Issue 57

With the school summer holidays just around the corner, Euan Sweet looks back at another successful season for the Carlton Primary School team. In the first game of the year, Heriots hosted and, due to a particularly early start to the primary school season, a few key players were missing. Despite this, the team completed a tight win with the youngest player on the field, Archie, scoring the winning runs with a four straight down the ground. This followed debutant Krithi taking 3 wickets in her 2 overs, including 2 in 2 balls in her first ever over. Next up, the team acquitted themselves admirably away at New Field versus a strong Edinburgh Academy team. Some stoic and brave batting by Emily in her first ever hardball game helped the team bat through all their overs but they fell short of the target. After splitting 2 10/10 games with Watson’s at Craiglockhart, a double header with Loretto yielded two handsome victories. The stand-out performance, however, came from the parents who provided first class teas for our grateful guests. The highly effective coaching input from coach Dan Da Costa really started to bear fruit in a fine win against Stew Mel which was set up by an impressive, oppressive and accurate fielding display. A pitch invasion signalled a premature end to the return fixture versus Edinburgh Academy. A well stuck on-drive by George narrowly missed the guests’ bus driver as she strode purposely across the outfield on a mission to inform their coach that the team had to return to barracks without delay. A hasty Duckworth-Lewis type calculation left Carlton Primary team requiring 13 off the last over, of which they managed 9, as a couple of disappointed batters remained idle in the hutch. Cargilfield proved to be strong opponents in the penultimate game of the season and, although the batters got themselves within range of the winning score, the final pairing couldn’t quite bring it home. A few absences for the final game provided an opportunity for some players to gain some experience with half an eye of development for next year’s campaign. They made full use of the opportunity under the watchful eye of the UK media, but Watson’s proved too strong and experienced in the end. One of the most important functions that the Carlton Primary School team performs is providing a supportive environment for making the transition to hard-ball cricket. With that in mind, it has been great to see several players make their hard-ball debut and it’s exciting that youngsters such as Ben and Harry have another two years in the team ahead of them. Once again, it has been a pleasure being around the team this year. A large part of this is down to the group of parents who deserve a huge thank you for their help and support throughout a short but busy season. With only a couple of players moving on next year, our strong group of P6s, who are moving into their 3rd year in the team, and our new players, the future looks bright for the Carlton Primary School team.

Cricket has always been a big part of my life. I really enjoy the game. I guess it first started the day I was born in Marondera, Zimbabwe 1997. It was a Friday afternoon and Zimbabwe were playing a touring England side in a ODI. My parents were watching the final moments of the exciting game at home. My heavily pregnant Mum said to my Dad "We need to go to the hospital, I've got to give birth". My Dad apparently replied... "OK, OK, please hold on, I want to see Zimbabwe win". Not long later, Zimbabwe did win the game and 3 match series, with Edo Brandes getting a hat trick too. I was then born just after. Haha I first started playing cricket from a young age at a small country School called Springvale House, Zimbabwe. Sport was taken seriously at the school and to play for the 1st team was always a dream. The 3 Curran brothers were at Springvale too. Their Dad, Kevin was at most games supporting and working with his sons. He would be very proud to see how far they've gone. We then moved as a family to Perth, Australia 2008. Where I continued to play throughout secondary school. My best memory from cricket in those days is probably when our under 18s club team (Dalyellup Beach Cricket club in western Australia) won the season.. My brother was in the side, so too were some really great friends. We came up against a team that had a handful of outstanding players, where as I felt we were the under-dogs. What we did have, though, was great team chemistry, lots of pride and comradely. We worked so well as a team and were able to come out on top. My partner Lily and I have taken a year out from life in Australia and have been doing some travels. I have family roots in Scotland and have always wanted to see the land they came from. My grandfather also lives in Edinburgh and I came to visit him. I met Tom Simpson and Will Hardie at the start of the season, when they both encouraged me to come to Carlton Cricket Club. From the first training session I have felt at home and welcome at the club. I would like to thank you all for that. Cricket in Australia and cricket in Scotland are a little different. From my personal experience I feel the following: On average I feel the batsmen in Scotland are more attacking/hard hitting. On average I feel the game in Scotland is played in a slightly better spirit (gentlemen like, respect for opponents, sporting etiquette). DAVID SAUL THE AUSSIE HAS TAKEN SOME VITAL WICKETS THIS SEASON WITH HIS LEG-SPIN WE FIND OUT A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HIM

