The day that the rains came

Gone to Kirby Sigston

Posted by Tony Hutton

Saturday 11th June and time to go hunting for new grounds, something that has escaped me so far this season. With a family lunch arranged at the admirable Carpenters Arms at Felixkirk near Thirsk, I was able to wander off up the A19 while the ladies set off to sample the delights of Northallerton.

My first stop, just north of Thirsk, was the ground of South Kilvington but the home side were away and the ground ws being used by Sessay's third eleven who were playing Dacre Banks second eleven in Division seven of the Nidderdale league.

Opening the batting for Sessay was a junior member of the Flintoff family, Paul, who proceeded to make 55. I assume it was his grandfather, John, who played for Sessay at Lord's last year in the famous Village knock out victory. However after I had moved north Sessay were well beaten by six wickets.

Next port of call provided the gem of the day. Turn left off the A19 just before the Haynes Arms, a prominent landmark, and follow the winding lane to the hamlet of Kirby Sigston, which is just a collection of farms, a church and a Manor House.
A well attended wedding seemed to be taking place, in this normally quiet backwater.

However I am sure we must have at least one discerning reader who will be aware of Kirby Sigston's claim to fame. Followers of the US Indie rock band, The Mountain Goats, will be familiar with their track 'Gone to Kirby Sigston' written following receipt of a fan's postcard from here.

However I digress, fortunately the cricket ground is well signposted, as you need to go about a mile down an unmade farm track, open and close two gates, before arriving at the ground near Stank Hall farm, with tremendous views over towards the North York Moors. With black storm clouds circling, the home side were batting and giving visitors Swainby a real run around.

This is the little known Inshore Fisheries Langbaurgh cricket league played in the North Eastern extremity of Yorkshire, or perhaps Cleveland or even Teeside.
The cricket is obviously fiercely competitive and the four of five regular supporters huddled under a hedge were enjoying the home side's positive batting.

I was told that one of the openers, Dave Thompson, was the star batsman of the league and but for injuries in his younger days could have been a Yorkshire prospect.
Today he made his top score of the season 119 before retiring out to save his legs and the opposition from further punishment. He had already scored three seventies and two nineties this season.

His opening partner, Cowton, was not far behind finishing on 102 not out with number three, Raynor, making 52 not out in a total of 278-1 declared off 37 overs. Long after I had departed the rain eventually had the final word with Swainby struggling on 58-5.

My next port of call was Thimbleby, on the other side of the A19, just south of the attractive village of Osmotherley, past another well known pub the Golden Lion, down
the steep Boghole Bank and through a fortunately shallow ford. The ground, the James Mill Memorial ground is very rural and surrounded by trees, with an attractive pavilion.

Thimbleby were batting against opponents Moorsholm who come from the high ground north of the Whitby-Guisborough road. They were in trouble having lost four early wickets and in fact only one man, Brudnell reached double figures with 44. They bravely played on through heavy rain for a while before coming off. I took the opportunity to move on and later learned they were all out 83 and lost by 8 wicksts after the rain briefly relented.

The next part of my cunning plan was a circuit of Hutton Rudby and Crathorne but it soon became apparent that the rain was becoming much heavier in the north, so I decided to head back south towards my tea time rendevous in Northallerton.
Here, at Farndale Avenue, I found Northallerton entertaining Billinghm Synthonia in the North Yorkshire and South Durham league, a much more superior standard of cricket.

As I did my circuit of the ground, with the rain clouds fast approaching from the north, I exchanged pleasantries with one of the boundary fielders telling him it was raining heavily not far away. It was only at the end of the over I realised that I recognized him as Mark Davies, the Durham opening bowler, whose county career has been plagued by injuries.

Northallerton were nearing the end of their innings and the opening bat, Anwar Hafeez, was trying to boost the rather modest score with some late hitting. One huge six sailing into the neighbouring gardens. When the rain finally arrived the innings closed on 191-9 and poor Billingham never got a bat. Another match abandoned, but another area worthy of further exploration in the future.