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Well Park-ranger, what about the ones who occasionally just hit the ball; but more occasionally miss it completely!

Which bracket do you fall under??

re big hitters:

I have to say jim patterson hit the ball as hard as anyone i have played with or against, especially straight and through extra cover.

Big gavin ringland hits a huge ball, russeller hits them pretty big aswell.

Davy Napier hit the biggest 6 I've seen - he hit Colin Magowan onto the top of the stand at ormeau.( The face of the stand was 100 yards from the edge of the square.)

Indeed Andy Davy Houston did hit a big ball.
In my memories two Lurgan players jump to mind. Ross McCollum (who had a glazed look on his face when on a destruction) and Raymond Hunter who I remember taking our then pro Uday Joshi apart one day at Woodvale.

Ivan when you talk memories I would like you to look at Woodvale web site and the article on George Wilson to see if that sparks any comparisons.

recall a Woodvale player (may have been Davy Houston) putting one over the clubhouse at Ballymena during a 6-a-side night in the late 70s.

Keith Enoka the Muckamore pro in the mid nineties hit a big ball and lucky for us he hit it quite often. One of the most consistent big hitters in the last thirty years must have been Joe Campbell of RUC, Woodvale and Carrickfergus fame.
Over the years I have been hit out of many a ground but I think the furtherest I was ever hit was by Alfie Linehan at Downpatrick. Davy Napier, Charlie Corry and Ross McCollum were another trio who as they say "when they hit it , it stayed hit".
Stanley "the horse" Hewitt of Instonians and Mark Harper the Donacloney pro in the early 80's were another two who hit it a long way.
Of current senior players I think Neil Russell on his day can be as destructive as any player and on the hard Comber pitches and outfield would have certainly left a few fielders "black and blue".
But on big hitters I always remember a great quip from the late great Archie McQuilken when he was once challenged by our own Davy Campbell talking about how hard he could hit the ball. Archie retorted "Davy, you might hit it harder than me, but I hit it more often".
Archie as well as being a great player was a master of the one liners. I remember in one of my first games playing with him at Moylena when we were in the dressing room during a rain break and Jimmy Reid another top performer as one of the best fast bowlers of that time was telling the younsters like myself and Andy Gleghorne stories of how many batsmen he had sent to hospital when Archie stopped him and said "Jimmy , tell the boys about the day Stan Hewitt put you in the tennis courts four times in the one over". Silence. Cricket just gives you a life time of memories and friendships.

From Waringstown, Simon Harrison is a big hitter and so is Ian Morrison. Former professional Ijaz Ahmed could also hit the ball far as can Michael Scott.

Speaking from a Victoria C.C perspective... C.Boomer can occasionally hit the ball a fair wack but I'd say N.Harvey and D.Vennard are probably the biggest hitters at the club, although there are some more who would give it a good go

Peter Van Niekirk left hand pro who played for derriaghy hit a big ball

Big Davey Greenlees has hit some of the biggest 6s and hardest balls ive fielded against and i can honestly say i hate fielding at mid on/off when hes batting and you know your gonna be black and blue before its over!!!

Big-hitters,
Davey Duckley from our club is a big hitter, he once 'downed' me in a match against Dungannon a few years ago,I was backing up to far down the wicket at the other end and I got hit, full on in the ribs!
As I lay gasping for air,he justed cursed at me for stopping it going for a six!!

Andy K. Would you believe it, there's snow forcast this week and the cricket season just weeks away!! Only in Ulster as you say! So tell the good-lady to wear her woollys and not go bare-legged if she's up for a bit of 'cheer-leading'!

Thanks a bunch again Greg,for making me look like some kind of 'Baffoon'on the forum here!!!

Clear off and go and watch 'Dads Army' or the 'Bananna Splits' I hear your into that now ? What next I wonder?
A batsman! I think not!!

No idea on the story about Deeko, but on the subject of hard hitters. I remember playing against Bangor in Wallace Park, Derek batting, me non striker, I was genuinely scared to even back-up as I thought if he hits one straight back it will probably kill me. Another big hitter was Mike Bailey, he hit a flat straight six at the Park and the ball came back onto the square! Personally I top edged a six once!

just back from some warm weather training in Lanzarote getting the trigger finger warmed up. Flossie has been watching the IPL and asks if NCU is going in the same direction as she is keen to be one of the dancers! tried to tell her that Ulster has suffered enough!

In the tradition of daft questions on this forum

Who hits the Biggest/Hardest ball in the league(s)...?

Dosen't have to be the best bat...just biggest hitter

Hello Vic , as a famous tennis player use to say "you can not be serious" looking free tickets & free wine no chance ,next thing you will be looking to borrow your Dad's guitar and sing to the VIP's as well ,you will just have to buy a ticket like the rest of us !!! this post was sponsored by Rod's Gardening Supplies,Lurgan