Issue 80

Congratulations to the following Carlton players who have featured in recent Scotland Squads Abbi Aitken-Drummond, Maisie Maceira Scotland A - who played England u19 in a series of matches at Loughborough between 22-25 July James Stronach, Ollie Stones Scotland u16 who played 4 English County u16 sides between 13 and 18 July Hamish Foley, Tom Hathorn Scotland u15 - who played a series of matches against Middlesex Schools at Middlesbrough CC between 21-23 July James Stronach Scotland u17 - who played Cheshire u18 at Timperley CC on 22 and 23 July Sonia Amin, Keira Ansell, Aggie Foley Scotland u15 - who played a series of matches against the Netherland at Strathallan School between 21-24 July Many thanks to Artemis Investment Managers for their continuing support of Carlton’s Junior cricketers. Seen here modelling the Carlton shirts made available to all u12 players and bearing the Carlton and Artemis logos, are keen junior cricketers Arthur (9) and Matilda (7) Atkinson.

This year, Keira, Aggie, Amy, Abby, Elsie and I were selected for the girls Eastern Knights U15 squad, and Libby was selected for the U18 squad. Throughout the winter we trained indoor at MES, where we worked on technical batting, bowling and fielding skills, and had lots of live nets and scenario work. Training as a team alongside girls from other Edinburgh clubs as well was not only beneficial, but fun too. So far this season, the girls U15 Eastern Knights have had an unbeaten run - including winning T20s against Western Warriors and Caledonian Highlanders and a 40 over game victory against the Highlanders. The games were played at Dollar Academy, and Strathallan School in Perthshire. Many of the girls also had the chance to play for the other regional teams if they were short in number, which was a great opportunity to play more cricket! (Aggie got a 5-fer for West) Although that’s the end of our East matches, all of us will be playing plenty more cricket for Carlton and for some of us the national side as well. Carlton Girls have contributed to this season’s unbeaten run of the Eastern Knights under 15 Squad. Sonia Amin reports

Cricket has always been a part of my life. I learned the game from my dad and grandad, both of whom were passionate cricketers. My grandad played for Kenya and East Africa between the mid-1940s and mid-1950s, so the game was firmly embedded in our family culture from the start. I grew up playing club cricket for Horton House in Northamptonshire and represented them in the Northants League throughout my youth. Some of my fondest memories come from this time — not just the cricket itself, but the friendships and weekends spent out in the middle. One particularly special moment was being presented with an award at Lord’s during the lunch break of a Test match, after taking five wickets against the MCC while playing for Bedford College, my school side. (Photo below). Another highlight was winning the U17 national cup with school — a brilliant experience and a team I’ll never forget. I moved to Edinburgh full-time in 2020, and after settling in, I was keen to find a club to play for. A friend from university, who had joined Carlton a year or two before me, spoke very highly of the club — and after a few conversations and net sessions, I was in. I’m very glad I made the move. Carlton is a fantastic club full of great people, and it’s been a pleasure to be part of the setup both on and off the pitch. Shiv Jhala joined Carlton last season and made an important contribution to the 2nd XI’s Championship win. This season he has gone on to win his First XI cap.

Conor Regan’s sizzling bowling return of 7-17 in the cup Quarter Final against Arbroath United won him the June Littlejohn Player of the Month Award. It also prompted some research through the Carlton archives to compare other 7 wicket hauls. In Olden Times In 1879 WJ Proudfoot took 7-7 against Dunfermline, failing to match his 9-15 against Grange the previous year. In 1897 NL Stevenson took 7-7 against Edinburgh University - which included a double hat trick (4 wickets in 4 balls). In 1937 Crosskey (no initials as he was Carlton’s professional) took 7-3 against Brunswick. These are the most notable analyses recorded by NL Stevenson in Play, but it is likely that there are a number of other 7 wicket hauls in the club’s ancient history which are sadly lost in the mists of times. Seven Up The Modern Era In the modern (ie post WW2) era, there have been 72 instances of 7 wickets or better across all the club’s XIs. For the First XI, the best return is by Australian amateur Tom Freshwater (below) who took 7-6 against Stoneywood Dyce on a green top at GL in 2015. The visitors were all out for 74, giving Carlton a relatively simple 8 wicket victory. Freshwater won the Best Bowler award that year finishing the season with 45 wickets @ 12.42. Close behind are John Hiley’s 7-10 in 1979 against Heriot’s, Craig Bulloch’s 7-13 against Glenrothes in a 1999 Cup Tie and Alun Davies 7-14 v Trinity Acads in 1969. Conor’s 7-17 shares 5th best spot with Davies’ 7-17 against Stenhousemuir in 1966.