OUR RU! There won’t be a bigger cheer at GL this season than that that greeted Ruairidh Main’s Century at the end of May. He talks us through it and what it means to him. I was pretty nervous going in off the back of 3 ducks in a row so was feeling the pressure a bit. Dan was very chilled at the other end, laughing and joking the whole innings making sure I was nice and relaxed. Probably the nerves went when I was on about 20 odd and started to enjoy myself and stop worrying. To be honest, I was happy with just not getting a duck at that point. At about 70 runs I felt fairly certain I’d go the distance as Dan made sure we were both clear on our plans for the game. Getting the hundred was at first more a sense of relief but after the game it felt a bit surreal. Having grown up watching people do it when I was a junior and then to do it myself was a massive sense of pride in it as it’s all any junior at Carlton ever really wants - to score a ton at GL. My favourite part of the innings was when Dan scooped the bowler over fine leg, the opposing captain then put the man back and third man up. Dan called me for a chat in the middle laughed and said, ‘Watch me go the other way.’ We had a good laugh about it. I felt the massive sense of the community at Carlton after due to all the congratulation messages I received of people who still play at the club and people who have since stopped playing but still kept tabs on the scores and meant a lot to me to know people are rooting for you! Photos - top - Ruairidh acknowledges the cheers for his 100. Below - showing early style in one of his first outings for the 4th XI

261 v Stewarts Melville : 2nd wicket : Ruairidh Main 112 : Daniel Da Costa 148 (RM 111 : DDC 138) Grange Loan : 27th May 2023 : CSL Eastern Premier Division 226 v Royal High Corstorphine : 2nd wicket : Shujaa Khan 145 : Tom Simpson 103 (TS 103 : SK 118) Grange Loan : 12th June 2021 : CSL Eastern Premier Division 225 v Dunfermline : 4th wicket : Preston Mommsen 152 : Gordon Drummond 114* (PM 133 : GD 79) McKane Park : 4th June 2011 : SNCL 222* v Melrose : 2nd wicket : John Hiley 130* : Chris Smith 106* (JH 115 : CS 106) Grange Loan : 1st Sept 1973 : Friendly 219 v Edinburgh CC : 2nd wicket : Ben O’Connell 151* : Cedric English 118 BO’C 192 : CE 118) Grange Loan : 9th July 2006 : Scottish Cup 219 v Kirkcaldy : 1st wicket : Bill Courtney 99* : David Tattersall 110* Opening partnership - undefeated Grange Loan : 9th June 1956 : ESCA Division 1 214* v Grange : 2nd wicket : Nick Ross 109* Richard Swan 101* (NR 105 : RS 101) Grange Loan : 25th June 1977 ESCA Division 1 213 v Scotland Under 19: 2nd wicket : Cedric English 115 : Peter Wooden 124* (CE 111 : PW 79) Grange Loan : 18th May 2008 : SNCL 210 v Penicuik : 1st wicket : Arun Pillai 110* : Rory McCann 97 (AP 110 : RM 97) Kirkhill : 31st May 2022 : Masterton Trophy 204* v Clydesdale : 3rd wicket : Preston Mommsen 119* : Jamie Kerr 109* (PM 90 : JK 109) Titwood : 8th May 2010 : SNCL 203* v Grange: 2nd wicket : Cedric English 119* : Stevie Gilmour 108* (CE 82 : SG 108) Portgower Place : 21st May 2011 : SNCL 200 v Arbroath United : 4th wicket : Fraser Watts 96 : Hugo Southwell 98 (FW 87 : HS 98) Grange Loan : 13th August 2016 : CSL Eastern Premier Division Ruairidh Main and Dan Da Costa’s partnership of 261 against StewMel on 27 May set a new club record for the highest partnership. In the modern era it was the 12th partnership of 200 or more for the Carlton First XI. Here are the full details all 200+ partnerships - (each partner’s contribution to the joint score is listed in brackets.) RECORD PARTNERSHIPS

