cold ones watching some top quality cricket being played at Blackfyne!
Anyway, off to bed for me, another of our sponsors - Magic Carpets is due at the club at 9am to work some magic and have our clubhouse carpets looking brand new again.
See you all soon, Ian