When it comes to multiple hauls, George Innes leads the way with five 7 wicket returns for the First XI and one in a rare appearance for the Seconds. He also took 8-25 against RHSFP in 1982. Alun Davies achieved 7 wickets 3 times - and also had an 8 wicket haul against Kirkcaldy in 1964. Overall he had 23 matches when he took 5 or more wickets. There are a couple of players for whom 7 wickets seems not to have been enough. Bruce Dixon had three 8 wicket hauls, but no 7 wicket returns. In all he took 5 or more wickets 13 times. (Bruce pointed out that these figures are based only on league and cup appearances - he had a 7 and 9 wicket haul in friendlies). It may be that it was easier for a bowler to rack up the wickets when these greats were playing, since there were no restrictions on overs and they would regularly have put down over 20 overs in an afternoon. In the era of restricted overs, only Omar Ahmad (above) has managed more than one 7 wicket return for the First XI - 7-30 v Heriot’s in 2009 and 7-20 against Forfarshire in 2014. Twos and below The best 7 wicket return for the 2s is by Ian McPake, Secretary of the Club at the time, who took 7-15 against Kirkcaldy in 1975. McPake took 7 wickets on 3 other occasions, and finished his career as all time third top wicket taker for the 2s with with 193 wickets. Second all time 2nd XI wicket taker is David Carter (with 207) who took two 7 wicket hauls - 7-26 v Grange and 7-29 v Heriot’s. (Archy Gray leads the Second XI wicket takers with 265 victims - his best ever return was 6-9.) But it is Russell Weir who has the overall best analysis of 9-41, achieved for the Second XI against W Lothian 2 in 1982. Russell also took 8-27 against Heriot’s 2 in 1983. He never returned a 7 wicket haul. Seven Up In the lower teams, where there have been 28 7 wicket (or better) returns, an unlikely entrant in the list is Martin Robertson (right - better known these days as a leading run getter for the 5s) who could only be described as an occasional bowler. On one such occasion in 1995 he struck gold - taking 7-80 for Carlton 2 against Stenhousemuir 2. ‘Lobbing it up but failing to tempt enough batters to sacrifice themselves,’ he says. The game ended in a draw. ‘No idea who else was playing but guessing we were short of bowling. I might even have been captain which explains why I got 20 overs.’ As yet there has been no 7 wicket return in the Women’s teams.

Dave Carter’s 7-1 for the Third XI eclipses all other Carlton bowling performances. His figures against Livingston at Bangour Hospital in 1997 were 10-9-7-1 - the run conceded in his very last over. David modestly pretends not to remember much about the day - other than to suggest that it was a greenish wicket. Also in the Carlton team that day were current regulars Martin Robertson and Scott Fraser. Martin, who scored 14* in Carlton’s 6 wkt win, observes that Livingston closed their innings on 72 for 9, ‘So I assume they had 10 players which robbed DC of an 8-for.’ Scott scored 19 and took the two other wickets to fall and suggests, ‘I was put on to bowl so Livingston could get some runs - and salvage a little hope!’ 1997 was the second year of the 3rd XI’s existence. In 1996 they had finished bottom of Grade E, a spot taken over by Livingston in 1997. In 1998 Livingston finished top with Carlton in second place both gaining promotion to Grade D. Seven Up Dave Carter - 10-9-7-1 Dave Carter, seen here in action for the Fourth XI, took 496 wickets at all levels for the club and is second behind Alun Davies in terms of all time wicket taking. Dave also has the unique achievement of playing for every Carlton Team that it was possible for him to play for: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Over 50s and the Mixed Development XI.