MORE RECORD PARTNERSHIPS There have been 2 partnerships of over 200 for the Carlton Second XI and one for the Women’s XI. 2nd XI 253* Stewarts Melville 2nd XI : 4th wicket : Chris Kear 140* : Paul Bailey 90* (CK 140 : PB 90) Inverleith : 8th June 1991 : ESCA Grade A 210 George Heriot's 2nd XI : 3rd wicket : Peter Gill 108* : Will Hardie 99 (PG 108 : WH 99) (nb– started at 0 runs for 2 wickets : no.1 M Whitaker 0 : No.3 H Aslam 0) Grange Loan : 6th July 2019 : ESCA Championship Women’s XI 208 Glasgow Academicals Women : 1st wicket Ruth Willis 128* : Helen Blair 60 Anniesland : 22nd June 2014 : Scottish Womens League RECORD PARTNERSHIPS OF LONGER AGO In his history of Carlton, NL Stevenson also reports the following big partnerships: 230* HFT Heath (105*) and TS Purves (104*) v Cameron Highlanders 1927: 1st wicket 226 JM Fleming (106*) and J Gordon (114) v Loretto 1934: 1st wicket 218 JM Fleming (127*) and WT Sherman (107) v Glasgow HSFP 1927: 2nd wicket TS Purves (on left in photo) was a Borders man. In later life he was President of the Galashiels Braw Lads gathering. He skippered Carlton in 1930-31 and was best bat in 1928 and much later in 1942 and 43. Stevenson describes him as having an exceptionally sound defence and making use of a great variety of shot particularly behind the wicket. The Rev HFT Heath (photo right) was Carlton’s best bat and bowler in 1927, best bowler in 1928 and 1934, and captain in 1929. He was an Australian, and had played First Class cricket for South Australia. He came to Scotland after the First World War, eventually becoming a Minister in the United Free Church in Edinburgh. He preached at Chalmers Church in the West Port (now demolished and replaced by a University building). Ruth and Helen after their record partnership

Ajitha - "I played my first mixed development match on Sunday, 4th June and it was a unique experience as it was also my first time playing a match with my son, Atreya. I will always cherish that match. We were blessed with a warm, sunny day. The standard of playing in the team was excellent and I was grateful to be given the opportunity. It was a joy to watch the young kids, including my son, play cricket passionately and have a lot of fun while doing that. The camaraderie in the team led by Bob was great. I truly enjoyed the experience. Thanks to Bob and John for organising the game. Atreya - "I really enjoyed playing a mixed development match with my mom. It was my first time playing a match with my mom. I had a lot of fun that day. Thank you for the opportunity. " MOTHER AND CHILD REUNION Over the years Carlton has been proud to field many father and son combinations across its teams. While this has yet to feature in the First XI, all other Carlton teams have done so. The women’s Second XI has also featured a mother and daughter combination. But this season a new first was created when a Mother and Son combination took the field in the Mixed Development XI. Ajitha and Atreya reflect on this experience - hopefully a new trend for Carlton. YOU’RE NEVER TOO YOUNG AT CARLTON! The Development XI match v Kelso on 11 June saw the senior debut of 8 year old Rajveer Shelar, thought to be the Carlton’s youngest ever senior debut. Rajveer turned up to watch his Dad Kailas, but was pressed into service when there was a very late withdrawal. Rajveer had been at the Oval the previous day and saw Virat Kohli batting in the WTC. He evidently picked up a few tips from the master. Rajveer fielded like a tiger and then scored 6*. He certainly looked the part. He also won family bragging rights since his Dad failed to trouble the scorers.

