Forum

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.

ULSTER BANK SCHOOLS CRICKET CUP DRAW
Methodist College will begin their defence of the Ulster Bank Schools
Cricket Cup with an away game against Belfast rivals Campbell College
or Down High School..
The holders are one of eight seeded schools which
received byes into the second round in which last year’s runners-up
RBAI will have home advantage against either Friends’ School Lisburn
or Sullivan Upper. All four North West schools in the competition
have also gone directly into the second round.
The full draw is:
First round to be played by May 3:
A: Ballyclare High School v Lurgan College
B: Bangor Grammar School v Carrickfergus Grammar School
C: Friends’ School Lisburn v Sullivan Upper
D: Campbell College v Down High School
E: Royal School Armagh v Ballymena Academy
F: Belfast High School v Antrim Grammar School.
Grosvenor Grammar School and RBAI Seconds received byes into the
second round along with the eight seeded schools.
The second round games to be played by May 10 are:
RBAI Seconds v Coleraine Grammar School.
Limavady Grammar School v A
B v Belfast Royal Academy
RBAI v C
D v Methodist College
Wallace High School v E
F v Strabane Academy
Foyle College v Grosvenor Grammar School.
INQUIRIES : ROBIN WALSH (077 33 100 821)

Loosely connected with cricket but Larne CC legend Ester Burke has written
a musical that will be performed at the Mill at Mosley at the end of February. Details on their website but what a great opportunity to support a guy who has lived Junior cricket for so many years.

NCU Independent Director Appointments announced
NCU
The Northern Cricket Union announces the appointment of three Independent Directors to its Board, following a recent recruitment process:
Michael Humphreys, Q.C – Independent Director
Michael Humphreys, Q.C joins the NCU Board with immediate effect and brings significant expertise to the NCU within both legal and governance fields.
Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1994, Michael has extensive experience in the legal profession, with emphasis on Corporate Affairs and Commercial law. Michael was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2011 and he regularly advises directors and shareholders on matters of corporate governance, as well as representing many of Northern Ireland's leading companies in commercial disputes.
Outside of his professional life Michael has also been Chair of the Board of Governors of Methodist College for the last two years. This role involved overseeing a major review of corporate governance, which is now being implemented.
Michael is looking forward to combining his love for cricket with his professional skills in order to contribute and support the next phase of development for the NCU.
Ross Ellerby – Independent Director
Ross Ellerby joins the NCU Board with immediate effect and brings a wealth of experience in the areas of Strategy Development and Implementation, Marketing and Growth, Company and Corporate Governance, as well as financial responsibilities of running corporate entities.
With over 20 years' experience gained through various Company Director roles in a range of companies in the wider UK and abroad, Ross is a welcome addition to the NCU Board. In October 2009 Ross set up his own business to deliver Construction Management projects in the Property Development Sector. Running his own business has provided Ross with a wealth of experience in Corporate Development and Governance.
Ross is looking forward to bringing his extensive experience and skills to the NCU Board of Directors to support the ongoing development of the organisation and in particular supporting the change transition and strategy development the NCU is currently going through.
Rosemary Bryans – Independent Director
Rosemary Bryans joins the NCU Board with immediate effect and brings extensive experience in the area of Human Resources.
With over 18 years' experience as a Strategic Human Resources Professional Rosemary is a significant addition to the NCU Board. Her extensive experience and expertise cover all aspects of HR including resourcing, employee relations, talent management, performance management, change management, industrial relations and organisational design and workforce planning.
Rosemary is looking forward to bringing her high level of expertise to the NCU Board of Directors to support the wider development of the organisation, in particular the development and increase in employees for the NCU.
The Independent Director appointments will also be joined on the Board by a further Director appointment arising from a vacancy following the NCU AGM in October 2018.
Ken Nixon - Director
Ken Nixon joins the NCU Board with immediate effect and brings a broad range of experience in the legal profession, as well as across many voluntary roles he has held in various sporting bodies.
From 1973-1993 Ken was a Resident Magistrate and District Judge, followed by a role as Deputy County Court Judge up until his retirement in 2017. With those roles he has gathered extensive experience in the law. He has also been instrumental in establishing the annual Sport and the Law conference, delivered through a partnership with the NI Sports Forum and the Law Society NI. Ken was also a founding Director of Sports Resolutions UK, a company resolving disputes in sport by way of mediation and arbitration. He currently acts as a pro bono panel member with the company.
Ken's broader sports governance experience is extensive and where he will provide his greatest contribution to the NCU. His experience gained through various roles he has held over many years with organisations including the Northern Ireland Sports Forum, the Mary Peters Trust, the Commonwealth Games Council and the Government led Sports Matters Monitoring Group will bring additional expertise to the NCU in sports governance, lobbying and government strategy for priorities for sport.
The new Director appointments will bring a wealth of experience to the NCU Board and we look forward to seeing their contribution to the development and evolution of cricket in the NCU.
The full NCU Board of Directors until the next AGM in October 2019 is outlined below:
Chairman – Alan Waite
Vice-Chairman – Sam Beckett (Domestic Cricket)
Directors – Alastair Burton (Finance and Sponsorship), Allan Rutherford (Representative Cricket), Roger Bell, Kailash Chada (Hon Treasurer), Stephen Dyer, Ken Nixon and Brian Walsh
Independent Directors – Rosemary Bryans, Ross Ellerby and Michael Humphreys