Juniors On Song Juniors have also hoovered up the wickets. Before Conor’s haul, the most recent 7 wkt performances in the club were in 2023, both by younger players. Rudi Adair took 7-27 on 24 June against Linlithgow at GL. Rudi was 16 yrs 10m and 15 days. Seven Up But Gavin Rittoo was even younger at 15 yrs 1m and 22 days old when he took 7-22 for the Third XI against EU Staff in 2011. Gavin was the Thirds’ Best Bowler that season and also the leading wicket taker in ESCA Div 4, for which he received an award from ESCA President Bruce Dixon (right). Shreyas Tekele was 15 yrs 4 m and 28 days when he took 7-27 in 2023 in North Berwick against Bass Rock - his haul included a hat trick. A month before Shreyas had taken 6-21 also for the Fours.

One interesting name in the list of Carlton’s 7 wicket takers is PGH Younie who debuted for Carlton taking 7-57 in victory over Grange in June 1957. Although this first appearance was much heralded in the Scotsman (below), it was the only match he played that season. In 1958 he returned, and took 8-20 against Brunswick. Younie played only 6 more times for Carlton that season, finishing the season with 19 wickets at 9.21 and the Best Bowler award. That is Younie’s entire Carlton career - 8 matches in which he took 26 wickets at 8.92. This is the lowest average in the club’s history for any bowler taking 20 or more wickets. Indeed that appears to be his entire cricket career - press reports suggest that he forsook the cricket pitch for the golf course. He also seems to have played wing three quarter for Edinburgh Wanderers RFC. But otherwise, and despite his stellar contribution to Carlton’s fortunes in his brief appearance, Younie remains a mystery man - he does not feature in the First XI photos of either of these years. Seven Up THE PITCHERO CLUB LOTTERY BIG PRIZES EVERY MONTH SUPPORTING CARLTON https://www. pitchero.com/ clubs/carltonc c/lottery

SCRUM DOWN Carlton is pleased to welcome to its ranks this season two former members of Scotland’s International Rugby team - Sarah Law (known to all as Slaw) and Panache Muzamba. They review their rugby careers and their experience of coming to Carlton. It was a not so sunny day in May when two retired rugby players were having a life catch up and a coffee.….“I’m thinking about going along to try cricket. You fancy it?” I’d met Sam at an event with a group of athletes from different sports. She had mentioned how good Carlton was and so when some time later Panache and I started the conversation about trying it out, Carlton was the obvious place to go. That was all it took – we were both in! Slaw’s rugby journey I grew up in Penicuik. Both my parents are from England, and so the closest relatives were in Liverpool and not around at the weekends to help with childcare. That meant that I spent a lot of my early life around sports clubs – my Dad would play rugby on a Saturday and cricket on a Sunday, and we’d spend the entire weekend out on a grassy field somewhere being looked after by whatever sports club we were at that week. I started playing rugby myself at about 6 years old. I’d already been around the club for a while, but I immediately fell in love with playing the game too. Over the years, you get asked ‘why rugby?’ and on reflection, there’s a lot of factors that made me love the game. I was never the biggest (I’m still waiting for that growth spurt), the fastest, the fittest, the strongest or the most agile athlete but that didn’t matter, it’s a sport for all and there’s a place for everyone in the team. I loved the feeling that I was part of something and that my contribution was to something that I wouldn’t be able to achieve on my own. I loved that it’s a thinking game too. There are so many ways to score and to break a team down that it’s not all about the team that’s the most physical; it’s about the mental game too. And every game is different. Lastly, there’s always something to get better at. It’s addictive, and easy to obsess over, but the rewards when it all comes together are well worth it.

