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Six-a Side Competition

Our annual competion will be on Bank Holiday Monday 26th May. Meet at the clubhouse at 10.30 a.m.

The President's Trip to Sri Lanka - Part 1, Kandy

This was my second trip to Sri Lanka, both times with Red Dot Tours who I can highly recommend, even though some of my comments may seem critical - they are definitely value for money. These are some of the pictures I took and my thoughts on the trip. I may have some of the figures wrong as they are from my (very poor) memory! The start of the tour is in Kandy. At 1000 metres above sea level it is cooler here. Kandy is the second city in Sri Lanka and has the famed Temple of the Tooth, a relic which is supposed to be one of Lord Buddha's teeth. The lake in the centre of the city was built centuries ago to save water for drought. I walked around the lake to get to and from the match, apart fromthe first morning when I took the Red Dot transfer. The guide, Bandulla said one of you on here has not paid, I owned up, oddly enough so did someone else, Kevin Mansell. We both paid 300 rupees for that day's return journey. For the rest of the match Bandulla was insistent that I was on his list and should go with them every daybut the walk was better, after all I was sitting down for 6 or 7 hours in the day. The queue to get in was long - nearly all English supporters. The orange blob in the middle of this picture is a group of Buddhist monks in their orange robes. Sri Lanka has a mix of religions, Hindus, Moslems, Christians are substantial minorities, but the majority are Buddhists. A book called "Buddhism in a nut shell" was in my hotel room, their version of Gideon's bible perhaps? I did read this over my time in Sri Lanka, there is a web version at http://www.buddhanet.net/nutshell.htm if anyone is interested in finding out more about this. In the Ground Kevin Pietersen looks good in practice. The tour started well, Hoggard bowling superbly as Sri Lanka were 32-4 and 187 all out. It went downhill from there. These lads come round and sell tea at less than 10 pence a cup, even cheaper if you drink it black.

Back at the Hotel Suisse, the monkeys had invaded. That view is from my balcony. Later on they were trying to rip the corregated iron off. On the way to the ground, I saw these water monitors by the path. The two large ones are over 4 feet long. Apparently they eat snakes.

The ground at Kandy is a fantastic place to watch cricket, very picturesque and you are close to the action. p>After four days of watching and talking cricket with Kevin I asked who he palyed for, "The New Statesman", "I have played against them!" I said. We decided we had played in the same match and that he may have got me out lbw for a low score. He had also played for the team I was playing for, The Journeymen.

We had friends in common!

After the match, I stayed in Kandy for another two nights. I saw a high society wedding, the descendants of the Kandy Royal family, the last King was captured and imprisoned by the British. The boys here were part of the wedding troup, relatives of the groom who wore the same costume.

The video below shows the bride arriving and the dancers escort her all the way to the 2nd Floor where the wedding takes place.

I also went on a boat on the lake

The driver took this one and I took a few more.


I saw some traditional dancing and fire eating.

I also went up into the mountains, but the weather was poor, heavy rain and zero visibility at the view points.

Hampset Tour - Titchbourne Park

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On my way to the ground I passed a car going in the opposite direction driven by someone who must be on a cricket tour. The point we passed was by an entrance with a sign saying "Titchboure Park, Private Road".

I went on for a few miles, before turning back and going up the drive, which eventually led to the secluded ground, I arrived exactly at the same time as the other car.

Tim was the captain for the day, the team seemed to be suffering the effects of two nights and one day on tour, but (or therefore?) Tim chose to bat. I was at four and very soon in, and out shortly afterwards. At 30-5 it seemed like I may get another chance in a beer game!

Jon Solly, as usual this year, came to the rescue with some sensible leaves and


shots & slogs. Scoring 71. Ben Voutt chipped in with 17,

There were some classic shots, that looked good


but didn't contribute a lot.

There were less classy shots


We gave Tichbourne Park some catching practice


and they showed us that they were already well practiced at catching.


Adam played and missed:



but still managed a run.



Ryan got the benefit of the doubt on a stumping as the third umpire was asleep.



A silly run out left the final score at:



All of this was wathced from under the Gazebo, or revolutionary covering system, according Colin, and to the great interest of the Cricket Manager, 1st XI captain & President.




After an excellent tea, there was some enthusiasm in the field, the Aussie taking two catches, Ed encouraged by me to bowl a quick one did so and the vicious short pitched rising ball hit the top of the stumps.

Ryan could have been taken off by the captain or the umpire (3 beamers, one at their 13 year old), but kept on he took three wickets and eventually managed to bowl an over consisting of only six deliveries.

James Dorey, bowled well and could have had 5 wickets if he had bowled a straight one at their number 11. The skipper had 3 overs failing to do the same and finally Ben Voutt managed it and the tourists won by six runs.

Solly was awarded the Garland of honour, in spite of some abysmal bowling


A few drinks and laughs after the game, before we dragged ourselves away.

Hampset v Winterbourne