Stoolball news

Central Division’s league winners Horsted Keynes moved into the semi-final of the Sussex County Stoolball Association’s League Championship with a competent win over a depleted Ringmer (Mid Division) on Sunday 10 August at Nutley.  Horsted Keynes will now meet the winners of the East Division League (Stone Cross or United Friends) in the semi-final to be played on Sunday 24 August at Plumpton.  Play starts at 2pm.

On Sunday 17 August 2008, North Division will be hosting the annual Expo Cup Competition at the King George V Playing Field in Allington Road, Newick beginning at 11am. This charity cup competition was started back in 1968 and in the last 40 years £10-£15,000 has been donated to churches, cancer hospices and children’s charities.

The first event took place at the Ardingly South of England Showground and the proceeds were donated to the Sussex Churches Restoration Fund but now, if there’s no church appeal locally, a similar charity can be nominated by the organising division.

Because of her involvement with Sussex Churches, this competition was very dear to the heart of Mrs Gladys Anderton, a life-long member of Clayton Stoolball Club, who died nearly five years ago.  She was a lovely person who will always be remembered, but particularly when this event is played.

The competition is open to the five Sussex divisions (Central, East, Mid, North and West), Surrey and Kent, although Kent are unable to be present this year.

The oddly-named Rest of the League tournament is open to all those teams in the Sussex County Stoolball Association which finished outside the top four in each of the five divisional leagues.  With the forecasters suggesting that rain could appear at any time throughout the day, teams had to score their runs in just three frantic overs.

Little Common batting in the final

The tournament was held at Plumpton on Sunday 10 August 2008, and what a difference a week can make!  Seven days before the top 16 ladies teams struggled to compete in the Sussex County Cup at Seaford with very strong winds.  But here, whilst the winds were blustery, the teams in this tournament were blessed with regular appearances of warm sunshine on Plumpton Green Cricket Ground where stoolball has been played for over 100 years.

Read more on Yapton wins Rest of the League tournament…

Lodsworth batted first in the final of the Milland Charity Knock Out competition on 30 July 2008, against their old rivals Milland.  Mandy Hill (52) and Yvonne Woodward (45) gave them an excellent start putting on 102 runs before they were both run out in quick succession.

However with such a sound basis, Tracey Kewell (32) and Jane Hyde (46) were able to cut loose and pile on the runs against some indifferent bowling and fielding and the total after 14 overs amounted to an impressive 190.

It required something special from Milland’s openers to challenge this score but Pippa Sherry was bowled in the third over for 6 and Emma Clapham (25) barely got into her stride before being well caught.

Lodsworth continued to bowl and field accurately and competently and although Sue Strike (54) fought valiantly, the Milland innings dwindled to fall well short on 125.

The money raised throughout the competition amounted to over £600 and the winning team chose the new Cancer Day Unit at St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester as their nominated charity.

Grey and overcast skies accompanied by strong southerly winds and occasional sprinklings of rain greeted the 16 teams for the 52nd 8-a-side stoolball tournament for the Sussex County Stoolball Association County Cup at the Salts Recreation Ground, Seaford on Sunday 3 August.

Read more on Horsted Keynes wins Seaford tournament 2008…

The Sussex County Stoolball Association have just learned of two quite amazing performances in a recent league match in Mid Division between Ditchling and Adastra who play in Keymer.  Usually, it is outstanding performances by batsmen which catch the eye, but this time it was two incredible bowling performances which have hit the headlines and one which has not been heard of before in stoolball circles.

Quite simply, an Adastra bowler achieved a hat trick during the Ditchling innings when she took three wickets with consecutive balls.  However, this amazing feat was bettered when Ditchling took the field because one of their bowlers took four wickets in four balls.  Can anyone beat that?

The beautifully manicured recreation ground at Belmont Avenue, Clayton was the venue for the Sussex County Stoolball Association’s annual Matterface Cup for Divisional under 17 year old junior players and the Veterans Tournament for the over 50s on Sunday 13 July 2008.

Central Division chairman, Elaine Berry, surveys the scene at Clayton

Read more on Matterface Cup and Veterans Cup 2008…

Uckfield Stoolball Club is organising a Day of Stoolball at Nutley on Sunday 27 July 2008 starting at 11.45am. It’s a mixed tournament with a difference. Everyone who wants to play will have their names put into a hat and teams will be drawn at random. Experienced players will be mixed with newcomers in every team. This event is now in its second year, following a very successful tournament in 2007.

Teams will have 8 players, with a maximum of 4 men, but you’re invited to bring as many players as you can. Registration is £1.50 per person, and there will be refreshments and a barbeque available all day.

If you’d like to come along and join in contact Michele on 07704 496628 or Helen on 07759 610475.

Barbara Parsons, well known in Sussex ladies’ stoolball, has made the local paper after a cricket ball hit for six at the Sussex county ground in Hove caught her right in the eye.

Barbara says she would have caught the ball if she hadn’t lost it in the floodlights. Ironically, she was watching cricket because her family had told her to try something safer that stoolball.

The full story is in the Mid Sussex Times.

On a warm but blustery day, Central Division recorded their second success in three years to win the Sussex County Stoolball Divisional Championship at Nutley on Sunday 29 June 2008 as they posted an impressive 363 in their 40 overs.

After a slow start against tight bowling from Verna Lingard (3-39) and Karen Pyke (2-97) and some good close fielding, Central Division blossomed in the second twenty overs as Karen Taylor (124) and Sharon Scott (109) recorded confident centuries.  Quick scoring, led by Julie Gravett (61), particularly in the last 10 overs took Central Division to an impressive final score of 363.

The asking rate of just over 9 an over eventually proved too much for Mid Division as they battled their way to 297 against some attacking bowling from Julie Gravett and Adele McPhie who both took 4 wickets.

For Mid Division, Heidi Gravett (65) and Carla Lynch (42) led a spirited reply with good support from Ali Chambers (31), Susie Clapp (25) and Karen Pyke (21).  This was Mid Division’s first appearance in the county final for 15 years and their performance promises much for the future.

Brett Butler took some excellent photos from the championship.

Read more on Sussex County Stoolball Association Divisional Championship 2008…