I was pretty lucky with my rugby career. Having started at Penicuik, I moved to Murrayfield Wanderers as I started high school and got the chance to play for Scotland in my last year of school. Over the years, I’ve been lucky to play rugby across the UK and represent Scotland in multiple 6 Nations tournaments and across the world in South Africa, New Zealand and even for GB students in Brazil. It’s been an honour and a real joy. There were plenty of highs and plenty of lows (I was playing for Scotland, and there was a fair number of losses). Over the years, I had my share of injuries too and after being diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in 2022, I was aware that my rugby career might not last as long as that of some of my teammates. Women’s sport has come a long way in the last decade and rugby is no different. Whilst the support hasn’t always been as much as is needed, the expectations made of players has become more and more. The volume and intensity of training was high, and I found myself in a position where I couldn’t be sure that my body would have what was needed each day. I’ve always prided myself on giving 100% each day and knew that when I couldn’t, it was time to take a step back. I needed a bit of time and space to process and explore life after that. Rugby had been my everything for more than 20 years and I was a little scared about what life without it would be like. It’d been the first thing that I thought about when I woke up each day, and it had given me the only purpose that I’d needed. I’d not spent any time thinking about what else was important to me because in those moments, it doesn’t always feel like there is anything.

Panashe’s rugby journey I was born and raised in Zimbabwe and relocated to Scotland at the age of twelve, and have lived in Edinburgh ever since. My early years were marked by a strong involvement in sports, thanks to schools that prioritised extracurricular activities. Although I was exposed to various sports during my youth, rugby did not play a significant role; my older brother played, but it wasn’t until I started university that I tried the sport myself. Upon attending my first session, I was immediately hooked. In my second year of university, while still participating in basketball, I decided to focus more seriously on rugby. This commitment quickly led to an invitation to join a regional match, and soon after, I became part of the Scottish Rugby Pathway. I played for Watsonians over several seasons before leaving the club to complete my teaching probation in Aberdeen. Rugby, while a significant aspect of my life, has never fully defined my identity. I am keenly aware of the extraordinary opportunities I have been afforded, particularly the honour of representing Scotland at the international level as the first Black female player. This journey has required immense dedication, resilience and sacrifice. Along the way, I faced many challenging decisions and occasionally disappointing setbacks, such as not being selected for the World Cup squad—a particularly heart-wrenching experience. However, these challenges taught me invaluable lessons about recalibrating my goals and persevering through adversity. Later that same year, I joyously celebrated winning the Premiership Cup with Exeter Chiefs, a moment that underscored the rewards of hard work and determination. Throughout my career, I have reached milestones that exceeded my initial aspirations, playing rugby in iconic venues and alongside some truly exceptional individuals who have inspired me. Leaving Exeter, where my teammates had become like family, marked a significant transition in my life. Although returning to Edinburgh for a new job and to loved ones provided a sense of continuity, the last departure felt particularly poignant. A close friend's observation resonated deeply with me: “it is not merely about leaving a place, but about the realisation that you will not return in the same capacity”, highlighting the inevitable changes that come with growth and new journeys.

Scrum down - Coming to Cricket at Carlton We both turned up at Grange Loan at the end of May as complete newbies. With no kit, no experience and no idea what we were doing. But from the first evening, we’ve been well coached, looked after and supported and encouraged to get better. It might take a while to get any good – this sport is far more technical than either of us appreciated and at times I feel like I’m re-learning how to even think, but it’s been great to be welcomed as novices and thrown into a few games just to have a go. 12 months on from the last game of rugby, and it’s been easier to take note of the bits that you miss and the bits that you don’t. The body doesn’t miss the pain one bit. It’s wonderful to get out of bed in one movement! I missed having a purpose or a goal. I missed striving to get better at something. I missed the highs that you get from competition and success. I missed being part of something much bigger than myself, and I missed the community that comes with being part of a team. Nothing will replace what rugby was. There’ll always be a bit of a rugby void, but it’s been nice to make some space for something else. We were searching for something new with cricket – a fresh start in a community that allowed us to be ourselves, to be rubbish for a little bit and to play a sport for the sheer fun of it - we’ve certainly found it here at Carlton. Thank you. It’s been awesome so far!

