...but when two Northern Ireland people get together in a foreign land, then everything and anything is likely to be discussed!
Chris Meeke is one of the up-and-coming stars of the international rally scene and a rare talent. He may have long since dropped his cricket ambitions but he was once captain of the school cricket team at Royal School Dungannon and he played for the local club some years ago. In his school days Richard Clingham organized cricket while former Instonians player Paul Hewitt was, and still is, headmaster. Chris’s brother is currently club secretary and he speaks in awe of stalwarts like Billy and Chris Adrain who have been the backbone of the club in many years.
Dungannon Cricket Club dates its origins back to the 1860s when both the club and the school were early pioneers of the game in Ireland. At one time in the 1890s the club boasted three professionals!
Unfortunately Dungannon CC never reached the top of Ulster cricket and much of their success over the years has been in the junior ranks, although they have consolidated their position in section three in recent times. It is interesting to note that in the mid sixties they competed with the likes of North Down, Bangor, Cliftonville and CIYMS in the old Qualifying league, so their pedigree is very solid. For many years the club played at the local rugby club but a few years ago they returned to old stomping ground at Dungannon Park.
The effervescent Billy Adrain has been an institution at Dungannon Cricket Club and a Colossus in keeping the club afloat during the tough years. The McNamee family is also synonymous with the club, with BBC Sports presenter Michael a former captain and of course father Basil, the former North of Ireland player and NCU president, a useful recruit in the ‘twilight’ of his career. The late ICU president Bob Kerr also played.
Chris Meeke still keeps a watchful eye on what’s happening over in the Park although he’ll have his hands full during the Barbados Rally Carnival, which climaxes with the popular Sol Rally Barbados event over next weekend. Driving a Toyota Corolla WRC for the first time, he has already served notice of his strong challenge with a second place in last Saturday’s opening Shell V-Power King of the Hill event losing out by a mere three tenths of a second to defending champion Paul ‘the Surfer’ Bourne.
One of the highlights in Chris’s short career was winning a World Junior Rally Event in Monte Carlo in 2005, scene of Ulster rally legend Paddy Hopkirk’s great 1964 Monte Carlo Rally win in his little Mini Cooper. The Sol Rally Barbados event covers 24 gruelling stages and has attracted 30 foreign competitors and the voice of Irish motorsport, Alan “Plum” Tindall. It remains to be seen if Chris can go all the way and add another title to his impressive list of wins to date.
He’ll certainly have plenty of support as Bajans are car-crazy and they love the Irish visitors who have supported this event for many years. Over 40,000 spectators will follow the event, more than will watch the West Indies versus Australia test match over five days the following week. Motorsport has passed cricket as the biggest spectator sport in Barbados and a former Dungannon cricketer will be at the forefront of all the action at this weekend’s event.
That has to make the Adrains, the McNamees and all the members at Dungannon Cricket Club, plus the pupils and staff at the Royal School, very proud.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
