Bedfordshire CCC Annual Dinner is once again at Flitwick Cricket Club on Friday 26th March (7.30pm for 8pm)

Our guest speaker is Peter Baxter (the former producer of Test Match Special)

Peter Baxter joined the BBC in September 1965 after a spell in British Forces Broadcasting.
He first worked on the Test Match Special in 1966, and produced it from 1973-2007
In tandem with his work on cricket he was also the University Boat Race producer throughout the 1980s.
He co-ordinated the BBC's cricket coverage from every one of the Test-playing nations, and has also been part of the commentary team himself. Baxer commentated on the end of the 1992 World Cup Final between England and Pakistan in Melbourne
There have been many amusing moments over the years, but being locked out of the ground by the groundsman at Galle, in Sri Lanka, in 2001 was not one of them. He and BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew eventually watched the action from a nearby fort.

He is highly regarded as an After Dinner Speaker and is President of the Bedfordshire Cricket Board

Tickets for this mixed Dinner cost £30 each and are available from the Club Secretary, Pip August on 01234 327935 or p.august@sky.com

Bedfordshire Women’s County Cricket
Team 2010 Trials


Bedfordshire Cricket Board are creating the first ever Women’s County Cricket Team for the 2010 season. The aim to have a County Championship side in three years time. We are looking for anyone aged 16+ who thinks they could represent Bedfordshire.

The trial details are:

Trial date: 26th February 2010
Time: 6-7.30pm

Venue: Bedford College
Age: 16+

If you are interested then please fill out the application form document. If you have any questions then please contact contact Steve Feazey on 01234 721705 or steve.feazey.bcb@btconnect.com

The deadline for all applications is Friday 12th February 2010. We will introduce a second trial date if we recieve a lot of applications.

We are also looking for a main sponsor for the team and small sponsors as well. Please contact Steve on the details above to discuss further.

The Board Chairman Ian Smith reminds you all that he is going to follow Ian Botham on his walk round Hyde Park on Monday 19th April 2010. Sir Ian is looking once again to raise much needed funds for Leukaemia Research.
Can I please invite you to sponsor me?

To do so please go to my page on JustGiving
http://www.justgiving.com/iansmith7

Thanks in advance for your support for this worthy charity
Regards

Ian

Ian Smith
Chairman
Bedfordshire Cricket Board
6 Sidney Road
Ampthill
Beds, MK45 2RJ
Tel/Fax: 01525 841836
Mobile Phone No. 0788 0850269
Home e-mail: smithy@theoldsun.fsnet.co.uk
Work e-mail: mail@iansmitheservices.com
Bedfordshire Cricket Board Website: http://Bedfordshire.play-cricket.com

BEDFORDSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF GROUNDSMANSHIP WINTER PROGRAMME & ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Our winter programme is as follows:-
Wednesday 17th February (7.45pm) Talk by Simon Parsons (Cranfield University) at Star & Garter (Silsoe)
We have a talk from Simon Parsons who is heading the ECB research into Aeration
Simon is with the Centre for Sports Surface Technology at Cranfield University. Dr.Iain James of the same Department gave us a talk on “ECB Guidelines on Rolling in Cricket” last year.
Simon’s talk gives us a chance to hear about his research prior to his reports publication

Thursday 4th March (7.45pm) Raising Funds & Gaining Funds for your project at Flitwick CC
Derek Dredge & Roger Hawkins from the Hertfordshire Cricket Groundsmanship Association will give us a presentation on funding for your project.
You may want to invite along your Club Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer to hear the opportunities available, this is particularly relevant if your club isn’t a Bedfordshire Cricket Board focus club and hence doesn’t qualify for grants direct from the ECB

Wednesday 14th April (7.30pm) Talk by Neil Pettican (Barenbrug Seeds) & Gavin Merrison (Collier Turf Care Ltd) and Annual General Meeting at Ampthill Town CC
We have a talk from Neil Pettican (Barenbrug Seeds) about seeds and other related topics, Gavin Merrison (Collier Turf Care Ltd will be on hand to answer questions on fungicide usage & storage.

The AGM will follow after a quick drinks break (the formal notice is attached). Chairman John Gurney will try & keep this to half an hour maximum.
Please feel free to bring up any subjects and problems you may have and we will try to help.

Cricket Groundsmanship Courses
The Bedfordshire Association of Cricket Groundsmanship with the Institute of Groundsmanship is pleased to give the dates & venues for a courses aimed at Cricket Groundsmen
Level 1 - Spring Preparation & Summer Maintenance (Part A) at Ampthill Town Cricket Club on Sunday 11th April 2010
Level 1 - Autumn Renovation and Winter Maintenance (Part B) at Flitwick Cricket Club on Sunday 19th September 2010
The course costs £140 and can be booked via the IOG website www.iog.org or just click on the photograph for a direct link
Groundsman associated with a club that is a member of the cricket board & BACG can attend the course for £70
Or ring the IOG on 01908 312511 or write to them at The Institute of Groundsmanship, 28 Stratford Office Village, Walker Avenue, Wolverton Mill, Milton Keynes, MK12 5TW

Look forward to seeing you at Star & Garter (Silsoe) on the Wednesday 17th February.


Ian D. Smith
Secretary/Treasurer
Bedfordshire Association of Cricket Groundsmanship