Women are not the only rugby players Carlton has welcomed. Over the years a number of prominent male players have also played at Grange Loan. Most recently Hugo Southwell, who won 59 caps for Scotland at full back, was a key member of Carlton’s 2016 Championship winning side. In all he played 27 League and cup matches and 38 T20 matches for Carlton in which he scored 2 centuries. Scrum Down - rugby men at Carlton But the crossover with rugby goes back to the earliest days of the club. During the 1870s when Carlton’s home ground was round the corner from Grange Loan on Blackford Road, the club leased it to Edinburgh University for the playing of rugby. Carlton’s earlier ground, which it had occupied between 1866 and 69, just opposite the present ground was made use of by Royal High School FP rugby club. Fleeting reference can also be found in these years to a short-lived Carlton Football Club, about which little is known. In 1871, prominent Carlton cricketer John Macfarlane (below) was a member of the Scotland XV who beat England in the first ever rugby international played at Raeburn Place. Macfarlane was an all round athlete and described as a steady bat and one of the last underhand bowlers. He died at the tragically young age of 23, from rheumatic fever acquired while lying injured following an injury on the rugby field. Macfarlane also is credited with saving Carlton from an early demise. When closing the club was contemplated in 1871 due to dwindling membership, he summoned up enough University colleagues to keep the club going. His full story is told in Arrow 40

Left - Evening News report of Stevenson’s injury. Carlton’s great biographer, NL Stevenson, had been a good enough rugby player to have secured a trial for Scotland. Unfortunately his rugby career was cut short in 1898 at the age of 23. He records the circumstances, ‘…while playing for University against Watsonians at Craiglockhart…I was kicked behind the ear so badly that I had to be conveyed to the Royal Infirmary and operated upon at once as I had sustained depressed fracture of the skull….it was hard lines..that I had to give up the game when I consider I was at my best.’ The course of his injury and recovery were tracked in the local press (see below). As any reader of Play is aware, Stevenson is never shy of singing his own praises, and he describes how he mixed his cricket and rugby practice, ‘I reached the ground by 5 o’clock each evening from April to September and put in two or three hours at the nets, after which I indulged in an hour’s place-kicking at an improvised goal with the result that, until I had unfortunately to give up the game, I must have been among the most reliable converters in Scotland.’ He refers to a press cutting which gives him credit for converting 35 tries out of 43. Scrum Down - rugby men at Carlton Above - NL Stevenson, centre middle row, skipper of Edinburgh Institution RFC, 1897-8. Also in the photo is Douglas Currie, second right back row, who was Carlton skipper in 1907-9.

Scrum Down - rugby men at Carlton Some other Carlton players who graced the rugby pitch. Kevin Whitaker (above left)) played 93 matches for Carlton in the early 1990s, scoring 1254 runs and snaffling 119 victims behind the stumps. Several years later he returned with success to the 3rd and 4th XI accompanying his son Murray on his rise through the ranks. He played fly half for Hawick, Heriot’s and Hartlepool in a distinguished rugby career. Also celebrated as a fly half at Heriot’s some years before Kevin, was Fraser Dall (above right), one of Carlton’s greatest ever bats. During the 1970s he played 129 matches scoring 3282 runs. Also a wicketkeeper, he snaffled 110 victims. He featured in Arrow 70. Neil Cochrane (below left) played 17 First team matches and 20 second team matches (with a best bowling of 6-21) between 1998 and 2002 before his rugby career took him south of the Border. He returned to Edinburgh to finish his career in 2015. Craig Marshall (below right) had 42 First Team matches and 59 second team matches, with a best of 104*. He was a regular in Boroughmuir Bears semi-pro squad in the recently abandoned Super Six competition.