It’s been a long time coming, but finally t some part-time contracts for 9 national women’s players have been introduced by Cricket Scotland. I’m super proud and honoured to have been offered one, something that as the seasons went by (and I find myself on the wrong side of 30!) I didn’t think was looking possible for me. It’s been 23 years since Scotland women played their first cricket match under the governance of Cricket Scotland. I think for the original playing XI as well as those who followed in their footsteps (many of whom I am still in contact with and who keep a watchful eye on how things are progressing in Scotland), the introduction of contracts would have been just as exciting a moment as it was for those of us still within the national set up. It was getting more and more challenging keeping up with the demands of an increasingly professional training programme; the midweek cricket sessions, running sessions, strength sessions, nutrition workshops, lifestyle support, tactical sessions – never mind any full-time work or university commitments on the side! The direction we were travelling in as a group was unsustainable and was ultimately leading to players, who had played in the pathway for years and in whose development our clubs and governing body had invested, walking away to concentrate on their studies or careers as managing both just wasn’t possible. SCOTLAND WOMEN ON THE MARCH Carlton legend Abbi Aitken-Drummond is among the first group of women to receive playing contracts from Cricket Scotland earlier this year. She comments on what this means for her and for the women’s game.

These contracts will hopefully allow more contact time with coaches, compensation for reducing hours at work, and, ironically, more ‘breathing space’ to fit in those running and gym sessions! Personally, I do feel it has taken a little too long to get to this point, and unfortunately in that time, we’ve been leap-frogged by countries who have invested in professionalising their women’s game. For the last few years, Scotland women have been turning up to global qualifiers competing as the only amateur team in tournaments, but still with the expectation to see improved results. Nevertheless, this is the first step in the right direction to professionalising the women’s game in Scotland and I fully recognise that change doesn’t, and won’t, happen overnight. We have a number of players who have secured professional county contracts south of the border , such as Kathryn & Sarah Bryce, and Abtaha Maqsood which is great. GO HANNAH! Also in the first group of women contracted by CricketScotland is former Carlton favourite Hannah Rainey. Hannah is now based in Cumbria and played for Dumfries Women last season. Following the withdrawal of Dumfries from the Women’s League, Carlton fans can look forward to seeing her at Grange Loan again. Sadly she will not be in home colours since she is strengthening Grange Women’s challenge. Hannah is also a member of the Northern Thunder squad this season, based at Lancashire CC, where she is training and playing alongside such major players as Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross and Emma Lamb. Those players were not eligible for any of the 9 introductory contracts as it’s recognised that we must start offering opportunities to players to be able to play in Scotland. Hopefully the days are gone where players who want to seek out higher level opportunity have no option but to leave the country to live out their dream – as one of our own, Leigh Kasperek, had to do! And so the introduction of these contracts is the right first step to bigger and better things – to levelling the playing field, to providing opportunities our male counterparts have, and to affording our finest, homegrown talent to stay at home and represent as well as inspire the next generation to come! And hopefully one day, Carlton will be able to reap the rewards of the years of investment and support given to their women’s section, by having full-time women’s national squad players on the club’s roster.

