Record Team entrances

This season we are entering 14 x Senior Teams. The previous record (Club & Association) was 13 Senior Teams set in 2020/21. This now brings us up to an amazing 484 Senior Teams that have played under our Club Banner since we started in 1930/31.

How would you feel?

Imagine being 17, working as an Intern in CNSW and sitting outside a meeting room named after you. Meet our CA Young Community Leader of the Year – Danielle Chivers (pictured).

Danielle Chivers, our Junior Blasters Director and a West Penno Girls graduate, recently had the rare distinction of having a meeting room named after her at the new $50m+ CNSW Cricket Central complex. Only a handful of NSW volunteers have meeting rooms named after them in this new purpose built state of the art building.

Danielle also won the prestigious Cricket Australia Award as Young Community Leader of the Year in 2021.

Add to this being the youngest Executive Committee member in our Club’s 92 year history Danielle has already achieved extraordinary things. Keep in mind that she is about to start her HSC – amazing.

So how would you feel if you were Dani? Pretty damn good!

A brush with Royalty

The loss of Queen Elizabeth 11 was a very sad time but it has also brought out many great stories. We have our own brush with Royalty with C3 Red Skipper – Cameron Croucher (pictured at Royal Ascot in 2008). As background, Cameron runs a business that transports thoroughbred horses around the world. His last major job was transporting horses to the Japan Olympics. He has also transported horses for the Sultan of Brunei and The Queen.

He had his first meeting with The Queen in 1995 when Cameron joined Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom at the time, Neil Blewitt AC and a former minister in the Bob Hawke Labour Government, held a trade summit at Australia House in London.

His second meeting was in 2008 at Royal Ascot! Cameron owned a racehorse (Magnus) that was being ridden by none other than Damien Oliver. To quote Cameron:

“Representing the owners of the horse, my wife and I were invited to attend the Royal Enclosure and prior to the race, the Queen was presented to all owners, trainers and jockeys. We were given a significant document details the proper protocols for the race meeting and the dress standards for entering the Royal Enclosure.

 My name tag issued by the Royal Turf Club said Mr Cameron Croucher Esquire and all of the pageantry and pomp of such an occasion was very memorable. Had our horse won the race, we would have had the trophy presented to us by Her Majesty but unfortunately it wasn’t to be – Magnus finished 4^th but we have some special memories.”

The story behind our new Girls playing uniform

Last week, we launched our spectacular new Girls playing uniform and reverse colour Volunteers version. We have the enthusiastic support from the Darug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation. As part of the approval it can only be worn by females. The design was done exclusively by a local Indigenous cricket tragic and is unique to our Club. The storyline behind the design is:

“The artwork is a combination of elements visually representing West Pennant Hill Cherrybrook C.C., its Club colours, the players, the many locations they practice, play, and meet. It also depicts family and friends who watch and support them.

 The dots (different shapes and sizes) are reflective of the individual girls who play for the Club.

 On the collar and on the back below the collar, there is a symbol for woman as the girls will one day become women. They will mature thanks to the opportunities that they will derive from the sport they play with similar minded girls.

 The white concentric circles on the back right shoulder are 2 girls at a meeting place with that meeting place being a cricket pitch.

 Concentric circles on the front and lower back are meeting places where the girls train or play.

 There are two symbols that represent people seated at a game.

 CNSW gave this great coverage on their website during the week – Thunder star Anika Learoyd unveils Hills club’s new Indigenous cricket uniform | Cricket NSW

Something to look forward to is that we are working of a design for use by the broader Club that will comply with our ‘predominantly white’ requirement. Stay tuned.

Striking the jackpot

Earlier this year while we were planning the new season we had a Club Executive meeting by Zoom. So far so good. Unfortunately, Bill Peterkin, who lives in Maroota, was an apology he after getting the quadrella – Covid, a sick family plus being flooded in with no access and no power.

Congratulations

Great news that our former WPHC Junior, Lisa Sthalekar has been appointed President of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association – the first woman to take on this role – Lisa Sthalekar – congratulations .

The position has previously been held by former South Africa batter Barry Richards, former West Indies all-rounder Jimmy Adams, and most recently by former England batter Vikram Solanki. Lisa played for us from the U10s to U16s (1989 to 1995). Well done Lisa.

Our 25^th A1 Grade Captain

Congratulations to Cameron McBrien, our 25^th A1 Grade Captain in our 65 years of having an A1 side. A bit on Cameron:

• After graduating from Juniors, started playing in 2010/11 (B1) – in total 132 matches
• Made his A1 debut in 2017/18
• Has taken 169 wickets @ 19.1
• Best bowling figures are 6/27 in 2013/14 (B1)

Well done Cam and good luck.