The good news is team manager Cathy will be back from holiday, and the weather forecast is sunshine! Less good – there probably won’t be carrot cake and cheesecake on the bar, the treats we enjoyed this week were leftovers from the Open Day.

More info on women’s cricket at the Jesmond Ground: Info page

The full schedule for the season is on our WASPS Info page.

The main dates are:
THURSDAY 24 MAY – Heaton Ground 6.30 - directions here
FRIDAY 25 MAY – Twenty20 at the Jesmond Ground (+ barbecue! – 6pm start)
FRIDAY 1 JUNE – Training as usual at Jesmond Ground 6.30
FRIDAY 8 JUNE – No training this week – Twenty20 match

Then Friday night all the way through to September.

Official Opening of new entrance and accessibile facilities

The Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Geoff O’Brien, officially opened the new accessible facilities, inviting the Hardy family to do the honours and unveil the plaque.

Lord Mayor Geoff O'Brien and cricketer Will Hardy with RGS headmaster Bernard Trafford (front left) and Club co-chairs Olwyn Hocking and Nick Humble

Supporters, funders and the many individuals involved in the three year project at the Official Opening

And two days later, the Open Day shared with more than a hundred visitors the club’s many activities, the Pavilion Suite refurbishment (thanks to sponsors Thomson Travel) and the remarkable heritage archive.

These highlights came during the 125th anniversary for the Jesmond Ground.

Newcastle Lord Mayor invites the Hardy family to unveil the plaque

The Open Day offered the chance to have fun on the Jesmond turf, and try out activities for all ages and abilities. Archery was provided – echoing the fact that Lords will host the Olympics archery. Cricket drop-in was followed by the Banks Salver Cup match, between Newcastle CC Firsts and Durham Academy.

Inside the pavilion was a chance to meet the organisers of regular events – Zumba fitness, Slimming World, and Advintage which provides wine-tasting evenings and even runs Wine Weekends and holidays to European vineyards.

There was a glimpse of some of the amazing pictures in the archive of the 125 year heritage, plus a cafe service and afternoon tea.

A Gallery album of pictures from two memorable days will be added to the website, plus a more detailed report on the Official Opening. Click on any of these pictures for larger versions.

Junior Coordinator Peter Hirst hosted the raffle draw – adding even more excitement for a huge audience for the Premier League decider matches. Many thanks to Marstons for their generous donation of seven pairs of tickets for Durham CCC Twenty20 and Pro 40 matches.

PAIRS OF DURHAM CCC TICKETS:
Bobbie Harding
Sharon Richardson
Neil Curry
Peter Woodley
John Telfer
Phil Hardacre
Malcolm Coulson

LORDS KEY RING – Jeremy Hardy
LORDS “rain stopped play” UMBRELLA – Gavin Tremble (no contact information – please get in touch!)
AUTOGRAPHED BAT (two former England captains – Michael Vaughan and Mike Gatting)– Murray Owen

Fancy a day of junior cricket?? The deadline for early booking discounts is 31 May.

After last year’s sellout sessions, we’ve doubled the number of Summer Festival days. They run from 1 August to 22 August. A booking form can be downloaded here: SUMMER FESTIVAL 2012_BOOKING FORM. Email it to summerfestival@newcastlecc.co.uk, post to the Club or drop it off in the Membership Box in the Pavilion Bar.

Before then, weekly outdoor training is underway … here are the times. JUNIOR WASPS: Fridays 6.30 – 8.30 (barbecue cooking from 6pm!) MEN’S TEAMS: Tuesdays and Thursdays, both 6.30 start (more details here). WOMEN’S WORKOUT/ DEVELOPMENT SQUAD: starts Monday 23 April 6.30 – 8pm. (details here).

And activities for people with disabilities are now underway. Our next event is another archery taster session, and cricket is being planned for the summer.

You’re very welcome to get involved, either drop in or get in touch in advance. Details of club contacts here.

To order through the website go to www.justsport.net and click on the Club Login Logo at the bottom of the page. Login with the following details and place your order.  Please liaise directly with Just Sport for delivery/collection.

Username: wasps

Password: newcastle

Mutton chops and moustache - our landlord pulls his pints with a dash of Victoriana

And members celebrated with pints costing 125 pence!

