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What a good season this has proved to be.

There were 17 centuries throughout the club in 2009. Liam Gately's early season 150 v Alvechurch proved to be the season's top score followed by Dan Ceillam's 148 on May 9th for whom these were their maiden club centuries.

There were maiden centuries also for Brad Davis 115 against Dorridge on June 21st, Richard Stevens 102 v Penn on July 4th and Sunil scored 121 v Fillongley on September 19th.

There were further maiden centuries for Phil Vann 103 v Moseley Ashfield on June 13th and for Tom Lilburn 102 v Willow on September 6th and for Chris Joiner 100* v Oakfield on Sept 13th.

The bowlers had a good season too with 23 five fors. Dan Neale's 7-19 v Aston Unity was the best haul of the season followed by Jon Stott's 7-38 v Walsall.

Phil Ceillam's 5-8 was the best analysis of the season especially as it destroyed Harborne in the WSL Cup final.

The following enjoyed their first ever 5 fors for the club.?Karim Ullah 5-11 against Harborne in a WCB u15 Premier league match, Tim Joiner's 5-18 v Four Oaks Saints and Sultan Afsar's 5-77.

Scott Danter led the keepers with 30 victims, 24 catches and 6 stumpings with Liam Gately second with 22 victims. Andy Spowage whipped the bails off more often than anyone with 9 stumpings. Gary Hawkins caught 27. Both he and Phil Ceillam had four run outs.

Congratulations to Olton's 4th XI who collected their West Midlands Championship Division Two award at the West Midlands Championship Dinner held at Moseley CC on Saturday Feb 21st.

Captain Pete Suthons collected the award for the side, a fitting tribute to the team's tremendous progress over the last three years. In 2006 the young side was entered into the league and suffered many defeats exposing their youthfulness and inexperience. In 2007 they began to pick up wins as their experience developed and in 2008 they romped away with the league winning twelve out of their fourteen matches, one of which was cancelled. A really encouraging performance and they are now promoted to Division 1 for 2009.

Andy Spowage collected the division batting award for his 299 runs closely followed by Dan Ceillam with 297 runs.

In 2007, the club had its 3rd XI in Division 1 of the West Midlands League and its 4th XI in division 2. In 2009 after two promotions the 3rd XI will be in the Premier Division and the 4th XI in Division 1, showing the strong development of the club at all levels.

Congratulations to two Olton cricketers who have been enrolled on Solihull Secondary Schools Sports Federation Roll of Honour. Both lads attend St.Peter's RC School and were enrolled on Feb 9th at the Council House by his worship the mayor of Solihull. They each received a medal and a certificate.

Both were enrolled for their cricketing success.

Liam received his award for Warwickshire Emerging Players Squad 2008/09 and Warwickshire Development of Excellence winter and summer squad, Warwickshire u15s, Midland u15s and selection for the Bunbury Festival.

Callum received his award for Warwickshire Development of Excellence Winter and summer squads, Warwickshire under 14 and for his success and recognition at Birmingham City Football Club in the u15/16s Academy.

Not so successful this week, writes Phil Budd, although some positve highlights. Batting first, Gary (33*) and Liam(17), making his debut, started well with good understanding between them. But when Gary had to retire on 25 we lost our way a little as Jamie (0) and James Neale (3) [out to a real lifter] & Babar (6) were not able to push on as was hoped. However Sunil (11*) with Gary took 15 off the last over to reach 92-4.

However 28 from the first 2 overs saw Harborne well on the way and although we started to pin them back a little they always had two retired batsmen to return achieving 93-2 with 5 balls to spare. Jamie 2.1.0.26.0. Sunil 2.0.25.2 (both stumpings for Liam), Babar 3.0.21.0. and James 2.0.1.4.0.

A win next week is a must against Stockton who convincingly beat Harborne last week, so a tall order.

MCCC reward Olton players

Two Olton members have been awarded prizes by the Midland Club Cricket Conference.

Phil Budd has been awarded the Norman Sharp Long Service Award in recognition of the superb service he has given the club over 50 years. Phil joined the club as a teenager in 1958 when he played 2nd XI cricket and since then has taken on many roles at the club. His official roles have been as captain, vice-captain, our treasurer, Chairman of Selection. But he has carried out many other duties including attending many of those meetings at which the club has to have a representative during the dark winter's evenings. But he has also been a hands on practical member too carrying a wide range of repairs and maintenance jobs - the kind of task no-one else will do but need doing to keep the club running. Well done Phil. It is really well derserved.

