The Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation were proud to enter three Walking Cricket teams, Bristol, Gloucester and Cheltenham, into the Worcester National Walking Cricket Festival on Friday 17 July. The event brought together thirty‑two teams from across the country in high temperatures. From the feedback we have received, it was a brilliant showcase of the inclusive, social and competitive spirit of Walking Cricket.
Derek, one of our Cheltenham Walking Cricket ambassadors, kindly wrote his reflections on the day and captured the atmosphere, challenges and standout moments from the festival. Here is his take on the day:
It was 9.00 a.m., and already players for thirty‑two teams were arriving at the New Road Cricket Ground, having travelled from the four corners of the country, north to south from Yorkshire to Hampshire and east to west from Kent to Somerset. Unlike the first two years of the festival, the atmosphere at the ground soon began to resemble that of Bombay or Bangalore rather than the West Midlands, with shade temperatures nudging 30°C by mid‑afternoon.
Alongside Cheltenham, our Bristol and Gloucester teams were also in action throughout the day, each facing strong opposition in challenging conditions. Cheltenham received their final advice and instructions from Captain Ian before he led his Cheltenham Gold Cuppers onto Pitch 10, where they encountered not only an impressive team in Snyed from Walsall but also a rock-hard pitch with a rather unpredictable bounce. Despite playing well for much of the match, victory was not to be. Some comfort was taken at the end of the day when it became known that Cheltenham had begun their campaign facing the strongest team at the festival. Snyed were declared champions and overall winners of the more competitive ‘Cup’ League at the Awards Ceremony.
Cheltenham’s final match before lunch was against Norfolk on a similarly ‘testing’ Pitch 10, and although a victory could not be secured, the run deficit was on a notably encouraging downward trend. This match was followed by the ‘sandwich with fries’ lunch taken in the groundside hospitality bars, which gave a welcome respite from the blazing sun shining down from a cloudless blue sky.
After lunch, feeling refreshed and invigorated, Cheltenham Gold Cuppers faced Yorkshire, a team with a strong reputation at previous festivals. This match was played on the vastly superior Pitch 3 in the main stadium. A game of high drama with everything depending on the last ball of the match, which was being bowled by Cheltenham to Yorkshire. With Cheltenham desperate to hang on to their four-run lead and secure their first victory of the day, a decent delivery was met by an equally decent mid-on drive between the gap and over the boundary for six runs, giving victory to Yorkshire by just two runs.
The final match of the day was to be played against fellow Gloucestershire hub, St Paul’s Bristol, a team that Cheltenham has faced before in previous seasons at Bristol’s home Seat Unique Stadium and more recently at Frocester Cricket Club in a thriller.
There was a good omen even before play commenced as Captain Ian, for the first time, won the toss and elected to field. Despite a degree of fatigue setting in for all players, Cheltenham somehow managed to raise their game and took four Bristol wickets. Two Bristol batters were clean, and a further two Bristol batters were caught. The first was an absolute ‘skyer’ which seemed to stay aloft for a very long time before plummeting earthwards to be caught superbly by Robert B at mid-off. The second was to a mis-timed top edge looping no more than 15 feet off the ground which had bowler Ian racing halfway down the pitch to collect it low down in both hands before it hit the ground. Bristol’s innings ended on a nett 62 and just how vital those four dismissals were would be realised at the end of the match.
Openers for Cheltenham, Robert B and John C raised their colleagues and supporters blood pressure somewhat on two occasions when confused calling almost resulted in a couple of runouts. However, they ‘settled the ship’ and went on to score 26, which included John C cracking two full tosses high over gully and beyond the boundary. Next to bat were the “Two T’s”, Tim and Tony, and Tim remained, if nothing else, consistent, producing an innings which had some powerful shots but also included an ‘aerial’ which was duly caught. Tony stroked a real beauty over the long-on boundary for ‘six,’ and this pair were one of the very few to complete an overthrow for two more valuable runs and ended with a nett score of 20.
The third pair, Julian and John G, added further drama. John G began advancing down the wicket just as Julian struck the ball straight back to the bowler, resulting in an easy runout. Julian recovered well and avoided the fielders thereafter. John G produced what he described as a sandwich, first sending one beyond mid‑off, then top‑edging to the keeper, and finally striking another beyond mid‑off. Their partnership ended with 31, nett 21, taking the score to 67, five ahead of Bristol.
The final pair, Ian and Colin D, needed only to avoid negative scores. Early on, Ian sent one skywards, but it fell just short of the distance needed to avoid the fielder. He redeemed himself with a beautifully struck shot over square leg. Colin D added further tension with a skied shot that fortunately dropped short of mid‑on. With one ball remaining, the pair had added 25, nett 20, taking the score to 87. Knowing they could not lose, a daring final run was attempted but proved too optimistic, with Colin D run out. Nonetheless, it was a solid victory for the Gold Cuppers, with the final scores Cheltenham 82 and Bristol 62.
A very big thank you goes to two loyal supporters, Annette and Nina, who travelled to Worcester and gave enthusiastic encouragement throughout the day.
Finally, a very big ‘Thank You’ to two loyal supporters, Annette and Nina, who travelled to Worcester and gave enthusiastic encouragement to the team.
If you would like to learn more about Walking Cricket and find your nearest hub, then visit our website or get in touch with Josh Graves.