CHARLES’ RECORD Charles Stronach can proudly claim a new Carlton record - for the length of time between appearances for the First XI. A mere 15 Years 11 Months 25 Days before taking 2-24 to help Carlton defeat StewMel on 27 May this year, on 2 June 2007 he played at Grange Loan against West of Scotland in a SNCL match. Charles bowled only 3 overs, conceding 11 runs without taking a wicket. Stevie Gilmour and Peter Wooden each had 3 wickets as Carlton dismissed WoS for 143. Stevie then scored 33 batting at number one, with Bryn Lockie scoring 61* to give Carlton a six wicket victory. Charles was not required to bat. Charles says he remembers nothing about that match. That was one of only two First XI matches Charles played that season, although he played 8 for the Seconds. Parenthood, and a loss of interest in cricket in preference for golf and cycling, ended that phase - the second - of his Carlton career. The first phase had begun in 1987 when Charles was part of the first junior teams when Peter Nettleton first established the present junior set up. Emerging from the juniors in 1994, he became a First team regular in 1996 before moving to Watsonians in 1998. His best season was in 1996 when in 19 First XI matches he took 23 wickets with 6-20, including a triple wicket maiden, in a Masterton tie against Stenhousemuir. Charles has a better memory of that match ‘I remember this as it was the first time that I ran through a side. ‘Titch (R Bannerman) got the first wicket and then I came on next over and got a wicket first ball when Graham Gardner kindly hit me to deep square leg. Wickets then tumbled quickly as I got 6 in my first 4 overs including Iain Philip who was the first big scalp I remember getting. The triple wicket maiden including Iain Philip is still a good memory.’ (Iain Philip was capped many times by Scotland during the 1990s, with a highest score of 145). Charles’ second spell at Grange Loan began in 2005 and he took 21 wickets in the 2006 season. The third phase started in 2017 when, re-engaged with cricket as Ben and James began to make an impact in the juniors, he made 5 appearances for the 4th XI (and 1 for the Fifth XI). Charles is therefore one of only a handful of players who have played for all of Carlton’s senior teams. On 17 August 2019 all three Stronachs appeared together in the 5th XI’s tussle with Bass Rock (photo over). Charles and Ben played together in the Second XI on 4 occasions last season - to our knowledge the only father and son pairing so far to appear at that level. It’s a great record to have - but it pales slightly by comparison with that of Zimbabwean Tony Traicos who played 3 tests for South Africa in 1970 before they were banned from competition. 22 years and 222 days later in 1992 he played in Zimbabwe’s first test series. C A Stronach - 1997 and 2006 models

Three Stronachs for the price of one Bass Rock CC v Carlton 5 17 August 2019 Congratulations to James Stronach who, playing for Geo Watson’s College, on 16 June scored 215 runs in a single day - innings of 141 and 74 - to help his team win the Scottish Schools u15 Cup. It would be unkind to point out that this is considerably more than his Dad has scored in his entire First XI career.

OUTSTANDING! Photo:David Potter Ciara Gibson 120* Carlton Women v RHC Women GL 11 June Iain Hathorn 105 Carlton 5 v Marchmont 3 Cavalry Park 3 June 117 Carlton 5 v Holy Cross2 Meadows 24 June Rudy Adair 7-27 Carlton 2 v Linlithgow GL 24 June Arun Pillai 5-34 Carlton v RHC GL 17 June And congratulations to Rahul Khadse and Tom Harthorn - Jump Ship Senior and Junior Player of the Month

SAILING TO VICTORY Carlton’s first trip out of Edinburgh In 1865, shortly after Carlton began life in 1863, they were invited to play Cupar CC. This was the club’s first fixture out of Edinburgh. Nowadays such a fixture would involve nothing more difficult than a drive up the M90 and A92 - about an hour’s journey. Car-sickness might be an issue, but not there would be no likelihood of sea-sickness. But in 1865 an away fixtures of this sort were a little more challenging. The Edinburgh and North Railway Company had been established in 1845 to connect the city and Perth and Dundee. The service to Cupar opened in 1850. The journey took over 2 hours, since it involved a 56 minute ferry crossing from Granton to Burntisland. The second class fare was 5 shillings and 4 pence (about 27p). The ferry was a revolutionary design, the first in the world in which the rail carriages were shunted on and off the ferry. The ferry continued in operation until the Forth Bridge opened in 1890, halving the journey time. In his history of Carlton, NL Stevenson reports that in the two innings match (a customary format at the time) Carlton dismissed Cupar for 22 and 19, scoring 21 and 22-3 in reply to emerge victorious, commenting, ‘Low scores were fashionable in those days.’ He goes on to add ‘...I feel convinced from later experience that they were not always attributable to the excellence of the bowling as contemporary reports usually suggested.’ Carlton v Cupar Matches between Carlton and Cupar were regular until the mid 1990s when Cupar fell out of the top division of the East League and were not part of the emergent SNCL. The last fixture between Carlton and Cupar was in 1994, like the first match it ended in a Carlton victory at Duffus Park Unfortunately it is not possible to compile the complete history of the fixture. However in the period between 1950 and 1994, there were 41 matches between the clubs, mainly in the league but with a number of friendlies in the 1950s and mid-70s. Carlton won 22, lost 7 with 5 draws. Sadly, as noted in previous issues of the Arrow, Cupar CC went out of existence in 2011. The Granton-Burntisland Rail Ferry pictured in the 1880s.