Kyle Burgess Carlton’s Cricket Ambassador to Virginia USA After finishing my Scottish 2024 cricket season on the Meadows by hitting a boundary to win a very tight game for Carlton 4 against Dunfermline, I was ready to kickstart my cricketing career in America. I moved to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. It was quite a scary experience for me to begin with because it was a completely new start, but I soon found this to be the perfect opportunity to really get stuck in with my batting. The league had 8 teams in 2 separate leagues with all the teams moving into the round of 16 - higher finishers facing the lower finishers. I didn’t know and I hadn’t met anyone that was playing in the competition, so I was a free agent and was able to be picked up for any team that wanted me. I was eventually picked up by the “Knightmares” because they liked my profile which said “Scottish, 19, all rounder, pretty decent fielder”. The weather was still great in September and we played on the hockey pitches right on the corner of campus. I also managed to convince some of the international students to come watch, a few being from India so they knew of cricket but weren’t interested in playing. The format was 10 overs, meaning you could only bowl 2 overs, so when they asked me if I was a batsman, I obviously said, ‘Yes!’, and I was put at a tactical 5. Keep in mind the highest I’ve ever batted at this point was opening in the under 14s. The first game went great - me taking 2 wickets but when I went out the bat I did unfortunately get out first ball, I think it was the pitch and the weighted tennis ball that I just had to get used to, but this turned out not to be the case. We had a great league run, finishing top of the table and only losing 1 game, which funnily enough I didn’t play in. However, there was this reoccurring problem for me and that was getting out first ball for some reason, I really just needed to get used to the format and the surface we were playing on.

We got through the round of 16 and quarter finals pretty easily but we had an extremely close semi-final with it coming down to the very last ball with our opposition needing a boundary to win. I thought our fielder had fumbled it but turned out he was just hiding the ball to see if they would run 3. All pretty traumatic Now we ready ready for the final, according to the captain, this was the first time the Kinghtmares had ever made it to the final and this made us even more excited to win. I had been pretty useful bowling and fielding, taking lots of wickets and catches, but if I needed to bat well, this was the moment. I had kept telling the captain I would find my form, which I think he got tired of hearing so he pushed me out at 7 right near the end, the crowd was blasting noise and the bowling side gave me some chat as I was the first white guy they had seen all tournament. But, they do say that pressure makes diamonds, and I put in a comfortable 16* which I was super impressed with. We set a score of 90 to chase, unfortunately this was not enough and was overtaken in the last over. It’s never fun to be on the losing side of cricket but it happens. It was such an amazing experience to have played so much with them and made it so far in the tournament. It was organised by the school and I met all kinds of people that were interested in how I got into cricket and what playing hard ball is like in Scotland, I may not have been a great representation of our batting prowess, but the whole experience was a great learning one and I got some really great advice and practice as I really just wanted to develop my skills further, implementing them into my game back home. We did play in the second semester but I played with a different team and we went straight into the knockout stage where we lost in the semi finals. But the journey I went on in the fall semester I will never forget and the memories I made with the Knightmares I will cherish forever Kyle celebrates his first US wicket in typical style

My cricket journey began from a young age of six in Bangalore, India, where I played professionally for BPCA Cricket Academy and after a few years started representing my school cricket team, DPS Bangalore North Cricket for nearly a decade. A highlight of my early years was being selected for the U-14 Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Summer Training Camps in 2013 and 2014, which was a significant milestone in my development. As I transitioned from school, I continued playing for both BMSIT College Cricket team and Swastik Union Cricket Club, representing the Karnataka Zonals team under Division 2. These years were instrumental in sharpening my skills and deepening my passion for the game. After moving to the UK for my master’s degree in Space Engineering during the fall of 2021, I took nearly a two-year break from cricket. However, in 2023, when I relocated to Edinburgh for Welcome to Pavan Yaradi who has made important runs for the 2nd XI since joining the club this season work, I found my way back to the sport, joining Drummond Trinity Cricket Club for a season and a half. It was a refreshing return, reigniting my passion and drive. Early 2025, I decided to join Carlton Cricket Club after learning about their highly professional environment, excellent training facilities, and supportive coaching staff. What truly drew me in was their commitment to preparation and continuous improvement, values I strongly believe in. Every training session at Carlton has helped me grow as a player and as a person. The club’s welcoming atmosphere and the camaraderie among players have made it feel like a second home. I am grateful to be part of such an inspiring cricketing community and would give it my all every time I am out there representing Carlton Cricket team.

