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????FREE TO GOOD HOME????
We're having a clear out. Slip catch cradle in good order - free to good home (£350+ new) collection only.
We also have a 220m reel of 24mm new & unused boundary rope for sale (£200+ new) Best offer over £100 secures. (collection only)
07980976359
Hope you dont mind us hijacking this to push a little sale??

Hi Ed
It has been a while but here comes Summer 2019. I will start by looking back at Irelands winter.
The Oman T20s was ours for the taking but the bowling v Scotland was shocking in defeat and our batsmen got us out of jail v Netherlands.
The Afghans T20s could and should have been 2-1 to us, Match 1 a 6th wicket stand plus not having a extra 20 runs cost us, Match 2 less said the better re bowling but batting kept us from losing by more, Match 3 late hitting by them took the match away from us again bowling was poor.
The ODIs I was happy with and if we can find a way v Zimbabwe and West Indies this upcomming series a win is possible.
The Test match like Pakistan was lost within a Session of the match but done well to get it in to day 4.
My NWCU Premier final table in 2019 will look something like this
1 Waringstown 2 CIYMS 3 Instonians 4 CSNI 5 Carrickfergus 6 North Down 7 Muckamore 8 Lisburn
In League 1 have a hunch that Holywood will get promoted but will face oppo from Bangor and Armagh. Both promoted sides along with Creagh and Donacloney Mill could struggle.
Cup Waringstown T20 Waringstown
Womens
1 Lurgan 2 Muckamore 3 CSNI 4 North Down 5 Waringstown
Insts will win 2nd tier but Laurelvale and both 2nds will challenge them.
Cup Lurgan
Good luck to all this season

Caleb, It was Clogher and Monaghan who established the border league. They played a 7 match series over a season.
For the following season they invited Portadown and Dungannon.
Now we have a 6 team midweek league and it works because there is a demand in this area anyway for this type of local cricket. We aren't creating anything we're only using what is already there.

Clarence, when the runs & wkts begin to count against my name, be assured the poetry will flow like water of a duck's back ....
And now to a serious note...
Kudos, handshakes and pats on back to Alan Chambers, Geordie Hamill & son for not only continuing with exciting border league, midweek cricket, but I see for the 2019 season, they have built upon last summer's success by increasing team/club involvement and establishing a proper competitive, round robin tournament outside our NCU competitions!
Encouraging indeed in this modern, digital age, email/mobile phone era, where most folk only seem to step outside their comfort zone for monetary remuneration, unassuming gentlemen like Alan & George get right to the nub of problem as to how to keep the great game alive & well in our wee country.
Contrast this with certain other esteemed, cricket connoisseurs in official positions, doubtless in receipt of pro-rate salaries, yet still, year on year, they fail to grasp the basic concept...
' to win any war, boots on the ground is paramount '

Congratulations to Mr Kerstens on his recent appointment as assistant Ed here on the Ulster Cricketer, look forward to your inputs.

Who do we believe the favourites are for the league title this season chaps?

Looking to post my bag over to England from here. Anyone any tips or experience on the best way/place to do it? Please and thank you

Very sad to hear of Billy Boyd's passing. He was one of cricket's true gentlemen and a pleasure to deal with. Always had time to speak to everyone. A great loss to cricket but a bigger to loss to his family and friends. Thoughts and prayers to his wife Sandra and family at this ad time.
JK

Sad news
The Ireland cricket fraternity has learned of the sad passing of Billy Boyd. He was a Trojan within Lurgan, but his contribution exceeds virtually every other branch of the Unions, especially the Northern Cricket Union where he dons so many roles including Chairman and President. His popularity was immense and he was always enthusiastically welcomed throughout the clubs scene. We will all miss his happy smiling face and local cricket will be a sadder place today. For me, it was a pleasure to be a good friend and to Sandra and the family we share our condolences.
Rest in Peace, Billy.
JCH

Border league midweek fixtures 2019
8th May
Clogher v Monaghan,
Dungannon v Victoria,
Portadown v Waringstown
15th May
Clogher vPortadown,
Waringstown v Dungannon,
Victoria v Monaghan
22nd May
Monaghan   v Dungannon,
Portadown v Victoria,
Waringstown v Clogher
29th May
Clogher v Victoria,
Waringstown v Monaghan,
Dungannon v Portadown 
12th June
Monaghan v Portadown,
Dungannon v Clogher,
Victoria v Waringstown
19th June
Monaghan v Clogher,
Victoria v Dungannon,
Waringstown v Portadown
26th June
Portadown v Clogher,
Dungannon v Waringstown,
Monaghan v Victoria
3rd July
Victoria v Clogher,
Monaghan v Waringstown,
Portadown v Dungannon
17th July
Dunannonv Monaghan,
Victoria v Portadown,
Clogher v Waringstown
24th July
Clogher v dungannon,
Portadown v Monagahan,
Waringstown v Victoria
Final 7th Aug

Also please see a weekend option to Spain from the La Manga Club.
If anyone is interested in this weekend please contact me on richard@finlaygrahamproperty.com

Hi Ricky, so we have 2 tournaments here in Spain in October. The end of season ones are always more social than the serious April events.

