UMPIRES' TRAINING COURSE STARTING IN SCUNTHORPE

A New Year training course for cricket umpires is to get under way in Scunthorpe.

The 10-week course starts on Monday, January 9 at Appleby-Frodingham Cricket Club’s Brumby Hall cricket pavilion (7pm).
The venue is off Ashby Road and close to The Pods leisure centre.
Free parking is available near the pavilion.
Anyone interested in attending the course is welcome to turn up on January 9 or to put their name down in advance by calling Mick Knapton, tel 01469 530093 or emailing scoopfisher@aol.com
The course is being organised by the Scunthorpe and District Cricket Umpires’ Association and expert tuition will be given in The Laws of the Game.
At the end of the course, there will be the opportunity to undertake an assessment, qualifying those who have completed the course to stand in league matches from April 2012.
The Scunthorpe Association appoints officials to Saturday games in the Lincolnshire County Cricket League and to Sunday fixtures in the North Lindsey League.

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY IN RASEN

HARTSHOLME HELPING YOUNGSTERS INTO CRICKET

Councillor Ron Hills has chosen three community projects based in his Hartsholme ward, Lincoln, to benefit from The Councillor Big Society Fund.
The fund was set up after councillors voted not to take the recommended increase in their allowances.
Every county councillor in Lincolnshire can make awards of up to £2,000 to local groups or organisations that are bringing benefits to their community.
The three that Cllr Hills has chosen to support are:

• £500 to Hartsholme Cricket Club, to help fund the hire of suitable premises during school holidays for cricket training for school-age children. For details see www.hartsholme.play-cricket.com
• £500 to Hartsholme Community Contact Centre, Hemswell Avenue. A popular contact point run by staff and volunteers, which provides around 8,000 local residents a year with help and support on issues such as housing and benefits advice. People can drop in for a tea or coffee and a friendly chat and there are also adult education classes on a range of subjects. 
• £600 to Friends of Hartsholme Country Park, to fund the park’s Family Fun Day in August 2012. This popular annual event attracts hundreds of visitors each year, and the extra funding will pay for free activities for families and children such as a bouncy castle, assault course and balloon modelling.  

Cllr Ron Hills said: “These local initiatives are all very close to my heart. I’m also a keen supporter of Hartsholme Cricket Club as I believe it offers a great opportunity for children to keep fit and active, especially during the school holidays. The contact centre is a great example of what can happen in the Big Society – a community coming together and sorting out issues for themselves.”
Ian Dovey, senior coach at Hartsholme Cricket Club, said: “We really appreciate the funding from Councillor Hills. Our holiday sessions for primary school-age children are very popular, and great at introducing beginners to cricket. The emphasis is on having fun, and we’ve found that once children have tried out playing cricket they are keen to keep it up. This grant will help us ensure that our sessions are affordable and accessible to all children.”

MARSHALLS HAD THE POWER

LINCS GROUNDSMEN SWITCH VENUE

The Lincolnshire Groundsmen's meeting on 15th December will now be at Bracebridge Heath CC,  Cross O'  Cliff Court, Bracebridge. Turn right into the NHS offices at the first set of lights in Bracebridge after leaving Lincoln on the Sleaford Road.

LINCS GROUNDSMEN TO HEAR FROM INSPECTOR RON

By Martin Deans, CGA Chairman


The next meeting of the Lincs CGA will take place on the 15th December @ The Lincoln Lindum Club, Lincoln @ 7.30pm.
This is an additional meeting due to the cancellation of last month's meeting - and I am delighted to say that our speaker will be  fellow CGA member and well known groundsman to us all. Ron Boresberry. from Grimsby Town CC.
Ron is also on the ground inspection committee for the Lincolnshire League, assessing clubs facilities who wish to join the league  and progress to the Premier League. 
Ron has a vast Library off photos and scenarios from the  many grounds he has visited during his long involvement within the industry and wishes to share with us, so please do come and support the CGA.
There will be a full list of forthcoming meetings,  including details of an added January meeting, factory and stadium visits on our webpage within lincscricket.co.uk within the next day; also the first instalment of our 20 questions feature will be uploaded on here.

DEATH OF FORMER UMPIRES' PRESIDENT

Former Grimsby umpires' association president, Walter Wilson, has died.
He umpired in the Lincolnshire League for a number of years.
Gordon Turner has given Lincs Cricket Latest the news, with deep regret.

QUIZ NIGHT IN CLEETHORPES

From Ann Boulton

A popular quiz returns on Tuesday, December 6 when the Lincolnshire Cricket Lovers’ Society stages its annual event at Cleethorpes Cricket Club beginning at 7.30pm.

This is a light-hearted cricket evening and there is still time to enter a team - the cost is £20 per team of four which includes a pie and peas supper.

Telephone 01472 877798 for details or to book your place.

BROUGHTON SEEKING FRIENDLIES

From Neil Simpson, Broughton CC
Can you ask via your website if there are any clubs who wish to have pre-season friendlies on the 14th or 15th April or alternatively a mid-season one on the 14th July as we have no fixtures? Our only issue is these must be away from home. Clubs interested are asked to contact Neil direct - neil.simpson@johnreidtrucking.co.uk