Since I started playing for Carlton in 2014, it’s been the highlight of my summer. My fondest memories are of cartwheeling around the pitch as a junior, climbing the cherry blossom trees before girls training on a Wednesday night and most important of all, every WPL win. Playing cricket especially in Scotland Emerging and Eastern Knights has taught me so much about team-work, communication and how to support a team. This gave me the skills I needed to go forward with my degree in pharmacology (later changed to biochemistry) and helped me become a successful member of Dundee University ladies 2XI hockey team. After 10 years of playing for Carlton for the whole summer, I wanted to follow my dream of travelling more. In August 2024 I applied for Camp America. In December I got my place at a camp in Massachusetts in the Berkshires called Chimney Corners. Knowing I wasn’t going to be playing for the whole summer was a weird feeling but I planned to make the most of it despite only playing three matches.On June 12th I flew out to Boston and arrived at camp on the 13th. We had a week before the kids came which involved a lot of staff training, getting to know each other, having fun, and more importantly trying to follow the WPL from my cabin with bad signal. When this gets released, I would have just finished session 1. Some of my biggest highlights have been lake days, fourth of July and quality time spent with the other staff. Being a counsellor to 13 to 15 year-old kids has had it ups and downs but they enjoyed learning about Edinburgh and what my life is like in Scotland. These past five weeks have been an incredible experience and I can’t wait to see what the next weeks have to come. Saskia Aldridge has been a regular member of the Women’s First XI since debuting in 2018. In 2022, she took 5-5 v RHC to secure the WPL title for Carlton. This summer she has been in the USA. Honestly, I have to say I really miss Carlton; it taught me so much about teamwork and support which really helped me through camp. I’m still following all the play from America and hopefully will be back for the full summer next year

Carlton was sorry to hear of the recent passing of Hilary Dean, who, along with husband Ben, had recently become a close neighbour to Grange Loan. Hilary was latterly a Learning Support teacher at Edinburgh Academy, having previously taught PE. Ben has a long association with Carlton having played for the First and Second Team during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Our condolences go to Ben and his family. Condolences

Many congratulations to Regan Sinclair and his partner on the arrival of Siobhan on 7 June. Many congratulations to Alex and Catriona who became Mr and Mrs Feds on 10 July. The wedding took place at Dworzyszcze Wola near Krakow. Congratulations

Clock It may not be as iconic as the clock at Lord’s, but as the eagle-eyed among the attendees at GL will have notice that the clock on the scorehut, which was donated in 2013, has recently been repaired and is now correct 24/7 rather than just twice day. Many thanks to Brian Forrester for securing the repair. Clocks have played an important part in a number of Carlton matches - more so perhaps in days of yore when timed matches were the usual format. In Play, NL Stevenson recounts one match in 1924 against Drumpellier when the capriciousness of the GL clock deprived Carlton of a win. He reports that the pavilion clock on that day ran 10 minutes fast. When the umpires drew stumps at the agreed hour of 7 o’clock, Carlton wanted 2 runs for victory. With a little poetic licence Stevenson writes, ‘…it was galling to hear the neighbouring well-behaved church clock chime the hour ten minutes after the game was over. ‘ (The newspaper report of the match suggests that stumps were drawn at 7.30 but also notes that the decision to draw stumps fell to Drumpellier’s umpire). Carlton’s Women’s XI might feel some sympathy with the challenges of timekeeping - twice this season their match has finished a the mandated hour of 6.00pm. On one occasion an extended injury delay pushed the possibility of a finish beyond that time; on the second rain interruptions were the cause of delay. On the first occasion application of the rain calculator made Carlton the winners, on the second by the same method they were deemed losers.