Merry Christmas and a Happy & successful New Year to all Cricket Clubs from all at Cartwrights Sports

Best wishes to a Merry and Happy Christmas!

Thanks Roger.

It should make no difference Colin, as both the UK and the EU have agreed that the Common Travel Area, which has existed since the 1920's, and allows unrestricted movement between the two jurisdictions, will remain in place after Brexit.

Not looking to start a political discussion on rights and wrongs of Brexit.
However simple question;
In the event of a no deal Brexit will this affect overseas players playing in NCU/ NW on an Irish passport?
Additionally would cross border cups be affected?

Andrew White NCU Cricket Academy 2018 - 2019
The Andrew White NCU Cricket Academy has now been in operation for three years and continues to go from strength to strength. The Academy was originally established to provide opportunities for young talented players within the NCU to obtain specialist support. Thus, enabling more of those young players, both male and female, to gain international representation at Irish level at the various age groups. The Academy programme has had some success in that regard during the last three years, with some of the Academy graduates going on to gain representative honours at underage level, and others on the cusp of achieving that. We are delighted that the Academy support along with other coaches in the NCU system, has enabled so many players to achieve representative opportunities.
Following a recent review of the Academy, the NCU Representative Directorate has agreed that the 2018-19 Academy intake will focus on players within the 17-23 age group who have the potential to gain future Senior Interprovincial and/or Senior International representation, and who currently are not involved in any Cricket Ireland Pathway Programmes.
The Academy members will also be actively participating in the 2019 Emerging Knights fixtures, which it is anticipated will have up to have 10 match days.
Players selected for the Andrew White NCU Cricket Academy 2018-19 are as follows:
* Aditya Adey (Muckamore)
* Jack Burton (Carrick)
* Matthew Foster (CSNI)
* Sam Gordon (Muckamore)
* Jamie Magowan (North Down)
* John Matchett (CIYMS)
* Matthew McCord (Carrick)
* James Metcalfe (Instonians)
* Ben Rose (Instonians)
* Morgan Topping (CSNI)
* Harry Warke (Carrick)
* Aaron Wright (CSNI)
Andrew White commented, ‘The group of young players selected have shown promising performances at various stages during the Premier League last year and I look forward to helping them in their quest to push for representative honours in 2019. Simon Johnston’s coaching expertise and commitment to assisting the players achieve their potential will be invaluable over the coming months. The Academy is indebted to the continued support of Ulster University, O’Neills and MG2 Cricket who have been great supporters of the Academy since its inception’.