Babar Khan has won a MCCC Cricket Player of the Year Award. Babar had a fantastic first season with the club playing predominantly league cricket in which he took 79 wickets. His analysis in league matches for the year was 374 overs 128 maidens 883 runs and 79 wickets. He had five 5 wicket hauls and his best bowling was against Studley at Studley in June when he took 7-44. Over all the season he had an economy rate of 2.36 runs per over, a strike rate of one wicket every 28.4 balls and an average of 11.18. A fantastic set of bowling figures. In a side with a lot of batting Babar didn't bat very much but his top score was 72 in a WSL match versus Harborne.

Well done Babar. He joins nine other Olton players who have been awarded Cricketer of the Year status, the most recent being Dan Fox in 2005, but before that we have to back to 1990 when Roger Shepherd was the winner at Olton but Errol Simms also collected the awrd for his season at Aston Unity.

The players will receive their awards at the MCCC Dinner on March 6th 2009 at the Tally Ho club. Get your ticket to support them from Phil Williams.

The Warwickshire Indoor League played at the ECC on Sunday mornings has just got under way.

Olton played their first match versus Warwick University on Jan 11th and got off to a winning start.

Warwick Uni were put in and Jamie Hawkins bowled an excellent maiden over to begin with but the Uni lads progressed to 95-4 off their ten overs. Jamie bowled 3.1.24.1.. James Neale playing against his alma mater 2.9.20.0, Jon Webb 3.0.26.1 and Babar Khan making his debut in this format 2.0.17.1. James Neale took two good catches too.

In reply Olton began disastrously with Jon Webb out to a second ball duck and James Neale run out four balls later. Gary Hawkins and Marc Webb settled the side but Marc was out for 16 and Olton were 43-3 off 5 overs. Babar made a quick 14 and then Jamie (16*) joined Gary (34*) to see Olton home at 98-4 with 4 balls to spare.

Next week Olton play Harborne at 11 am

The club held its annual presentation dinner on Halloween night this year and marked a return to the club. During the redevelopment of the clubhouse, dinners and social events have had to be held elsewhere, so the cricket was glad to be back in its home in the brand new clubhouse in the restaurant.

There was an excellent turn out by members who had brought along friends to enjoy the evening.

MC Alan George welcomed Mike Timms, President of the Midland Club Cricket Conference and Alan Neal chairman of the MCCC. In attendance also were Andy Wyles CDO for Solihull and several of the SDCB coaches, Dave Smith and Steve Hartley.

Clubchairman Phil Vann welcomed Tony Clarke and John Worton, Trustees of the club and thanked them for all their hard work on everyone's behalf. He introduced members to Don Gilmore the club's new manager who would be taking up his post the following day and Steve BAkewell, long serving bar manager needed no introduction. He also thanked sponsors Kirk Simpson, Shane Gavin and Richard Webb.

John Arnold welcomed also past players. Roger Shepherd , Richard Townsend and Chas Robinson. Other guests included Mike Bonorino who was accompanying the club President Andrew Inglis.

John Bosworth Impact 4th XI Player of the Year

Pete Suthons, Clubman of the Year receives his award from MCCC Preseident Mike Timms

Phil Budd 50 years at Olton

Mike Timms presents Phil Budd with his 50 years award.

The highlight of the evening was the presntation to Phil Budd who has played for Olton since 1958. Phil joined as a teenager and has played with the club ever since. He has been captain of 2nd and 3rd XIs, been treasurer longer than anyone can remember, chaired selection ctte meetings for goodness knows how long and two years agearned his coaching badges and now helps coach the clubs young players.

Other awards went to Babar Khan 1st XI player of the year, Paul Fitzgerald 2nd XI, 3rd XI went to Steve Wallis and 4th XI to Chris Joiner. Sunday first team player was Sunil Vyakaranam. 2nd XI on Sunday Matt Ceillam and 3rd XI Joe Moore.

Pete Suthons, 4th XI captain was awarded the Cyril Williams Clubman of the Year for his astute captaincy of a very young side over several seasons which finally brought fruition with the 4th XI romping away with their league in 2008.

