CRICKET
Club 1st XI, won by 1 run against Presidents XI
Saturday 1st XI, drew against Stoke Green
Saturday 2nd XI, lost by 43 runs against Slough IV
Sunday 2nd XI, lost by 80 runs against Duke Of Hamilton
Sunday 3rd XI, drew against Gerrards Cross

CRICKET
Saturday 1st XI, Home, Wokingham II, 12.30pm
Saturday 2nd XI, Away, Thatcham Town III, 12.30pm
Sunday 1st XI, Home. TBA
Sunday 2nd XI, Away, Little Kingshill, 1.00pm

PARTY IN CHALFONT PARK

A massive thank you to all of you who helped organise and run the Party in the Park event at the Club on Bank Holiday Monday. It was a tremendous effort and really appreciated. Not only have we have made some money for the Club and a local charity but this event has also really raised the Club's profile in the local community and it was great to see an estimated 2000 or so people attending.

Special mention must go to Caroline Chipperfield who came up with the idea to hold Party in the Park and then masterminded all the planning and organisation. Caroline has given so much of her time to this over the last few months and worked phenomenally hard to make it the success it was. Well done Chips and thanks for a superb day.

END OF SEASON DINNER

The end of season cricket dinner is on Friday, 25th November in the clubhouse. Please put the date in your diaries now and look out for more information in this newsletter as and when it is finalised.

PRESIDENTS DAY

President's Day this year was blessed with a beautiful, sunny day - a pleasant change after some washouts in recent years! The club XI batted first in a 45 over match and were in some trouble at 140-7 on a difficult, wet pitch; Ashley Barnes, David Ridley and Jason Nagle all put in respectable spells with the ball, Rob Machin surprised three batsmen with novelty straight ones and Stuart Dalrymple looked a 2nd XI off-spinner in the making. However, as the President's XI's fielding began to flag, and skipper Simon "Snapper" Seabrook began to live up to his nickname, Rahul Punj rescued the day for the club XI with a sparkling 66 not out, including three trademark straight sixes onto the golf course. The club XI closed on 218-9 in 45 overs - a challenging total as 180 had looked about par. The President's XI got off to a disastrous start with three early wickets falling, before a splendid partnership between the old pro Dalrymple (56) and the classy Nagle (55) got the President's XI back into contention. But both succumbed to Zamir Khan - some things never change - and only some lusty blows from Seabrook (21) and Machin (20) kept the President's XI in the hunt. 15 were needed off the last over; a six and a four from Machin made it 3 off the last ball to win and 2 to tie. As Machin struggled to make his ground for a second run, a direct hit throw from Shahid Din ran him out - victory for the club XI by 1 run! What a match - just like the Ashes!

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the Ladies 3s who have won the Henley League Summer Tournament by beating Harlow 4-1 in the final game. The tournament was held throughout the summer at Henley Hockey Club. The team finished on 23 points beating Henley who came in a close second. We also had the top goal scorer, Louise Stockdale with Alison Spicer close behind.

Well done to all those that played and my thanks to you all for making the effort to travel the distance each week.

OPEN DAY - THIS SATURDAY

The Hockey season starts in full this Saturday - two inter-club games, one for men and one for women - everyone is welcome. Please come down to play, just let Emma, Justin or myself know that you will be there (if possible) - EVERYONE is welcome to come and play.

Men - 11:30 meet for 12:00 start
Ladies - 13:00 meet for 13:30 start

Please don't be late and BRING BOTH a white and blue top (home/away kit if you have it)

TRAINING

Starts on Monday 5th at Beaconsfield for new members and 3rd-5th teams and on Tuesday 6th at Newlands for 1st/2nd XI squads. Both sessions start promptly at 8pm - please meet and warm up at 7:45 to make sure you are ready. Please bring water with you, as well as shin pads, gumshield and of course a stick :-)

AVAILABILITY

Please contact Justin, Emma or your Captain to let them know your availability for September and October. The matches start this Saturday for the Ladies 1's, then on the 10th for Ladies 2's-5's, Men's 1's-3's (and some 4's), and the 17th for Men's 4's & 5's.

Since there is likely to be more movement between squads early on all players could be involved, so do let us know your availability.

MATCH FEES/ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

Please be prepared before every match to pay your match fees up front to make the administration easier.

