...because of the Comber club’s success this season, it was a very enjoyable occasion for everyone present. Much of the pre-dinner website hype revolved around the decline in the numbers at the dinner in recent years, but although the attendance was similar to last year, it was once again a great opportunity to meet old friends and pay respect to the winners of all the competitions.
It has been claimed that celebrity speakers bring more people to the dinner, but this is a hollow argument because most people are tired of the same old stories being rolled out by the string of “has-beens” that make a good living from the after dinner circuit during the winter. There are some notable exceptions, but over the years the big names have been very disappointing and grossly overpaid. And if price is a factor, then they don’t warrant the outlay. However, in the same vein the speakers have to be entertaining and on this occasion we were not disappointed as Michael Ridley, Murray Power and Basil McNamee spoke well and from the heart. We should never forget this is the NCU annual dinner and not a fund-raising jaunt, so the emphasis and culture of the evening should be parochial. Michael was highly entertaining, articulate and witty, and he certainly entered into the spirit of the occasion by thanking his website critics for their “encouragement.” Basil gave us a comprehensive update on Cricket Ireland this year through the president’s eyes, and if he left the NCU a little short at the end, then most people understood, as he has been a wonderful ambassador of Irish cricket this year. Murray as always, was comprehensive and articulate, so when you add the silky eloquence of MC Robin Walsh, the NCU dinner was well served on this occasion.
It has been said the venue is not ideal, but the service and the meal were top class and I seriously doubt if better value is available anywhere.
But the real purpose of the NCU dinner is recognizing our peers in a meaningful way and on this occasion it was the North Down club that captured the major attention after another exceptional season. Individual awards at the highest level were won by Ryan Haire (batting), John Costain (bowling), Kyle McCallan (all rounder) and Peter Shields/Johnny Bushe (wicket-keeper), but there was plenty of praise all down the leagues for the recipients. Newsletter cricket correspondent Alistair Bushe named his Team of the Year and he was widely praised for his accurate selection, especially from the North Down contingent who secured six spots.
The inaugural Jim McMorran Award for voluntary service to cricket went to Ballymena’s long-serving George Glass, and as always, the dinner was extended by several hours by a number of cricket friends and party animals who were out to enjoy themselves.
What a pity another 100 NCU cricketers were not present to enjoy the experience, and shame on the clubs who were not represented, but thankfully their apathy is not the NCU’s benchmark.
Let’s hope the AGM is as enjoyable!
Clarence Hiles
Editor