The moustache style is much in evidence in the archive pictures of players from the early days of the ground – on one team, ten of the eleven cricketers display their handlebars with pride!

There’s a chance to find out more about the remarkable history of this beautiful green space at the club’s Open Day on Sunday 13 May 11am – 4pm.

More events will be taking place over the next 18 months, over the period when the ground was prepared for its first cricket match.

If you have mementoes, memories or photos to share – we’d like to hear from you! Our contacts are available here and there’s more insights into the past in our Heritage pages.

Your stories, pictures and mementoes are very welcome.

Get in touch via heritage@newcastlecc.co.uk or visit us at the Open Day on Sunday 13 May, 11am – 4pm.

Please click HERE to view our exciting Heritage pages!

Twelve pupils took part in a chance to sample the sport, organised by Newcastle Council as part of a series of sports opportunities.

Trainer Kate Hall worked with each individual to shoot at the bulls eye, followed by a final competition to shoot the Sport Relief balloon.

And organiser Neil Curry said it was hoped to offer a wider range of sports activities, thanks to the new club facilities and greater opportunities generally for participation. “Over the traditional summer months, in conjunction with Northumberland Cricket Board, we aim to provide different forms of disability cricket, both at local schools and club sessions.”

Wendy Hawley of Northern Counties college praised the organisers: “This event and the way it was planned was really inclusive, everyone got such a lot out of it.”

The event was partly inspired by the choice of the Lords Cricket Ground in London for the Archery events for the Olympics. Olwyn Hocking from Newcastle Cricket Club said: “We realised cricket grounds are a perfect setting for archery – as well as cricket!”.

***The improved facilities were funded by Newcastle Council ward committees (South and North Jesmond); SITA Trust; Newcastle RGS; the James Knott Trust; The Barbour Foundation; RW Mann Trust; and a wide range of community organisations and individuals, including donations in memory of the club’s inaugural Chairman, Mike Randell. Full list on www.newcastlecc.co.uk

As the 125th anniversary approaches, the Cricketforce springclean was supported by local families, players, juniors and workmates from Thomson Travel and NatWest Gosforth.

And the chefs from Newcastle’s Assembly Rooms provided the perfect energy boost by making special snacks based on Victorian recipes – to mark the recent discovery that funds to create the cricket ground were raised at a Fancy Dress Ball there in April 1887.

Improvements carried out included painting the biggest boundary fence (our “Everest”!), benches, gates, railings and hoardings right around the pitch. Other fences were stained, and terraces and the player balcony were cleared ready for the new season.

This followed a busy winter which saw investment of more than £200K in new accessible facilities including a brand new entrance; a new fascia and roof for the Pavilion; and refurbishment of the interior, thanks to new sponsor Thomson.

This was the culmination of six years of restoration by leaseholders Newcastle’s Royal Grammar School and the new Newcastle Cricket Club, which took on the ground following a two year public campaign to ensure its future.

Young club members refuelling before getting back to the painting.

The Cricketforce efforts at the Jesmond Ground were selected by the ECB in the area as their Showcase Club. Last year the commitment of the volunteers won a regional OSCA – Outstanding Service to Cricket Award.

Assembly Rooms owner Antony Michaelides donates hundreds of tasty Victorian snacks

More details and pictures on Cricketforce page.

The clock's ticking to the start of the new season...

Toddlers paint low down...

Undercoating the gates

Fancy some fitness and fun on the historic Jesmond turf?
We’re offering two new options for 2012:
** join our beginner section, for a weekly workout
** join our development squad, for the new Northumberland Women’s Development League started this season.
Training will be on Monday nights from April 23 (6.30 to 8pm), just wear whatever you’ve comfortable in (eg trackie pants, leggings) plus trainers. PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL MEET INDOORS ON MONDAY 23 APRIL IF IT’S RAINING, TO PLAN OUT THE SEASON.

We can also offer other practice options for people keen to play in competitive matches.
If you’d like to get involved, please contact Cathy Hare by email or text her on 07971367421.

This follows a trial run last year when for the first time a number of women did some cricket training at Newcastle Cricket Club. Building on their interest, and encouraged by their enthusiasm, the club has decided to take the next step. More details here.

Women’s cricket is a growing sport in our area and the Club wants to be able to give women more opportunities to get involved in the game. Please spread the word!