Club News Archives - 2013

If you have a club news item to contribute, we would be grateful if you would email it to us... To make room for new stories on the 'Club News' page, all of our stories will eventually move here to the archives but they will stay available here for future reference... 16/12/2013 Senior teams' league and cup fixtures available... The 2014 fixtures page has now been updated to display all First, Second, Third, and Fourth fixtures for both league and cups (except Twenty20 Cup which are not currently available). All youth fixtures and the Twenty20 fixtures will be added when they become available. Visit the "Fixtures Section" via the link in the left hand menu or click here. 12/12/2013 Bar arrangements for festive season.... As always over the festive season , the Club will be subject to some restricted opening hours, details for which can be found here. We would encourage all members to come along and support the events planned for Christmas and New Years or, at very least, to call in and enjoy the traditional free Christmas drinl for members (available to 23rd Dec.). May everyone involved with the Club take this opportunity to wish all of our members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year... 30/10/2013 Congratulations to Jack and Max Burton... Congratulations to Jack and Max Burton who have been named in the Cricket Ireland winter training squads. Jack who played for the NCU Under 15's in 2013 has been named in the Under 15 squad, while younger brother Max is in the Under 13 squad. 30/10/2013 Cricket Europe Ireland's review of C.C.C.'s season... Cricket Europe Ireland recently presented their assessment of the season gone from a Carrrickfergus C.C. perspective. The report can be found here. 23/10/2013 News and pictures from Club dinner... The Club's annual dinner was held on Friday 18th October and was the usual sociable occasion, allowing the Club to honour its oustanding achievers of the season past. We now have the photographs from the night available as well as a full list of prize-winners from the night. Full details on the dinner can be found here. 21/10/2013 Round-up of news from Club AGM... The Club's annual general meeting was held on Tuesday 15th October and was well-attended. The minutes of the last AGM, held on 9th October 2012 were approved and adopted. The Club's Financial Report and Statement of Accounts were presented, discussed, and adopted. The team captains then provided their season reports. This was followed by a thorough and thoughtful general cricket report presented by Ally McCalmont, (jointly prepared by Ally and Director of Cricket, Michael McIlroy). This report presented a realistic and constructive analysis of what has been, admittedly, a somewhat disappointing season in playing terms but paid tribute to the encouraging improvement in fortunes of the Third XI and acknowledged continuing success at youth level. The report was discussed by those assembled in a measured and constructive manner and it was suggested that the incoming Cricket Committee be tasked with investigating further a number of recommendations from the report. All playing reports were then approved and adopted by the floor. A notice of motion was then introduced by the management committee to make a moderate increase to the junior playing membership from £15 to £25 and this was approved and adopted. The election of Officers of the Club then took place. Since the existing Officers had indicated their willingness to stand for re-election and no further nominations had been received, a notice of motion to re-elect en-bloc was proposed, approved and adopted. Of the remaining members of the management committee, only Alex Adams and Michael Ross had indicated their wish to step down. Seconded nominations were put forward for Jason Campbell and Glen Graham and a motion to re-elect the existing management committee with the two newly nominated members replacing those wishing to step down was approved and adopted. Club Preisdent, Roger Bell, concluded the meeting by thanking those officers, committee members, and other volunteers for their efforts throughout the year and commended them for the positive work done to continue building a strong sense of community spirit in and around the Club. 15/10/2013 Bar arrangements for annual dinner... The Club's Annual Dinner takes place on Friday 18th October. Members and guests should be aware that the restaurant and upstairs lounge bar will be closed to anyone not attending the dinner. As usual, arrangements have been made to open the downstairs bar to accomodate members and guests not wishing to attend the dinner. 15/05/2013 Cannon Motors continue support of Club... Cannon Motors Limited, the local Hyundai dealers, have once again provided a sponsored car for our Club's overseas coach. This is the seventh year Cannon Motors have provided this invaluable sponsorship for the Club, which is vital to carrrying out an extensive coaching programme in a dozen local schools, and to field sides on a regular basis at Under 11, Under 13, and Under 15 competitions. Cannon Motors Website. Mikey Taiaroa is pictured above at the Cannon Motors premises on the Belfast Road with the new vehicle which has been supplied for Club use. Cannon Motors has been a long-term and generous supporter of the Club and we wish to thank them for their continued support and we wish them every continued success. If you're thinking of a change of vehicle, we would encourage you to support this loyal Club sponsor so consider calling Gibson Wharry at Cannon Motors (028 9335 1816) to view their extensive range of new and used cars. 10/05/2013 Carrickfergus CC hosts "Night At The Riots"... A Night at the Riots this Saturday night in the club from 8.00 pm. Admission free. Late bar to 1.00 am. Come along and support your club and enjoy a great night's entertainment! Please contact Ally if you would like to sponsor a race or a rioter! 16/04/2013 Final calls for C.C.C. fantasy league entries... The closing date for the Carrickfergus Cricket Club fantasy league has not yet been finally decided but anyone wishing to enter should probably aim to do in the next couple of weeks. The fantasy league looks set to add an extra dimension of interest and, indeed, a bit of craic to the upcoming playing season so if you don't want to feel left out, make sure to get your "dream team" selected. Details on the competition and how to enter can be found here. 04/04/2013 Outdoor practice schedule announced... The outdoor practice schedule for the coming season, commencing on Tuesday April 23, is as follows: Mon 6-9pm - Junior Practise 6.00-7.30 pm - Under 13's (Years 8 & 9) 7.30-9.00 pm - Under 15's (Years 10 & 11) Tues 6.30-9pm - Club Practice Night (All players 14+ to attend, with teams selected after practice). Wed 6.30-9pm - Under 11 & One-to-one 6.30-7.30 pm - Under 11's (Primary School) 7.30-9.00 pm - One-to-one coaching for all age groups by invitation. Thur 6.30-9.00pm - 1st XI Squad (All 1st XI players to attend). Qualified coaches in attendence at all sessions. Teams are fielded in league and cup competitions at U11, U13, U15, and U17 age groups. Carrickfergus Cricket Club has achieved Clubmark NI accreditation having met quality standards in: Effective Management, Quality Coaching and Competition, and Safety in Sport. 