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When my mum, Alison Fraser (née Scott), remembers playing hockey for St. Hilary’s School at Grange Loan, the first things that come to mind aren’t silky stick skills or glorious goals. No, what she remembers is the hill. That big slope at the far end of the Carlton Cricket ground – and the wind that blew right through you on a freezing Edinburgh afternoon. She isn’t alone in those memories. Fiona McCallum (née Coutts), who attended St Hilary’s from 1959 to 1967, recently told The Arrow, “We were bussed to the Grange for hockey lessons and matches – against St Margaret’s, Cranley, Watson’s Ladies – and the pitch was marked out up the hill. Puffing up it and careering down, I hated the cold wind and the dreadful thick grey divided skirts that chafed my legs! But I do remember proudly making the 1st XI – even if we were a bit rubbish!” Playing Uphill: Hockey, Hills and St. Hilary’s at Carlton By Scott Fraser Fiona Barker (née Cummack) had a similar experience, “Unfortunately, I was rubbish at hockey and hated it – it was usually cold and I thought it was a highly dangerous game involving very hard sticks and balls. I spent most of the time being a ‘left inner’ and trying to avoid the ball!” The uphill pitch seems to have left a strong and lasting impression, “Weirdly, the hockey pitch was the slope at the far end of the grounds,” Fiona Barker added.“I actually thought hockey was always played on a hill!” St Hilary’s School for Girls, which closed its doors in the 1980s, used Grange Loan as its home ground for hockey and sports days. The cricket square was off-limits, of course, so the pitch was squeezed onto the far slope – that’s become legendary in its own right for other reasons - the downfall of many a fielder going for a high catch high among them. St. Hilary’s Hockey team pictured at Grange Loan circa 1965. Fiona McCallum (née Coutts) is far left on the back row. You can see one of the hockey goals near to where the nets are now situated.

Not everyone was sorry to hang up their hockey stick and had looked for any excuse to get out of practice. Joyce Stoller (now Capek) recalls, “I really hated hockey and was very delighted, when I was about 15 and doing a lot of ballet, that I was allowed to stop playing – my ballet mistress actually wrote to the school to say her ballet students were not to play hockey! “I enjoyed sports days more – luckily hockey didn’t put me off other forms of exercise!” But not everyone found hockey a misery. Jane Crawford remembers enjoying the game in her own way, “I liked hockey… why? The teacher (Miss Miller first, then Miss Roulston?) was sensitive to my gammy leg and found ‘jobs’ for me to do rather than run round the full pitch. I played defence and could be a wee warrior – plenty of aggressive tactics but not much running! And, as a boarder, it helped fill up the weekend.” But despite the memories of numb fingers and sloping sprints, there’s a fondness there too – especially now that Fiona McCallum now returns to Grange Loan not as a player, but as a proud grandmother. “My grandson Ollie plays with the Carlton Under 14s and loves his cricket. We go along to support him when we can. It’s a happy connection for me now.” It’s the same story in our family. My girls, Elsie and Abigail, both play cricket at Carlton. Seeing them charge around the same ground where my mum once did (albeit with more enthusiasm for sport and fewer grey skirts) brings a lovely sense of continuity. From divided skirts and wind-chapped legs to coloured kits and junior match days, Carlton has always been more than just a cricket club. It’s a place where generations connect – not just on the pitch, but through shared memories, family ties, and sometimes, even a steep uphill slog. Continuity - Olli McCallum with Dad Neil in a recent 5th XI match; Scott and Elsie Fraser together at a Developmetn XI match this season St Hilary’s School girls were only the most recent hockey players at Grange Loan. The Arrow 70 described the short-lived but highly successful Carlton Hockey Club.

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THE VECKTA Helping you train against spin bowling. Invented and developed by Carlton’s own Brian Carling. Find all about the Veckta and see it in action at Carlton nets on these links: https://ballistocricket.com https://www.youtube.com/channe l/UCAnU0jd36sMqOQgjcefYL8A

MANY THANKS TO THIS SEASON’S PLAYER SPONSORS Ardnamurchan Distilleries - Angus Guy; WJM - Arun Pilla Artemis - Chris McBride; Livingston James Group - Gabriella Fontenla The Opticians in Marchmont - Jamie Beattie The Square Cut Kitchen - Harry Simpson and Ben D’Ulisse Umair Mohammed Dentistry - Abbi Aitken-Drummond, Sam Evans and Rory Allardice Haldi Indian Bistro - Olly Davidson; Mitchell Glass - Charis Scott The Free Company - Dan Da Costa To find out about the many sponsorship opportunities Carlton offers please contact - sponsorship@carltoncc.co.uk