Young Player of the Year went to Jamie Hawkins who took his chance in the 1st XI and made that place his own.

Dan Ceillam and Sam Richards were awarded centurion ties for their maiden adult team centuries; and two hatrick balls were also presented to James Neale and James Eaton.

Club sponsor Shane Gavin awarded Impact player of the year awards to Dan Johnson, Dave Pullin, Sam Richards and John Bosworth 

Dan Johnson receives his Impact award from Impact Finance's Shane Gavin

Leave your home behind lad
And reach your friends your hand,

And go, and luck go with you…

(A.E. Housman, A Shropshire Lad, III)

*

Tour shirt: £5

Cholmondley Castle’s extortionate tea money: £6

Spoof drink: £7.80

Watching Statto pour a Smirnoff Ice down his front: Priceless.

And so, after a one-year hiatus, tour returned. An opportunity for graduates, teachers, husbands, old age pensioners, and Olympic nearly-men alike to leave behind their homes and indulge in a 5 day orgy of cricket and piss-artistry that makes the ‘Fredalo’ incident look like a sedate Caribbean pleasure cruise. This year’s destination; Shropshire and the Red Lion Coaching Inn, a hostelry whose rooms varied from palatial suites to noisy, sweaty cells of Guantanemo-esque comfort. Nevertheless, the largest mixed grill known to man and a bevy of beautiful, if slightly bemused, barmaids, ensured that the Lion provided more than satisfactory accommodation.

With the majority of the touring party having spent the opening day spoiling a good walk as they hacked their way around the lush fairways of Mile End Golf Club, tour began in earnest as virgins Teen Wolf and Rehab were christened and an early spoof game saw Drive-in devour a particularly delightful Baileys cocktail with the aid of a teaspoon.

Despite concerns about the weather, the cricket commenced on Day 2 as the Colonel took charge of the Olton XI in their opening fixture against Chirk C.C., whose ground might have been picturesque had it not been for the chip-board factory billowing out semi-toxic smoke over the long off boundary. In a time game, having won the toss Olton elected to bat first and posted a competitive 173 for 8 declared. The tourists suffered a shaky start losing 3 quick wickets, but the ship was steadied by a partnership of 70 between Spike, compiling an age defying half century, and Taffy, who having signalled his intentions by attempting to reverse flick his first ball, nurdled his way to 35. Teen-Wolf became the tour’s first (and only) guardian of the aquatic fowl as he was callously run-out by the skipper.

Olton’s total seemed to be enough as a combination of accurate bowling from Lurch, Rehab, Teen-Wolf, and Windy, and abject batting quickly saw the opposition 7 down. However, Olton became increasingly frustrated as obdurate batting from the Chirk lower order made closing out the victory difficult. Tempers bubbled over as Windy shelled one of the easiest chances ever seen, having made the unusual decision to attempt the catch with the backs of his hand and Lurch could not contain his disgust at the home umpire’s refusal to give a run-out because, “it’s a tour game!” With time running out, Olton did manage to sneak to victory in somewhat controversial circumstances as the last wicket was taken off a possible no-ball. Lurch stumbled his way to four wickets, whilst Rehab (in a rich vein of form) left the game on a high having scored three scalps.

The following day saw Olton take on a fellow touring side (Castlethorpe) in the grounds of Cholmondley Castle. Batting first, Olton posted 156 off their 40 overs with contributions from Shakin’ (26), Statto (19), Nerd (34), and Raffles (42). However, after some initial tight overs, the Olton attack was exposed as the Castlethorpe batsmen went after the bowling. They were particularly merciless in their dealings with leg-spinner Squeak, whose 2 overs cost 30. Indeed, Windy, in one of the few moments of the day he spent not vomming his guts up, overheard an outgoing batsmen (fingered by Umpire Taffy) make the following assessment: “I know it’s only part time bowling, but if it’s there, you’ve got to hit it.” Captain Lurch, having had to leave the field for some time after extraordinarily booting the ball into his own face whilst attempting to make a diving stop, was as helpless to prevent the flow of runs as he was to prevent the swelling of his cheek, and Olton were defeated within 27 overs; the winning runs being struck off the bowling of Statto (a true collector’s item).

