Confidence amongst the Shrewton Under 13s could not have been higher before last Sunday’s league semi-final, and their youngsters were eagerly asking the date of the final before a ball had been bowled.  Perhaps they had cause for such confidence - after all, they had beaten the Valley in their earlier encounter and there was the home advantage too.

Yet Junior Cricket at Chalke Valley has mad great strides this balmy summer and both coach Dingle and his mixed team of boys and girls were every bit as confident - but perhaps in a more dignified and becoming manner.

And this confidence proved justified.  Batting first, the Valley had reached a more than competitive 99-4 after their twenty overs with all bats contributing and unphased by the Shrewton attack.  In response, Hope Mayhew martialled her bowlers well, bowling well herself, and rotating her resources with skill.  It was Freddie Bates, with four wickets, who ripped out the heart of the Shrewton side with four key wickets, but with Molly Grant chipping in with two and Clover Crosse with one, it was a superb run-out that ended the innings of their final batsmen - and with the home side still seven runs short.

We are now lobbying hard to the have final played at Bowerchalke.  If this is agreed, then I very much hope as many people as possible will turn out to support our Under 13s.  In our first season of competitive junior cricket, this is a superb achievement and says much about the coach and players and the quiet determination they have showed this summer.  Many congratulations to Hope Mayhew and her team!

It is very important that we all park in the correct place at the New Ground.  We do not want to have to put down unsightly scalpings or bollards, but we do need to try and achieve some kind of discreet order.

So: on entering the ground, please park at ninety degrees tight into the beach hedge making sure your vehicle does not stick out beyond the main gate end of the hedge.   If a second row is needed, also make sure that you are not in line with the garden in front or visible through the archway into that garden.  I hope the drawn map shown here is clear enough.

We have been extremely fortunate to have enormous goodwill from the village residents in Bowerchalke, but that will soon disappear if our new neighbours find themselves regularly looking at the back end of a pick-up truck rather than the beautiful Marleycombe Down.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, SO PLEASE CAN EVERYONE a) TAKE GREAT CARE TO ADHERE TO THIS AND b) SPREAD THE WORD, AND c) PUT ANY MISCREANTS IN THE PICTURE.

Thank you.

For the Under 11s and Under 13s this season has been a steep learning curve.  Our two junior sides have entered the Salisbury & District Cricket League and have found themselves coming up against teams that have been playing together - and at a competitive level - for a lot longer than we have.

And yet as the league season draws to a close there are signs of very real progress amongst our juniors.  The Under 13s are in the League semi-final, while our Under 11s, in an inter-Club match last Sunday showed that the coaching and their willingness to learn this summer is finally beginning to pay off.  There were a number of eye-catching performances.  Matthew Roberts bowled outstandingly well for his four wickets, while Ned Holland took two and showed that he has a long future with the Club ahead of him - he is still not quite nine years old, after all.  Kieran Hayes continues to show signs of real talent with both bat and ball, while Jacob Chalk played a number of deft shots and demonstrated a growing maturity with his batting - and, for that matter, his wicket0-keeping.  Liam Perry took a fine wicket and held onto two superb catches, and also hit the highest score of any Under 11 player this season.  His batting is coming on leaps and bounds.  Patrick Bates continues to lead the way with his athletic fielding, whilst also making important contributions with bat and ball.  Adam Cuff is proving to be a chip off the old block and at this rate will soon be taking the spin bowling mantle from his father, Mark.  There were many other encouraging performances: both Tessa and Lara Mayhew continue to progress with both their batting and bowling, as does younger brother, Tom, who is also developing his wicket-keeping skills, as is Henry Maurer.  Sam Wharmby proved he has the technically soundest forward defensive of any Under 11 player, while Toby Randerson continues to show flashes of the very real talent that lurks within him - as a sudden lovely shot or rapid yorker testifies.  Bailey Scougal-McCorry also put in a much-improved performance while it was good to see Tom Ponsonby back amongst us after a long lay-off with a torn Achilles.  Another chip off the block is Harry Warman, who is also producing much-improved cricket and who is second-to-none in terms of enthusiasm and commitment.

It was also wonderful to see both Harry, as captain of the Lions, and Liam Perry, as skipper of the Panthers, showing just how far they are developing as thinking captains.  Cricket, possibly above all other sports, is a mental game, in which its many nuances and subtleties offer myriad opportunities to the master tactician. Both Harry and Liam, on separate occasions, noticed how the batsmen were playing, and moved fielders accordingly.  Both decisions immediately led to wickets.  As a coach, this was brilliant to see.

And what gives us even greater cause for cheer is that most of this year’s Under 11s will be young enough to play again next year, while that those who will be moving up will bolster the equally improving Under 13s.  Chalke Valley’s next generation of players is starting to take shape.

