More Champain

posted by John Winn

In a posting I made last month, 'Another Horace', I made reference to the Bateman Champain family and in particular Francis of that ilk who played for Gloucestershire, Oxford University and The Gentleman in the closing years of the nineteenth century. That era in David Green's history of Gloucestershire cricket is dominated by chapters on the county's 'giants, WG Grace and Gilbert Jessop and Francis Champain is the only one of the several brothers who gets a mention in the book and even he is limited to two references. In the first of these he is listed as one of a number of talented amateur batsmen who played in 1895. This assessment must have been  based on things to come for Francis batted but three time for Glos that year scoring 0,0 and 4. His bowling was slightly better yielding two wickets at reasonable cost. The following season his school master's duties allowed FHB, to give him his full initials, the time to play four matches one of which yielded a fifty, batting at nine against Middlesex. Despite his limited availability Francis  continued to improve and in 1899 came his greatest moment when playing for Oxford University at the Christchurch Ground, Oxford he opened the batting and hit a century against the visiting Australians. This gained him selection for the Gentlemen in their match against the Players at The Oval where he hit 30 and 8. He did not play in the return match at Lord's the following week but he could hardly complain given that the Gentlemen's first three read MacLaren, Fry and Ranji.

Three of Francis' brothers also played first class cricket and although none achieved the same heights none could be have said to led dull lives. Hugh, the oldest born in 1869 rose to be a Brigadier General in the Indian army and played for MCC and Gloucestershire appearing in 12 first class matches spread over 14 seasons. His debut was against Yorkshire in 1888 and his last game against Surrey in 1902 was ruined by rain and he did not ball or bowl. Another of the family, Claude, 1875-1956, also played in that match and like brother Hugh his career of 18 first class matches was somewhat spread out beginning in 1897 and ending in 1907, Claude too began against Yorkshire but with play confined to the first day he had no chance to shine and indeed shine he never did for his top score in 28 innings was 29 against Somerset at Gloucester in 1902.

This leads to the last of the four Champains, alas none called Charlie, for this is John born 1880 died 1950 and who only played five matches for Gloucestershire, the rest of his first class experience being confined to games for Free Foresters for whom he made his top score, 17, v Cambridge University in 1919. With Hugh's best effort 35 it is hard not to come to the conclusion that except in the case of Francis, family and status rather than cricket ability were largely responsible for the careers of the Champains. John however reached distinction in another field for later in life he became the Bishop of Knaresborough.

Finally, thank you to our readers for the blog recently recorded its 200,000th hit

Francis Henry Bateman Champain