Thankfully after this questionable literary effort, Carlton members were spared further versification of their activities for many years until Fantasy Bob felt compelled to repeat the sin in 2013, and subsequent years. We rose one summer morning to renew the cricket strife, We crossed to Burntisland, and then to Cupar-Fife; To view the beauties of the town right merrily we sped, But how could we be lively when the cricket ground was dead. The Cupar took the batting, the Carlton the ball, And to our great astonishment, we saw the wickets fall; But then, we were no better, for scarcely had begun, When we found we had finished with a score of 21. We all went up to dinner and then sat down to dine And nobly pledged each other in a glass of sherry wine, Except those gentle creatures whose spirits are afraid, And nearly blew themselves to bits with drinking lemonade. Once more we took out station, and the Cupar men went in It was a heartsome sight to see the wickets spin; But when the game was finished in our favour, with a cheer We drank the Cupar Cricket Club in a round of bitter beer. Although no extended record of the 1865 encounter between Carlton and Cupar survives, the following verses approximate a match report. They are part of a longer set of verses said to be a Carlton Cricket Song written in 1865 and recovered shortly before they were published in 1921 in the booklet ‘The Northern Offensive’, one of a series of annual booklets celebrating Carlton’s activities during the 1920s. It would seem with Carlton victorious a merry time was had by all. The same verse also extols a match in Stirling in the same year, of which no other details are available. Singing seems to have been a big thing amongst early Carlton members. However, there is no indication of the poet’s name or of the tune to which his words were sung. CARLTON 1865 IN VERSE

MARTIN FIRTH REPORTS ON THE ACTION AT THE THIRD ANNUAL JUNIOR SIXES The bald facts are somewhat mind-boggling - 42 junior players, drawn from all the hardball squads, formed 6 teams and played 4 5-over (F5?) games each in the course of an 8+ hour day. At the end of all that, Team Orange, ably captained by Shreyas, were undefeated champions. Team Blue, equally ably captained by Hector, were second, having narrowly lost to Team Orange in only the second game of the day. Every team won at least one game, and only one game didn't last deep into the last over. 118 overs were bowled in the day, of which only 1 was a maiden (how did Noah do that?). 1216 runs were scored, and 46 wickets were taken. However, far more impressive than the scale of the event was the quality of cricket and the sportsmanship on display. (Maybe I'll sift through the stats in the next week or so, and maybe write a follow-up report highlighting some of the impressive achievements.) But what stood out far more than any batting, bowling or fielding achievement was the sheer joy and camaraderie amongst our junior players. The games were genuinely played in a good spirit. Two aspects stick in my mind: The Girls' Hardball squad demonstrated their togetherness better than anyone - 8 girls were spread across the teams, but whoever was playing, the other members of the squad got together to support her. Runs were cheered, wickets - and dot balls - were applauded, fielding was celebrated. Better still, the occasional errors were met with unanimous sympathy and encouragement to try again. Magnificent. - Players ranging in age from 10 to 15 all got on together. The older players, particularly the team captains, led the younger ones by encouragement and example. The teams were genuine teams - everyone was encouraged to take part, everyone took part, and everyone therefore looked as if they were enjoying themselves. In the gaps between matches, many players decamped to the nets, where some of the older players were spotted giving tips to their younger team-mates. We should be very proud of our junior players. Huge thanks to all the parents who helped run the day. I'll embarrassingly forget someone, but here goes: thank you very much indeed to Alasdair, Callum, Doug, Dougie, Euan M, Euan S, Graeme, Grierson, Iain, Kartic, Keith, Michelle, Siobhan, Steven, Susan.