The day before our Grand Opening, there was an interesting article in the Daily Telegraph entitled ‘Is Village Cricket Selling its Soul?’  The thrust of the piece was that league cricket is ruining the village game.  Clubs that play in the leagues tend to put all their effort into the more formal game, which then makes it more competitive.  The result is that the team is dominated by just a handful of players who bat, bowl and captain, while the rest merely make up the numbers.  Then disgruntled players give up or move away and the Club struggles and then folds.  One of those cited in the article was James Street, captain of Fonthill Park CC, who we played last month.  ’Our numbers have been bolstered by members of other clubs which folded because they couldn’t cope in the leagues,’ he says. ‘They lost the social element.  We’ll not play in the leagues.  In this part of the world at least, there’s an apetite for friendly village cricket.  Long may it last.’

There is another pitfall with league cricket, and that is the distance involved to travel to away fixtures.  This would particularly effect us and our location near the Hampshire/Dorset border in south-west Wiltshire.  Wiltshire leagues include matches further north than Swindon - itself 90 minutes’ drive away.  The Hampshire Leagues involve matches beyond Andover and in the New Forest, while the Dorset leagues would mean travelling to Bridport and further.  In an age where petrol prices are soaring and family time is at a premium, we need to tread very carefully in this regard.

We would welcome all views, but I believe that for the time being, there are two options.  The first is to continue the way we are with more friendly fixtures on Saturdays as well as Sundays and with the Club welcoming touring sides to our ground.  After all, having built Butts Field, we obviously want to play there as much as possible.  A second alternative, as suggested by Skipper Dingle, is to introduce a small and local invitation league.  We could approach, say, Handley, Chilmark, maybe even Fonthill Park and a few others.  It would bring a bit of competition without the travel.

Such conundrums also poses questions about the future of the Club.  We have expanded very successfully over the last few years, but it is noticeable that the successful league clubs are big enterprises with six or more teams fielded every week.  Do we really want to become like that?  I don’t think so.  Chalke Valley’s strength is its friendly atmosphere, unity and shared sense of purpose.  We change that at our peril.

As Chalke Valley struggled in the first weeks of the season, so too did our skipper, Dingle.  The timing looked all right, the trademark shots were still there, but for some reason, the big runs were not forthcoming.  All that changed in the week before the Grand Opening.  An unbeaten fifty against Handley, was followed by a second two days later.  Out for sixty-seven against the Bunburies, he has since followed it with two more unbeaten fifties and a 49.  Last Tuesday, after a fine bowling and fielding display by the Valley, a further fifty helped Chalke Valley crush a chippy and highly competitive Shrewton in the T20 League.  Five consecutive fifties and a 49, plus the change in the Valley’s fortunes, makes Skipper Dingle unquestionably the team’s current Most Valuable Player.

After a frustrating draw against Compton Chamberlayne a few weeks ago, Chalke Valley were determined to show no mercy when the old rivals arrived at Butts Field to play the first game after the Grand Opening.

Chalke Valley have long ago given up playing timed matches - we prefer clean results and weekend fixtures are now dominated by the 35-over format.  It required nothing like as many overs to skittle out the opposition, however.  On another balmy summer’s afternoon, Joe Brewer produced the fastest, most devastating spell of his life, taking four quick wickets, and ripping the heart out of the Compton line up.  Bowled out for just 29 runs, skipper Dingle and Geoff Bonner knocked off the total in a handful of overs, completing the Valley’s most emphatic victory in their history.

Chalke Valley may have begun the season slowly, but with confidence mounting, the winning habit has returned…

So finally the Grand Opening Day has been and gone, but what a day it was.  On a hot June day of deep blue skies and blazing sun, the Bunburies arrived to take on Chalke Valley CC.  David English CBE, founder and captain of the Bunburies had promised his team would entertain and they certainly did.  At the pre-match lunch for 240 people in the marquee, there were hilarious speeches from Roger Dakin, the MC, and David English himself, and a profoundly moving talk by

Captain Edmund Addington, cousin to the Lamb brothers, and who had recently - and miraculously - survived being blown up in Helmand.  Edmund’s speech received a standing ovation and unquestionably did much to help the charity, Help for Heroes, one of three causes for which the event was raising money.

Lunch was followed by an Auction of Promises, brilliantly put together by local writer, Guy Walters, and equally superbly auctioneered by Bunbury Roger Dakin.  Every single bid raised more than its estimate, but perhaps most spectacular were David Walsh’s two paintings which went for £3,500.  At the end, local Ebbesbourne resident, John Wood, then offered to donate £1,000 to the Club if nine others would follow - those nine generously did so, creating, in a trice a further £10,000 towards the Club funds.  In all, the auction raised £22,000.

The owner of the ground, Caroline Rawle, was presented with a silver pepperpot containing ninety-nine peppercorns by Club Chairman, Peter Walker, who pointed out that we wished to pay our rent up front, and who then declared that Caroline had agreed to become the Club;’s new Life President.  With lunch complete, stars and guests moved to the middle of the pitch for the opening ceremony - the cutting of the ribbon around the square.  Flanked by Graeme Hick, David English and other players, Caroline did her duty and declared the Ground open.

