Now that the final matches have been played, we can look back on a very successful season for all the three teams in the OCA, with the 1st team winning Division One, the 2nd team ‘Runners Up’ in Division 6 and the 3rd team in third place in Division 8….

Well done to all the captains and players who have taken part in this seasons matches and wishing the 1st and 2nd teams the very best as they move into the Cherwell League in 2018, and we look to good things happening with the 3rd team as they remain in the OCA.

Colin Olliffe – Chairman CCC

Congratulations to Josh Hornsby for his captaincy of the first XI this season and for providing some silverware for the club before the 1st and 2nds move into the Cherwell League. Also to all the players who have taken part week by week to achieve this great result.

We hope that all the players and those from the other teams will want to attend the OCA Presentation Dinner on Friday, 10th November at the Kassam Conference Centre – Please add this date in your diaries!!

Colin Olliffe – Chairman C.C.C.

The AGM for 2017 will be held on Sunday 22nd October 2017 – 7.30pm in the pavilion. Members are requested to make a real effort to attend this meeting as there will be a number of things to discuss requiring the backing of members.

Looking forward to receiving your support and to seeing you all on the 22nd October – please add this date to your diaries…

Colin Olliffe – Chairman

CRICKET FOR REFUGEES

For the second year running Charlbury Cricket Club played host on Wednesday afternoon to a group of refugees living in the Oxford area. They were largely teenagers from Afghanistan, a country which despite hardships has espoused cricket and become part of the worldwide cricketing community. And their enthusiasm and potential showed in a coaching session organised by two of our qualified coaches, Michael Geeson-Brown and Paul Quibell-Smith, along with Oxfordshire Cricket Board’s City Engagement Officer Shaz Khan. Making use of our bowling machine equipment, they were put through their paces in distance catching drills as well as batting to hit boundaries using the pull shot. Suitably warmed up, they rounded off the afternoon with a game on the artificial wicket, batting in pairs while some of the bowlers working up a fair lick of pace! We were not surprised to learn that several of our Afghan friends are already taking part in the game for clubs in Oxfordshire.

Our thanks go to CRAG, the Charlbury Refugee Action Group, including volunteers Jon Carpenter and Anegla Gwatkin who prepared a typical cricket tea, and Helena Cullen of Asylum Welcome. Fortunately, the sun shone and there were plenty of smiles and laughter from all involved. Undoubtedly, we would be delighted to welcome our refugee friends again in 2018.

David Horne, CCC vice chairman

At an EGM last evening (Wednesday 9th August) held in the clubhouse, the members voted to apply to join the Cherwell League in 2018. We have received a formal invitation from the CL committee who will recomend that Charlbury should join the league and this will be voted on by the CL member clubs at their AGM on the 23rd November 2017, where 66% of the clubs have to agree to the application.

This is a major move for the club and will need total committment from the players and members, and there are a good number of matters to be resolved to ensure the smooth transistion, and we will be looking to the ‘younger club members’ to step up and take on some of the responsibilities from those who have been involved in the club for more years “than they care to remember”…

The 3rd team will remain in the Oxfordshire Cricket Association (OCA) and will continue to be a development team for our youth players, alongside some of the more senior players.

Colin Olliffe – Chairman – Charlbury C.C.

This will take place on Saturday 4th November 2017, and we look forward to another great display by the ‘Nick Merry Team’ and to welcoming everyone to another great evening at Charlbury Cricket Club.

More details will follow, but please add the date to your diaries…..

Colin Olliffe – Chairman