I had two potential destinations to choose from on Saturday, one being an Airedale & Wharfedale Senior Cricket League game, and the other in the Theakston Nidderdale League. As I passed Blubberhouses’ ground on the A59, heading up to the recently re-opened Kex Gill pass, the discussion between Connor [my son] and myself was still […]
Abeysekara dazzles Stamford Bridge as Harrogate win
Not so much a battle but a skirmish. I can hear the collective groan, “Not Harrogate again! You only visited there last week!”. I know…I know. Apologies, but hear me out. I headed to St. George’s Road last week when the weather was poor, knowing I had two potential games to cover, in two different […]
Chappell Cup: Starfish among the shadows as Ilkley make semi-finals
Unfortunately, on Sunday, I wasn’t able to schedule in a women’s game due to having to head towards Burley in Wharfedale to pick my daughter up from a weekend’s Guide camp. To be honest, I had pretty much resigned myself to not being able to get to any sort of game as the location and […]
Nidderdale League: Rainton dodge showers to top the table at Harrogate
I’m not obsessed by the weather, but by the very nature of my job, I have to keep an eye on the forecast to ensure that I have the correct coats, boots and hats to hand…as well as ensuring I pick up the correct camera equipment and rain covers. These past two years have seemingly […]
Metcalfe and Garton centuries win it for Harrogate Women
Looking around the fixture list for Sunday’s venue, there were a number of potential destinations for me to travel to…with the Hambleton Women’s Outdoor Soft Ball League (West) game between Ouseburn and Ripon being the first choice. However, as I prepared to set off, I was disappointed to find that their game had been conceded […]
Theakston Nidderdale League: Starbeck dazzle at Spofforth
‘Spofforth is the centre of the universe’ – a schoolfriend once said in all seriousness to answer a question posed by the young unsuspecting geography teacher during a lesson one Thursday afternoon at Harrogate Grammar School. Now, being totally honest, he probably knew that wasn’t the case, but watching the reactions of the only adult […]
Women’s softball: Richmondshire win at Knaresborough Forest
Sunday arrived and I was certainly worried about the weather. The forecast over the weekend was very unsettled, with threats of drizzle and longer showers, potentially disrupting games scheduled on both days. I’d looked at the fixture lists for the next few weeks on Monday, pencilling in various destinations, trying to ensure that I continued […]
Licking cows, special teas and new nets as Pickering visit Pannal
I love grounds like Pannal; secluded from the main road, transporting you away from everyday life, almost suspending normality. There are still the distant sounds of cars travelling on the main road that runs between Harrogate and Leeds, and the occasional blast of the train’s horn to signal its final approach to Pannal Station – […]
AirTag or tails? Menston defeat Harrogate in Archer Cup
Another one of those days where I arrive way too early for a game, which isn’t a problem if I haven’t been to the ground before, or certainly haven’t been there in many years. However, this was Harrogate Cricket Club and a ground that I know intimately. Parking up on the grass bank that overlooks […]
Theakston Nidderdale Division Five: Spennithorne & Harmby win at Ripon
“We’ve got a copy of John’s book behind the bar…” I think I heard that three times on Saturday. “We got our own mention!” It appears that Ripon Cricket Club are very proud to feature in John Fuller’s Dales, Bails and Cricket Club Tales. (Editor’s Note: I didn’t ask him to write this!) As winners […]