President’s Blog

SEASON 2023 ROUND-UP

Whatever sport you play, you want it to be competitive, enjoyable, rewarding and hurt a bit when you lose (Play, Thrive, Fail, Learn, Win).  We certainly got all those ingredients in the mix this season.  Having underperformed in 2022 there was a determination to win some silverware (or a shield!).  Read on!

The 1st XI finished the season as East Premier League Champions and went on to be crowned Cricket Scotland National Club Champions by beating Ayr (winners of the Western Premiership) in early September.  We lost to Uddingston in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup – a game we should have won (Hurt!).  For the record, Forfarshire won the Scottish Cup plus the CS Men’s T20 Scottish Cup and Carlton won the Masterton Trophy. 


In the ESCA Championship our Seconds finished 5th, with Edinburgh South claiming the title.  Our Thirds finished ninth in Division Three of the East League with Drummond Trinity 2s coming out on top. 
The Women’s Premier League was won by Carlton with Grange Women finishing 4th.  West of Scotland Women won the Beyond Boundaries Women’s Scottish Cup.


Congratulations to all the winners.

Each year I do enjoy seeing our Junior Stags grow and develop.  They are high energy and a pleasure to watch training or in a match situation.  Our U13’s were Scottish regional winners of the ECB T20 Vitality Cup.  They then headed south of the border to play some tougher competition, unfortunately losing in the quarter finals on run rate (the rain came at the wrong time!).


The U15’s lost to Carlton and, therefore, did not progress this year.  However, I must mention that Carlton U15’s went on to be crowned National Club Champions at Lords in September.  A fantastic achievement for a Scottish club to go all the way.


The greatest satisfaction for me is when a junior cricketer starts playing for one of the senior teams.  To see a number getting their chance in the 1st XI each season is especially rewarding.  We need to thank John Blain and his coaches for continuing to produce some great young cricketers.  How far will they go?
It was also satisfying to see our women’s team developing further.  A number of new senior players gave the side some badly needed experience in how to manage a game.  I am sure in a couple of years they will be challenging for titles.  My thanks to Alex Lusty (Team Manager) and her husband, Fraser, for all their efforts in running the side.

  
The Grange Masters were in action again from July, when the weather is warmer.  They do enjoy playing at home, providing the boundary is brought in (energy saving and injury precaution).  It is good to have the stars of the past re-connecting with the Club and enjoying themselves.


Every season has its highlights.  For me the 1st XI chasing 354 to win against Meigle at Grange, finishing on 360 for 7.  This went into the record books as the highest ever run chase by Grange in a one-day game.  A huge team effort, particularly as Meigle had set a record in their innings and it would have been easy to throw the towel in.  I cannot forget Angus Brown’s century in the National Club final and Rick Symington’s huge six over the safety netting, and into the tennis courts in an evening social match.  He is Tennis President and I guess is allowed to do so if he wishes.


The end of every season brings a change of guard, and we will miss Gordon Goudie and Ryan Flannigan, who have retired (for now!), and Tom Foulds who has moved to Australia.  I was particularly pleased that they were all able to leave the Club on a high.  We will miss them.  Thanks boys!  I know Tom is badly missed by his fitness addicts. 


My thanks to the VIPs behind the scenes.  A special mention to our groundstaff, Tom and Kevin, for their work on the square.  The pitches received top marks from the umpires, both in the EPL and Championship. Justin Lyons for producing some tasty and energising teas for the 1st XI throughout the season.  And, our scoreboard technicians, Dr John Donald, Neil Ross, George Burns and Robin Pollok.  This season we had to take a section of the backing off to get to the problem – not an easy task.  Extremely stressful if you find the board not firing up before play is due to begin.


And my thanks also to everyone else who contribute their time and energy to the running of the Club; scorers, umpires, coaches, team captains, the committees (Junior, Senior and General), Chris Murphy (Junior Convenor), Abhijit Chakraborty (Junior Secretary), Jonathan Brock (Club Captain) and John Blain (Director of Cricket) and of course our bar staff (who always welcome me into the bar).


Finally, I must thank our sponsors (Gen!us Brewing and Close Brothers Asset Management) for their support over the past four years.  Much appreciated.

Rawdon Hesketh
Hon President