Windy village

Posted by Peter Davies

Sunday 16 August

The Halifax League Crossley Shield final at Stones CC. A disastrous 'scenic route' to Ripponden was taken - hence a later-than-expected arrival at 3.10pm. The Ryburn Valley was looking raw, austere and also beautiful as we journeyed from Huddersfield via Scammonden to Barkisland and finally Ripponden. Stones is high in the clouds and the club had been building up to their big day for months. And everything was great apart from the weather which was outrageously blustery. If Chicago is Windy City, Stones is now officially Windy Village! Warley batted first and scored 200. The attendance was around 300 with many folk huddled near the newly renovated clubhouse and on the adjacent boundary (with many thick warm blankets in evidence!).

There were many highlights. First the PA announcer, Peter McDonnell, Stones CC chairman. Throughout the afternoon his voice could be heard over the PA saying things like, 'And coming on to bowl, good old Johnny Moore'. He was part PA announcer, part Test Match Special commentator. The coup de grace came with two overs to go in the Warley innings: 'And coming up - the penultimate over, and that's a word I had to look up in a dictionary!' Liverpudlian wit at its best! The teatime food was also sensational: a buffet which included several types of meat, pasta and rice, beetroot salad, mini-pasties and pork pies plus an array of Indian delicacies and some gorgous brands of bread. For dessert, fruit salad on a stick (a la kebabs), scones, pavlova, some huge wedges of chocolate cake and many other items. Truly wonderful. So good I shook the head tea lady's hand as I left the clubhouse!

The afternoon was very well organised with Halifax League officials in special assigned roles, all club officials wearing designer name badges, and lots of helpful signage. The rain started to come as we left around 6pm. Liverpool had just gone 2-1 down to Spurs on the car radio and Usain Bolt was hours away from another 100m world record. Stones is a small place and the cricket club is the only sign of civilisation for miles around. A really excellent venue for a big final, with Triangle coming out on top in the end.