The two options are as follows:

La Manga CC - priced at £275/ 297 Euros 10-14 October
4 nights apartment accommodation in Las Lomas Village on La Manga Club
Self catering only
3 days of cricket (11/12/13) minimum 4 games on artificial strip
Access to gym and fitness centre
Gala dinner on Sunday night
Daily team return transfer to pitches from accommodation (5 mins)
Not included
Flights / meals except gala dinner / airport transfers (we can quote for transfers and we can arrange some discounts and offers in bars and restaurants)

Option 2
Cartama Malaga Costa Del Sol
3 or 4 nights accommodation in Hotel Sol Principe Torremolinos twin share
Breakfast daily
3 days of cricket 11/12/13th
Lunch at cricket each day
Airport transfers as a team
Daily team return hotel to ground (25 mins)
Water at cricket
Priced
3 nights £295 based on 10th to 13th but flight home on Sunday to be after 8pm)
4 nights £349
Not included
Flights / meals unless where stated above

For both events 30% deposit on booking and balance 6 weeks before -

Hope this is ok - any questions please shout.
Andy

Please see below potential Ulster Grasshoppers tour to South Africa organised by Alan Waite.
Ricky
If you are happy with the note below, can you circulate to all potential tourists?
Neil Watson who has been our contact in South Africa for over twenty years has sent me an email with an itinerary for January 2020 which includes two days as guests of Western Province at the South Africa England test match. It also includes 4 games of cricket and a variety of sightseeing trips which can be tweaked as we desire.
Two days in the members pavilion for the test match really is a special treat for cricket lovers.
I would anticipate trying to book flights with Turkish Airlines using our relationship with Cricket Ireland. We flew with Turkish to Cape town in March 2019 on the NCU youth trip and they were excellent.
He has held rooms in one of the V&A Waterfront hotels should we decide to travel, as prices will raise considerably as the year progresses.

The cost will be circa £2000 – That is essentially £1300 for the South Africa package & £700 for flights
There is no problem if wives or partners wish to travel
I am more than happy to organise the trip and would intend to travel myself. Neil has proven a fantastic organiser and you are assured of a wonderful trip
Can you please email me with an expression of interest by 28th February 2019 – alan.waite@brake.eu
Once we know the level of interest, we can quickly more forward with deposits etc.
If anyone has any questions please call me at any time on 07977 119849
Neil looks
Thurs, 2nd: Airport transfer to hotel, day at leisure.
Fri, 3rd : Day 1 in the Members’ Pavilion at Newlands for England vs South Africa.
Sat, 4th : Day 2 in the Members’ Pavilion at Newlands for England vs South Africa.
Sun, 5th : Match 1 vs Western Province CC Chairman’s XI at Avenue de Mist.
Mon, 6th : Day at leisure.
Tues, 7th : Tour of the Cape Winelands with a cellar tour, tastings and a picnic lunch.
Wed, 8th : Match 2
Thurs, 9th : Tour of Chapman’s Peak, Cape Point, Boulders Beach and a picnic lunch in the vineyards.
Fri, 10th : Tour to Aquila Private Game Reserve or Shark Cage Diving.
Sat, 11th : Match 3
Sun, 12th : Match 4
Mon, 13th: Day at leisure, transfer to airport.
Alan
So anybody interested please let Alan know.

If you go up the Cliftonville Road from the Antrim Road, it sat before old park avenue. It's now known as Pearses GAA(i think). Ccc where chased from the ground by republicans.

I am working on a BBC NI 'Rewind' project looking through our archives down the years. I have found an interview with Carson and Dixon Rose standing in the vacant land which once was home to Cliftonville Cricket Club. I would like to know the location of the ground on Cliftonville Road or indeed what is now built on the land.
Many thanks.
Patricia Buller

I have just learned incredibly sad news of the sudden death of Rory Thompson of C’villeAcademy and I extend my deepest sympathy to his family and to all the guys at ‘the Castle’. Taken far too young.