Please also arrange to bring a SEPARATE cheque along to your Captain in September for your Annual Membership so that we can get the administration done as soon as possible. Thanks for all your cooperation on this.

MIXED TOURNAMENT

The hockey club is hosting its annual mixed tournament at the club on Sunday 18th September. It will again be on the 7-a-side format and has teams participating from various corners of the south of England. As usual there will be a small (large really) bash at the club on the night before where it is hoped most of the teams will drink away their chances of winning the tournament.

NEW HOME KIT

Due to problems with suppliers the Committee are looking to change the home strip, and through a long process have decided on one of two tops. These are designed to keep a similar Club colour, and will be able to be used alongside the current kit as they are reasonably similar. There is currently a Poll on the Forum where pictures of the kit can be seen.

http://www.chalfontsports.org.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=538

Please log on and cast your vote to help the Committee decide which shirt the club should go with as a decision is needed in the next week.

It is also hoped that samples will be at the Party in the Park for people to view there, so do come down to look!

Kit Manager - Alex Bagehot
 

SUNDAY 2XI AND 3XI

Dan Webb, roving reporter, dashed between CSP and GX to bring you full coverage of these historic events:

In the dim and distant past, shrouded by the fog of old age and alcohol, a Sunday 3XI played for Chalfont St Peter. On Sunday, it was like the years of fog were burnt away by bright sunshine as an all new 3XI played a home game at Chalfont, under the watchful eye of Pat Nagle. Opponents Duke Of Hamilton, worthy foes always, lost the toss and were asked to bat.

Meanwhile, over at GX, the 2XI won the toss and decided to bat on a flat and bouncy track with a lightning quick outfield. Expecting the game to be all over before tea, your roving reporter went back to Chalfont.

Newcomer Tim Miles struck first, his windmill action and bouncing stomach distracting the opening batsman long enough to be bowled out. Mo Kassam from the other end toiled manfully for his wicket, the ball jagging back in and keeping low. In a 35 overs match, with four young colts in the side, it was always going to be hard work, but cometh the hour cometh the man, as Pat Nagle stepped up and bowled his submarine specialities, hitting the deck of the pitch and then never coming back up; a five wicket haul for the skipper, and the cause of much disbelief from the home side, the away side, the spectators, the man walking his dog, the golfers on the third tee and yours truly dear reader. Duke Of Hamilton finished with 200 and the look of men who had never seen the like of Nagle bowling...like most of the rest of us. After a bounteous tea - even some left over for the 'team manager', yours truly, it was back out into the field to chase the runs down.

Back to GX, where, on my arrival, I was greeted with the suprising news that we were not all out, and were in fact 155-1, with Justin Weller (97) and Gareth Noot (39) sharing a first wicket partnership of 140. In this stunned state I watched as Asim Ahmed smashed 70 and Babloo a rapid 30 as the 2XI finished on an impressive 265-3, one of the highest scores of the season.

Meanwhile, back at Chalfont, wickets were tumbling at regular intervals for the 3XI, but an impressive knock from youngster Mo Kassam with his maiden 50 saved Chalfont from total embarrassment, as new partners at the other end tried to stay with him, but were decieved by the regular changing of the opposition bowlers. Eventually it ended, with Chalfont defeated but unbowed, with 120-9. A fine effort from all the youngsters in the field and with the bat, and it bodes well for next year.

A quick dash to GX saw the 2XI with 14 overs left to bowl, and GX requiring 150 to win - an unlikely task....but succesive overs going at ten or eleven meant that with seven overs left, and with 6 wickets in hand, GX were well on course, requring only 9 an over on a pitch where full value is gained from your shots. Up stepped Jon Lindsay, who had gone for some serious tap in his opening spell, to dismiss their best batsman for 99, a fine catch in the deep by Asim Ahmed. This was followed up by wickets for Gareth Noot (well held Burgey) and soon the 2XI looked like they would win the match. But GX had other ideas, their 14 year old batsman putting any bowlers to the sword, but, as wickets kept falling at the other end, he slowed his pace to sensibly play for the draw, and GX finished 248-8.

A mad dash for this reporter from one game to the other had produced some thrilling cricket and great individual performances, not least that of England, who had attempted to kill me via a heart attack for the third game in a row.