While members of the public continued to arrive and mingle amongst the many stores and other attractions, others had settled down to watch the cricket.  The Bunburies batted first and after a solid start from CEO of the MCC, Keither Bradshaw, and Northants vice-captain, Alex Wakely, both men finally fell soon after completing their fifties, the latter succumbing to a peach of a delivery from Chimp Jeffery.  Somerset star, Peter Trego, newly called up to join the English Lions, smashed a rapid forty, but in the meantime, Club Captain Mark Cuff had begun producing the most memorable spell of his life, taking a three wicket hall that including the legendary Graeme Hick for just twelve.  The Bunburies finished on 280-10 as the teams left the pitch for tea.

It was as tea was drawing to a close that the Spitfire appeared over the ground.  In a stunning display, pilot Clive Denney flew repeatedly over Butts Field and Marleycombe, twisting and turning, the roar of the Merlin engine thundering over the ground.  After finishing with a victory roll, the Spitfire departed, leaving Chalke Valley the task of over-turning the Bunbury total.

It was a job made harder by the Bunburies insistence on fielding no less than fifteen players, but after a steady start against some lively bowling from Northants opener James Brookes and England U.21 goal-keeper, Joe Lewis,  runs started to flow.  After the openers fell, Marcus Marland and then skipper Dingle knuckled down, seeing off Peter Trego amongst others before tucking into some gentler Bunbury bowling.  At the close, Chalke Valley had made a respectable 220-5, with the skipper not out on 67 and with Chimp Jeffery hitting an enormous six into the wheat field.  Had there been fewer fielders, the target may well have been over-hauled.

As the sun lowered in the west, and the people began to melt away, the great day finally drew to a close - a day that will not be forgotten by anyone involved with the Club.

That it was such a success was in part due to the Bunburies, who more than lived up to their pledge, but also down to the army of helpers, including Captain Tom Perrott and his men of the King’s Royal Hussars.  Most of all, however, it was down to the Club Chairman and the Grand Opening Committee who worked tirelessly over many days, weeks and months to create what was a more than fitting opening to a wonderful new venture.  Thank you.

The most important day in Chalke Valley Cricket Club’s history is almost upon us.  The ground is being transformed, with marquees and tents springing up around the boundary and much hard work being carried out by a small army of dedicated committee members and helpers.

I can also report that the match wicket is looking sensational.  The squad’s batsmen have been honing their batting skills with a hired bowling machine this week, but on Thursday evening it was ramped up to 85mph in order to test Ian Newman’s prepared strip.  The bounce was hard and true, and with David Brown batting on it for a further test and with Harry Hitchings then firing down an over with a proper cricket ball, both Groundsman and Players watched on with relieved delight.  Many congratulations to both Ian and Club Captain, Mark Cuff.  They have done an outstanding job.

The sun also continues to shine.  the only blot was the paltry performance of the England football team, whose next match now begins as Graeme Hick strides out to bat.  Our Groundsman, however, is producing miracles and in addition to creating a pitch to make a county side blush, will be erecting both a 50″ screen beside the beer tent, and 32″ in the marquee.

Is there a single member in the Club not now fit to burst with excitement?

There’s been a bit of discussion about the Valley’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and while both Geoff Bonner and Harry Hitchings remain linchpins of the side, two of our leading lights have begun to tap a rich vein of form.  After a humiliating first round exit in the Old Sarum T20 Cup at the hands of South Newton, (we were finalists last year), we beat them comfortably a few days later thanks to a devastating fifty from Chimp Jefffery.  But while Chimp offers much with both bat and ball, it has been back-to-back unbeaten half centuries from the Skipper that has given Chalke Valley back its self-belief.  Last Sunday, in the first home weekend game on the new ground, the Valley walloped our old friends, Sixpenny Handley, reaching their modest 34-over score of 105 in just ten overs.  Two days later, the Valley also comfortably overcame a strong Berwick St James side, which included Hampshire player James Heggetty, thanks to match-winning 89-run second wicket partnership between the Skipper and Club Secretary.  Confidence is contagious, and with the news that Peter Lamb has pledged a bowling machine to the Club if they beat the Bunburies on Sunday, the mood in the Valley camp could not be better…

Bunbury CC have announced that batting legend Graeme Hick will be playing for them on 27th June.  With a staggering 136 first class and 158 one day hundreds to his name, Hick is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of his generation.  With 65 test matches and 120 ODIs for England, he was unquestionably a player of the highest quality and one of the giants of the modern game.  The Valley are unquestionably hugely honoured to have him playing at the New Ground on the Grand Opening day.

Also signed up are former England bowler Alan Mullally and rock star Harry Judd from McFly.  Joss Butler from Somerset CCC will be joining colleagues Peter Trego and James Hildreth, while there will be several Northants players including Liam Dawson.  Former Arsenal and Saints winger/striker Perry Groves will also be playing.

Certainly the line-up seems to get better and better and word has also reached me that not only is MCC Chief Executive Keith Bradshaw coming to see what Chalke Valley has to offer, there might well be an appearance from that other legend, Allan Lamb, as well…