Double disappointment

posted by John Winn

As I type this the sun is shining and the outside temperature feels warmer than it has since March which makes today's events even more disappointing. As I arrived  at Harrogate at 10:50 the groundsman was working on the square but a number of spectators were already heading for the exits. Sadly Harrogate had lived up to its reputation for slow drying and the run ups and outfield were such that play had been abandoned for the day. I have just taken a further look at tomorrow's forecast and it is such that one begins to think that all four days of the 'festival' might be lost. Living where I do Harrogate and York and equidistant and the opportunity to see a Yorkshire team so close to home had been eagerly awaited.

I decided that it was worth driving to Weetwood, where Leeds/Bradford were due to pl;ay in Cardiff in a two day university match. Alas a similar picture awaited me and after a lengthy inspection which at one point involved as many as seven people: umpires, coaches, groundstaff and captains, the day's play was called off just after 1:30. Run ups appeared to be the problem again. At least my visit provided a chance to catch up with Tony Hutton, Brian Senior and a few other pcws. Most of the conversation was about games we had missed due to rain.

The York Senior League celebrates its centenary this year. Founded as the Thirsk and District Senior Cricket League in 1912, it assumed its current title in 1932 and today comprises 53 clubs who put out 92 teams in 7 divisions. It is fitting thaat in this special season it should welcome a new club:  the East Yorkshire outfit Patrington who have carried all before them in the East Yorkshire Cricket Alliance in the last two seasons and who will start in Div 5 of The York League. The league has always been noted for its excellent handbook and for its centenary it has produced a special edition which,even at a cost of £10, I would strongly recommend. As well as its usual detailed statistics it contains a history of all clubs who have held membership. Past members include Ainsty Estates, York Ramblers, York RI and York Sugar Factory.Yorkshire members may have noticed a display in the long room at Headingley which includes some archive material from the league's history and a map showing the distribution of past and present clubs. Well worth a look.