Thursday and another visit to a stately home, this time Marcwhiel Hall to face Wrexham and Marcwhiel C.C. complete with their much vaunted South African pro. Under the experienced leadership of Spike Olton completed a committed and skilful fielding performance restricting the home side to 145 all out. Nevertheless, Olton fielders were confused by Spike’s penchant for bringing Teen Wolf on, only to pull him off several times Having umpired the first 15 overs, after the introduction of Squeak, Marcwhiel’s SA pro suddenly demonstrated the pace of Usain Bolt in his dash to the dressing room to pad up and face the ‘part-time’ leggie. However, Squeak, in combination with fellow spinner Nerd, were able to frustrate the Springbok, until he was stumped by Taffy of Nerd for 34, one of Taffy’s 5 dismissals in a very impressive keeping display. There were three wickets apiece for Nerd and Drive-in, with two for Bubble.

Batting second was never going to be easy with a setting sun making spotting the ball a near impossibility from one end. And once Nerd fell for a spirited 41, Olton struggled to keep up with the required rate. The tourists finished their 40 overs on 112 for 9.

After a re-enactment of Chariots of Fire around the Marwhiel oval involving Lurch (the lucky victor) and tubby Taffy, there was a soggy screen walk for the Nerd, and a decidedly disorientated effort from Drive-in. The unwelcome addition of Dobber to the touring party preceeded a night out on the tiles in the glamorous environs of Wrexham town centre, almost certainly the worst place on earth ever. No. Really. It is that bad.

So that’s the report, there are many more stories besides, but as people who try to preserve indigenous stone formations say: “What goes on tor, stays on tor.”

Taffy

August 2008.

Congratulations to Liam Gately, the club's u15 wicket keeper, who represents Warwickshire and has been selected to play in the Midlands side at the Bunbury Festival this coming week.

The Bunbury Festival has four teams representing the North, Midlands, South and West who play against each other over the week. During the week the ECB u15 selectors are watching the sides in order to pick an England u15 squad. Liam is one
of the four wicketkeepers particiapting.

Last season Jon Webb from the club also attended the Bunbury so the club has had players there in
 two successive seasons.

This year the festival takes plave at Sedbergh School, Kendal in Cumbria.

Go for it Liam. The whole club is behind you. Best of luck

It's not often that you get three generations of a family playing in the same cricket match, but that was exactly what happened in the idyllic setting of Great Alne on a sunny afternoon on Sunday. Three generations of the Bishop clan were called up to play for the Willie George Select XI in their bi-annual fixture against Great Alne. On the right is Colin Bishop, member of Olton & West Warwicks since the 1960's on the left is his son Jez who plays cricket, hockey and squash for the club and in the centre is 8 year old Joe, the son of Colin's eldest daughter Sarah.

Unfortunately for skipper Al George, also of Olton, the result didn't go the select XI's way as they pulled up 12 runs short chasing 230 to win in an exciting game that had all 3 results still possible in the last over. However, as Joe proved with his performance, the youth training in the winter is providing a new crop of talented young cricketers for the future of the game and Olton CC.

Two Olton members of longstanding have been rewarded with honours by the Midland Club Cricket Conference at the Conference's Annual Dinner recently.

The award ceremony took place at the Annual Dinner held at the Tally Ho Club where David Graveney former Chairman of England Selectors was the guest speaker.

Olton's President, Andrew Inglis, was presented with his Administrative Cricketer of the Year Award in recognition of all the work undertaken by Andrew during the redevelopment of the West Warwickshire Sports Club. Andrew had also been chairman of the club for five years and a former Chairman of the whole West Warwickshire Sports Club.

Retiring Chairman, Phil Miller, was honoured for his contribution as chairman of the cricket club in the difficult period when the club was first relegated out of the BDPCL and then promoted back into it and the time when the club lost its second cricket ground to raise money for the redevelopment of the club. During this time Phil had also captained third eleven sides. He too received an Administratoive Cricketer of the Year Award.

The Presentations were made by Conference President Mike Timms, a former Olton member.

Congratulations to them both.

Indoor Winter Coaching has begun at Tudor Grange School and will continue until Easter on Thursday evenings.

6.00 pm to 7.30 for u11s

7.30 pm to 9 pm for u13 and 15s

9pm to 10 pm for adults.