Our next social event and fundraiser is our annual Race Night on Saturday 23 April.  These have been very popular in the past and it is a reliable way of raising much needed funds. Tickets are £6, horses £5 and race sponsors £25. Tickets are available from Club Chairman Robert Leech – please call 01953 498252 or 07770 427361 or email robert.leech@farming.co.uk. Please let Robert know how many tickets and/or horses you require and whether you have/know of a company that can sponsor a race. This will be our first opportunity to introduce and entertain our overseas player who will be joining us for the season all the way from Australia. Let’s show him a proper Garby evening!

LONG MESSAGE ALERT FROM DANNY CASH! With 30 days until the 1st game there’s plenty of things that need doing. This weekend is Cricket Force. This is a big thing for the club and it’s essential that we get plenty of hands up the ground to get all the jobs done, nets up, covers covered, grass cut, pavilion cleaned and any other jobs that need doing. I have had several people say they are working Saturday, but don’t fear, people will be there Sunday too so no excuse not to give a little time over your weekend for your club! We have scissor lifts coming up at 8am until 11am on Saturday, this will make putting up the nets much simpler, if we have enough people there to help. Please make the effort to attend. If we get the nets up, we will begin outside practice on the 7th. We have a couple of new players and a potential new player who will be in attendance so again please try your best to get up to the club …

From Robert Leech, Chairman Dear All As the season is fast approaching there are various issues that I need to run past you all: Firstly, those of you who attended the AGM will recall that a vacancy on the committee was created.  I have received three applications to stand for the vacant position from Robert Fuller, Paul Baker and James Worby.  I have no doubt that all three would be worthwhile additions to the committee but as there is only one vacancy a vote is needed to determine who joins the committee.  Would you please email me with your choice from the three applicants. robert.leech@farming.co.uk Secondly, a text has been circulated by Sarah informing everyone of the Cricket Force weekend on 2nd and 3rd of April.  This is a very important weekend as it your opportunity to help prepare the ground for the coming season.  There are lots of jobs that need to be done and it is only right that everyone does their bit.  There are two days available  so please put a couple …

ECB Guidance Note: Safety measures for helmets within recreational cricket The ECB has recently announced new helmet safety measures, which are being introduced with a view to reducing the risk of head and facial injuries within the game. The purpose of this brief note is to assist Leagues and Clubs at the recreational level to understand the key elements of these changes and what they mean. Players over the age of 18 The ECB strongly recommends that all adult recreational cricketers should wear helmets for certain activities, preferably which meet the most recent British Safety Standard (see below). This recommendation applies to batting against all types of bowling, wicket-keepers standing up to the wicket (who may as an alternative wear face protectors) and fielders fielding closer than eight yards from the batsman’s middle stump, except behind the wicket on the off side. Under 18s The position in relation to u18s currently remains unchanged, and is governed by the ‘ECB Guidance on the Wearing of Cricket Helmets by Young Players’ (www.ecb.co.uk/youngplayershelmetguidance). In essence, batsmen and wicket-keepers …

Here’s a great picture from the South Norfolk Community League archives. It’s GCC U15s from 2007! They were the winners of the inaugural SNCL U15 league. Pictured standing left to right are: Kieran Eagle, Chris Jones, Ben Garwood(?), James Shepherd and Rowan Freake; and kneeling are Grant Carter, Johnny Leech and Tommy Fiddler. If anyone has any old photos that they’d like published on the website, please send them in to us.

Please come and join us for the annual NatWest Cricket Force weekend on Saturday and Sunday the 2 and 3 April. We need as many volunteers as possible up at the ground to help out with getting the pitches, nets, covers and pavilion all ready for the new season. There’s loads and loads to be done so do please try and come along even if it’s just for an hour. Hope to see you there. Can’t wait for the new season to begin!

Garboldisham CC Ladies became the TGS Norfolk Women’s League winners for the second year on the trot on Sunday 13 March after beating Topcroft CC Ladies in a re-match of last year’s final. Batting first, Topcroft notched up 238-7, but with 5 runs deducted for every wicket lost, Topcroft’s net score was 203. Garby batted with confidence and with the loss of just a few wickets, their final score netted down to 261 and they were clear winners by 58 runs. Congratulations to captain Sarah McGahan and the rest of the team! Pictured above: Primrose Rushen, Sarah McGahan (Captain), Lydia Raven, Amy Heaton, Emma Rogers, Anoushka Williamson, Jade Hoyte Pictured below: Thetford Grammar School headmaster Mark Bedford presents the winning trophy to captain Sarah McGahan and stand-in captain Lydia Raven. Thetford Grammar School (TGS) are competition sponsors Thanks to the sponsors of the league, Thetford Grammar School and Norfolk Cricket Board for organising the tournament.  

We’ve got just a few tickets left for our annual ‘Sportsman’s dinner’ this Friday 11 March at Lyng Farm Barn, Garboldisham. This year our guest speaker is ex Nottinghamshire and England cricketing hero Derek Randall (pictured above). Derek was part of the Ashes winning England teams in 1977 and 78-79. A four-course meal is included in the price of £45. For tickets, please contact Peter Barnes asap on 07825 351062. It’s going to be a good evening! We need volunteers to pop up to the barn on Thursday evening at 6pm to help set up tables and the bar. The more hands the merrier. Thanks in anticipation.

Garboldisham Ladies v Swardeston Ladies TGS indoor League 28 Feb 2016 Well done to Garby Ladies who, in the last of their group games, had a comfortable win against Swardeston. Having won five of their six matches, the Ladies have finished top of the West group table and will now meet Topcroft CC (winners of the East group) in the tournament final in two weeks time. Commenting on today’s win, GCC captain Sarah McGahan said, “There has been a great team performance to get us this far and we hope to continue this in the final”. The final takes place at Taverham Hall on Sunday 13 March at 1.30 and promises to be a thrilling re-match between last year’s finalists. Back Row: Lydia Raven, Amy Heaton, Anoushka Williamson Front Row: Emma Rogers, Beth Harmer, Sarah McGahan (Capt)

Photo shows the GCC winning Ladies team from 2015 GCC Ladies, who are the 2015 TGS Women’s Indoor League champions, have got off to a flying start in the 2016 competition with three wins out of three! Garboldisham have beaten Great Melton, Fakenham and Swardeston in this good run of form and are looking to build on this during the return fixtures beginning on 14 February. There have been some great performances from all the players involved, including a hatrick from Anoushka Williamson, and the team have scored some all important bonus points. The scores from the first three fixtures are below: 17 January – Garboldisham 301 for 4 (Net 281) v Great Melton 225 for 11 (Net 170). Team: Lydia Raven, Emma Rogers, Jade Hoyte, Amy Heaton, Holly Marchant, Anoushka Williamson 24 January – Fakenham 213 for 10 (Net 163) v Garboldisham 246 for 4 (Net 226). Team: Sarah McGahan, Lydia Raven, Primrose Rushen, Emma Rogers, Amy Heaton, Anoushka Williamson 31 January – Swardeston 225 for 8 (Net 175) v Garboldisham 285 for 2 (Net 275). Team: Sarah McGahan, …