12/03/2012 Carrickfergus sign South African, Delport... Carrickfergus Cricket Club is pleased to announce the signing of 24 year-old South African all-rounder, Louis Delport, as overseas player / coach for the coming season. A leading amateur provincial player in his native Western Province, Louis will be a welcome addition to a squad which will be aiming to compete strongly for promotion back to the Premier league. Further details on Louis can be found here. 28/02/2013 Indoor nets schedule announced... Carrickfergus Cricket Club's pre-season indoor net practises commence next week in Carrickfergus Amphitheatre as preparations begin in earnest for the 2012 season. The nets commence on Thursday 7th March, from 7.30 until 8.30 pm for Under13/15's and from 8.30 pm until 10.00 pm for seniors, and will continue every Thursday at the same time and venue until 11th April. Anyone interested in joining or rejoining the local club will be made very welcome. Just turn up at the Carrick Amphitheatre on a Thursday evening, or if you prefer, ring Roger Bell on 079 8051 4186 for more information. Fully- qualified coaches will be in attendance at all sessions. The Club will field 3 senior teams and a Mid-Week league team this season, with the 1st XI participating in the NCU Ulster Bank League Section One. Teams will again also be fielded in league and cup competitions at Under 17, Under 15, Under 13, and Under 11 age groups. Expert coaching will be available throughout the season from a team of qualified professional coaches unrivalled in the area. This is led by popular New Zealand Level 2 coach, Mikey Taiaroa, who is returning for a fourth season at the Club and includes, among others, Ryan Eagleson, the current Ireland Under 19 coach and one of the few Level 3 coaches in Ireland. The Carrickfergus Club is also one of the few in Northern Ireland that has achieved Sport NI Club Accreditation, which ensures that the Club can provide quality coaching and competition, effective management, and a safe environment for young people. The Club's playing and social facilities at Middle Road are the envy of many clubs, with wickets that are rated as some of the best in NCU cricket, and clubhouse facilities that are second to none. 28/02/2013 Second and Third XI captaincies confirmed... The Second and Third XI captaincies for the coming season have now been confirmed. Roger "Digger" Barnes makes a welcome return to the helm with the Second XI and Tommie Humphries, a former Fourth XI captain, will take charge of the Third XI. Both players have made relatively limited appearances in recent seasons due to various other commitments and their return to more regular appearances will add considerable weight to their respective teams. Both Digger and Tommie boast considerable playing and captaincy experience at the Club in seasons past and they will bring much-welcomed leadership to the Second and Third XI's in the coming season. 28/02/2013 Complete league and cup fixtures now available... Revised youth league fixtures have now been made available and these have been added to the fixtures pages, completing the fixtures for the rapidly-approaching 2013 season. Visit the "Fixtures Section" via the link in the left hand menu or click here. 10/01/2013 Senior teams' league and cup fixtures available... Club Captain, Iain Parkhill, pictured with Phil Simmons, (Ireland Coach), and Stephen Cruise, (Ulster Bank Managing Director, Branch Banking, Private and Financial Planning) at the Senior Challenge Cup Draw. Carrickfergus Cricket Club now know who they will play in all three of the main cup competitions in 2013, and two clubs who they have never met before will visit Middle Road next season. In the RSA Irish Senior Cup Carrick will face Munster Cricket Union 2012 senior league runners up and senior cup winners Cork County, who will make the long journey from the Mardyke on Saturday 11 May. Carrick, who have had a dismal record in this competition, will be hopeful of making progress against another side with a poor record in the competition. On the following day, Sunday 12 May, another side Carrick have never met, St. Johnston, will travel to Middle Road in the first round of the Clubturf Ulster Shield. The only North West Cricket Union Club from Co Donegal, they won the Irish Senior Cup in 1987, the North West Senior League in 1984 and the Senior Cup on 4 occasions, but now play in Section 2 of the Senior League. Carrick have been drawn away to Downpatrick in the Ulster Bank Challenge Cup on Saturday 25 May. Although they have won the trophy on 6 occasions, the last time being in 1997, the Co Down side have spent recent seasons in the second tier of NCU cricket. Carrick last met them in the Challenge cup quarter final of 2003 when they bowled them out for only 36 at Strangford Road, with Ryan Eagleson taking 6 for 13 and Robin Arbuthnot 4 for 22. Meanwhile on the same date, Carrick's 2nd XI who reached the semi finals last season, will entertain Lurgan II in the Intermediate Cup, while the 3rd XI will travel to play Instonians IV in the Lindsay Minor Cup. The 2012 fixtures page has now been updated to display all First, Second, Third and Midweek XI fixtures for both league and cups. Youth fixtures will be added when they become available. Visit the "Fixtures Section" via the link in the left hand menu or click here. 10/01/2013 Ireland Cricket Academy Belfast presence... The Ireland Cricket Academy (formerly Dublin Cricket Academy) has recently announced that it is expanding operations into Northern Ireland in time for a pre-season programme ahead of the coming cricket season. Headed by current and former Irish internationals, Reinhardt Strydom, Albert van der Merwe, and Trent Johnston, and aided by a hand-picked team of coaches, the academy consists of a 6-week pre-season training programme running from January through the end of February at Wallace High School. Further details on the academy can be found at the website.