Close Season

The close season has been an eventful time for Heyford CC both on and off the pitch, the most important and expensive change is the improvements made to the square. With the long-term picture in their mind the committee made the first steps towards a complete new surface. Heyford's wickets over the past seasons have been flat and often look like extremely good, nevertheless the bounce is low and the pace very slow. This season Heyford decided to get a professional in and have two proper strips put down, with the intention of continuing the complete resurface over the subsequent years. The club's batsmen especially look forward to the improvements in the surface.

More work was done on the pitch, with the technical back-up of Jeremy Rice and the voluntary efforts of some club members a perimeter fence was erected around the square, in order solve the problem of the resident rabbits. At time of press the pitch has survived the winter floods, but problems were increased with doubts over the availability of the roller this coming year.

Off the pitch the first celebration of the 1999 season was an organised pub crawl around the local villages. Organiser Chris Peck gave the evening a 60's, 70's Austin Powers theme, which most people followed. A hired minibus transported the players around, from Heyford to Bugbrooke, Kislingbury, Harpole, Weedon and back to Heyford. A good evening was enjoyed by all.

Following that Paul Smith organised a Golf day, for players, Vice Presidents and friends of the club. There were morning and afternoon rounds including competitions, prizes and a meal to finish, again it was deemed to be a good day out.

The event of the close season, as with most clubs is the Annual Presentation Evening and Dinner, a three-course meal was followed by speeches from Geoff Allen (President), Simon Legge (Club Captain) and Nick Clarke (Sunday Captain). Batting awards went to Simon Legge (Saturday) and Nick Clarke (Sunday), bowling awards went to Chris Peck (Saturday) and Rob Pardon (Sunday). Chris Andrews was awarded Clubman of the Year and Young Player of the Year went to Rob Pardon and Tom Whittaker was All-rounder of the Year. Alongside these awards Legge the Club Captain presented a number of Novelty awards throughout his speech. A disco and celebratory drinks concluded the evening, yet some bad news was to follow when secretary Phil Cowley managed to break an ankle getting off the minibus.

The new year had Heyford CC looking forward to a new season, this began on the 4th of January with the first of the weekly indoor net sessions at the County ground, so far the attendance has been good filling two nets.

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