Hi all,

So Friday night looks OK at the moment on the numerous weather forecast apps (which I now have on my phone after last weekend)….. 2 of them below ……… and even if it isn’t we will beat the weather!

Junior training starts at 6pm with the bar open from around 5.30pm and food as usual courtesy of Jackie!

We will be doing some "Devon vs Somerset Specials" on Friday – Cream Teas will definitely be available, perhaps with a nice Pimms or G&T ………

We will also have the Fearnley Pop Up Cricket shop in attendance – more details below

Vitality ClubT20 Area Final Day – Sunday 6th August

Having won the Wombat Devon T20 Finals at Exmouth a couple of weeks ago the 1st XI will be playing at Bridgwater this Sunday in the Vitality Club T20 Area Finals – their semi final is against Bristol Cricket Club at 10am and, if successful they will face either St Austell or Swansea in the final at 4pm.

Any support would be very welcome!

The Day Somerset Came to Town …….. again!

Last Sunday can only be described as a "rollercoaster of emotions" ……. having worked so hard all week to keep the square dry, with the ground crew walking over 100 miles combined, pulling covers on and off so many times …… we lost count ……… it was dry at 7a.m. in the morning as we started the final preparations ……. and then it started to rain……… as everyone started to arrive, it dried up, then rained again, dried up …. rained again …… surely not!

We got so close several times and there was some superb influencing of the umpires, especially from the children in the guard of honour who practiced and then chanted "we are ready …. are you?"

The players were also brilliant – both teams went out to play football in the rain to make the statement that they wanted to play!

Eventually we got the game on and it turned out to be a "cracker" with Devon batting first (that was not the plan but it worked …. phew!) and putting a good total on the board – in reply when Somerset were 7 for 2, many of us were getting excited for a surprise result. We were then treated to some superb batting and Somerset edged it at the end……

Phew …… relax ……. relief!

It was overall a huge success with over 500 people in the ground despite the weather.

Someone said to me “no other club could put this on”. I put it down to a compliment at the time, a very nice compliment but one of those things that people say in the moment ……. And then I thought about it …… who else could plan and execute so superbly, having started planning 6 months ago, to the efforts on the ground which started at the end of last season and intensified in the last 10 days when the weather did everything it could and failed utterly to frustrate those plans ….. Who else could turn out so many volunteers to welcome, manage and look after the spectators? Who else could make professional cricketers feel so at home at a club ground …. Who else could feed them so well …. who else could care so much about getting the game on and making sure everyone had a fantastic experience? Who else would be so well supported by individuals and local businesses……. So some thank yous ……. and in the event that I have forgotten anyone, then I am so sorry…….

Thank you to

· The ground crew who have been immense all season and worked absolute miracles this week to get the game on

· The 60 club volunteers who helped set up before Sunday and then on the day in the car park, on the gate, marshalling and keeping the place tidy, in the bars, in the hospitality tent, selling raffle tickets and scorecards, serving ice creams and cream teas, pulling covers on and off, updating social media and "a million other jobs I have now forgotten"!

· Jackie Bradley who not only fed the players (and the empty plates were testament to a superb spread) but also fed the volunteers all week, on the morning of the game, in the evening after the game and on the next day when we were clearing up

· Devon Contract Waste who sponsored the day providing benches for the food and bar areas and additional bins

· Bridge Engineering who kindly provided all the security fencing to close off the ground for the day

· Event Hire Solutions who provided the portaloos and cleaning supplies for the club

· David Forey of Devon First Aid for covering the event

· Ilona and Charles Baughan of Westaways who supplied the ice for the day and donated sausages for the remaining Friday nights this season

· The Craft Festival for lending us their reusable cups for the day

· Our stands and food concessions on the day – Barney’s Hog Roast, Soul Pizza, Blend and Brew, Plantation Designs, The RNLI and Wombat Cricket

· Our local business raffle prize supporters – Wombat Cricket, Mark Lockett Photography, Utopian, The Cheese Shed, Orchard Kitchens, Didwell Farm Holidays

· All our sponsors for their on-going support

Below are a selection of some of the photos from the day which can all be found on Mark Lockett’s website – The Day Somerset Came to Town – 2023 – we are hugely grateful to Mark for these photos.

We have received lots of positive feedback – one example below and if you are the "Bovey Aficionados" mentioned below, then thank you!

….. and finally, the definition of success …….. Bovey Tracey on the BBC Sports app…….featuring one of our very own!

We all slept well on Sunday night – a great day for Bovey Tracey Cricket Club …… again!

Wine and Wickets is Back – A Reminder

We are delighted to confirm we will be running Wine and Wickets again on Friday 18th August – a fun session for anyone and everyone, with no experience required – all participants will be rewarded with some fizz (or anything you prefer!) after the session.

Give it a try if you haven’t already!

Please contact Kelly Luscombe for more details – kellyluscombe

Andy Bishop

Chairman Bovey Tracey Cricket Club

Mobile 07986 997006