Inspired no doubt by last Sunday's efforts in County Durham, Saturday 21st July saw us travelling west towards Barrow in Furness, where Cumberland had a three day Minor Counties game with Hertfordshire starting on the Sunday. So a rare opportunity to tick off a few Cumbrian grounds en route.
First stop was one I had driven past several times on my travels, but never seen cricket there. This was Arnside on the estuary of the River Kent which flows into Morecambe Bay. There is an impressive railway bridge across the estuary and even a promenade where we stopped for our picnic lunch. We arrived at the War Memorial Field on Silverdale Road, situated in a hollow below the road, just as the action commenced in a real local derby, league leaders Arnside against very near neighbours Silverdale in Division One of the Westmorland League.
Arnside batted first and a rather well built gentleman, whose trousers seemed in danger of descending, had some difficulties at one end, whereas his partner, a left hander, seemed to have no difficulty in dispatching the ball to or over the short leg side boundary. Only a brief stay but enough to feel that a return visit might be needed with some splendid vantage points around the ground.
Next a ground I had visited before but before I carried a camera with me so a chance to take pictures of Sedgwick's attractive ground, the Walled Garden at Sedgwick Hall. Still in the Westmorland League but Division Two this time against Shireshead 'A' who were batting. Who should we bump into here but none other than Mike Latham, Cumberland's cricket chairman, giving cricket and rugby league journalist Tony Hannon a conducted tour of the area.
All the remaining grounds are from the North Lancashire and Cumbria league.
Onwards towards Barrow and a stop at Ulverston cricket of which other people had commented unfavourably. Not about the club itself but the environment of the ground, which admittedly is not much to write home about, but it's saving grace is the view of the Hoad monument on the hillside, which can be seen for miles around. It is in the shape of a lighthouse although never used as such and was built in 1850 as a memorial to Sir John Barrow, a member of the Royal Geographical Society who was born in Ulverston.
Nearing Barrow now and time to stop briefly at Lindal Moor cricket club, where a second eleven game was going on. This is a club whose greatest days were in the 1970s when they played in the Village Knock out final at Lord's only to lose on their great day. A tidy ground, with a newish pavilion and a great history from the past.
Next stop Dalton in Furness with yet another very local derby against Lindal Moor's first team. Dalton is a small town, once the capital of Furness, and the town team, founded way back in 1854, were heading towards an easy victory over their village neighbours. This was largely due to the bowling of the Zimbabwean professional Winston Masakadza.
Final stop proved to be the Furness ground in Barrow, where tomorrow's Minor Counties game will take place. Here their India professional Rishi Dhawan had dominated proceedings with an innings of 160 and then taking five Haverigg wickets for 32.
The one missed opportunity proved to be the only ground on Walney Island, just across the water from Barrow, where Vickerstown's game had already ended. However this also proved to be a ground which is rather run down and hardly worth a visit despite an impressive pavilion.
However a fascinating day, not everybody's cup of tea as you don't see much cricket, but a chance to see grounds you might otherwise never visit and an opportunity to note those you would wish to visit again.
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