Issue 87

As another season comes to a close, I think we can look back with real pride at what has been another fantastic year for Carlton Cricket Club. There have been some outstanding performances and results across the club. The Women’s 1st XI secured the WPL 40 title and lifted the T20 Cup, while the Women’s 2nd XI retained the Challenger T20 Cup. Our senior teams have continued to provide opportunities for young players coming through the club, with James Stronach finishing the season brilliantly with 98 and Tom Hathorn making an impressive 42 on 1st XI debut. Gavin Murray also deserves huge credit for the maturity and leadership he showed captaining the 2nd XI. But, for me, what makes Carlton special goes far beyond results. The real strength of our club is the people, the relationships and the sense of belonging. Seeing players from different teams, ages and sections training together, supporting each other and enjoying each other’s company is what a great cricket club should be about. Our socials, matchdays and time together away from the cricket have only strengthened that feeling of being one club. The junior section has once again been a huge source of enjoyment, with excellent cup success and some exciting young talent coming through the ranks. A huge thank you to everyone who contributes to Carlton; players, captains, coaches, volunteers, parents, supporters and our brilliant ground staff, who once again provided outstanding facilities and gave us every opportunity to train on grass. There is a real togetherness at Carlton, and that is something we should all be incredibly proud of. One club, one community… and a very bright future ahead. Stevie Gilmour, Director of Cricket 2026 - A Season to Make Us Proud

Some reflections from Carlton President Bob Irvine The end of the season always comes suddenly. It barely seems four months ago that we were whitewashing the walls prior to the season start, but here we are looking back on an action packed summer. I hope this edition of the Arrow brings it all back. As ever there are so many people to thank for all the work behind the scenes to make a summer full of cricket at Carlton possible. They make your life as cricketers - and that of your President - easy. The Management Committee get through a power of unseen work, and perhaps within that hard working group the contributions of Kerry Simpson and Martin Firth need special mention. Outside the Committee, the work of Amelia Beattie to find pitches for all the cricket we want to play is more than invaluable. There is ever greater pressure on Edinburgh’s inadequate supply of pitches and really the amount of cricket we can play at Carlton is limited by the space available. A new pitch at Winchburgh this year was welcome but the loss of Myreside next year will only increase the challenge. The work of our grounds team under Regan has therefore been as important as ever and I was as excited to play Summer Santa presenting his new bat as Rajveer was to receive it. I look forward to seeing the runs flowing from it. we are very grateful to him, Paul and Russell for the top job they do. Brian Forrester also does so much to keep Grange Loan looking good. Eaun Sweet’s tireless efforts on behalf of our young cricketers are exceptional. Thanks also to the small army of junior team managers. Well done, Keith Murray who did not let injury impede his tireless efforts to assemble a programme of mid-week cricket which so many enjoy. Finally, thanks to our exceptional group of skippers whose work on and off the field is such an inspiration. My thanks to them all. The fact that we accomplish so much at Carlton is a source of great pride. The achievements of our Women Cricketers in bringing home league and cup trophies have been wonderful and our junior cricketers have also filled the trophy cabinet this year. But what gives me greatest pride and pleasure is the number of young cricketers who first lifted a bat at Grange Loan who are now making their way in senior cricket. No fewer than five of the team who won at Lord’s in 2023 have now played for the First XI. This is a great testament, not only to the talent and commitment of these players, but also to the quality of coaching and guidance that Stevie Gilmour provides.

I was sorry to learn that Sam Evans has decided to step back from the Women’s Captaincy. She has certainly gone out with a bang - winning the Cup and League double as well as notching her first century for the club. She has been an outstanding leader of the Women’s team at a time of expansion and transition. We have come to end of Regan Sinclair’s term as Head Groundsman - I think the difference he has made is clear and the ground has looked brilliant and played brilliant this year. Although Regan and his family are moving north, he hopes to keep in touch and offer his advice and insight on occasional visits. This will allow Stevie Gilmour and Paul Kentish to take on the overall management of the ground. I was very sad in the course of the year to learn of the passing of David Raistrick who had given so much to the club over many years. The end of the season also brought more sad news in the passing of Chris Paul, whose long association with the club began in the 1950s as a keen boy spectator. Chris went on to be the club’s highly respected scorer for many years, also serving as Treasurer and undertaking a huge amount of unseen work behind the scenes including cutting the outfield. Chris was probably the last surviving link to some the eminent players of Carlton’s history and the Carlton family is smaller without him. I hope in a future issue of the Arrow to present a longer tribute to Chris including many of his personal reminiscences. The end of the season is always a time when we say goodbye to some players who move on to other things. This year we are sorry to see Angus Guy depart to join the large Carlton cohort in London. Harry Simpson is also London bound. (I think from time to time that a Carlton London XI would give anyone a game). On the women’s side it is sad to see Janie Hemsley return south of the border, she has been invaluable to the Women's side. As my family and I prepare for our move north I would like to thank everyone who has welcomed me and made me feel part of such a wonderful club. A big thanks to everyone who has helped on the ground over the past 3 years. Although I won't be seen around the club as often I look forward to continuing to support Paul and Steven in the coming seasons and I wish the club every success in future. Regan Sinclair The next issue of The Arrow will contain a full review of the season’s junior cricket. The hard work starts now in preparing for next season, and the seasons beyond. There is a lot to be done - please keep tuned into Pitchero to find out how you can help. BI

CARLTON CC HONOURS BOARD - SEASON 2025 Batting First XI Chris McBride 141* v Stew-Mel 2 May Angus Guy 139* v Edin South 11 July Women’s First XI Sam Evans 144* v West of Scotland 19 July Charis Scott 102* v Watsonians 15 August Second XI Gavin Murray 131 v Drummond Trinity 9 May Pete Gill 100* v Dunnikier 23 May Fergus Foley 104 v Heriot’s 2 18 July Third XI Charlie Kentish 108 v Drummond Trinity 2 22 August Fourth XI Anish Amin 155 v St Boswells 23 May Bowling First XI Shiv Jala 5-36 v RHC 13 June Ben Stronach 5-51 v Forfarshire 20 June Arun Pillai 6-46 v Arbroath Utd 29 Aug Women’s First XI Charis Scott 6-41 v RHC Lynx 7 Jun Second XI Charles Stronach 5-20 v Morton 25 April Max D’Ulisse 5-20 v Heriot’s 2 16 May Rory Ledingham 6-22 v Gala 30 May Felix Lisher 5-31 v Heriot’s 2 18 July Shreyas Tekale 5-5 v Heriot’s 2 18 July Fergus Foley 5-45 v Grange 8 August Women’s Second XI Mathilda Ellis 5-3 v W’quarter & Redding 31 May Third XI Finlay Thomson 5-29 v Edinburgh S 18 July Fourth XI Eliot Peltenberg 5-42 v Watsonians 3 16 May Tomos Hunt 5-35 v St Boswells 25 July Fifth XI Arjun Shelke 5-9 v MDAFS 4 8 Aug

1st XI Eastern Premier League 6th P18 W9 L9 Dan Da Costa 630 runs @38.22 Chris McBride 470 runs @47.0 Angus Guy 431 @25.35 Arun Pillai 206 @14.67 James Stronach 281 runs @23.41 Olly Davidson 248 runs @24.8 Arun Pillai 32 wkts @14.12 Ben Stronach 30 wkts @ 21.95 Conor Regan 20 wkts @29.6 Shiv Jala 17 wkts @23.94 Olly Davidson 16 wkts @21.19 Shovik Chakraborty 13 wkts@22.77 The first team have had an up and down season this year. There has been some great performances and wins which has given us many high points to look back on and create some excitement for the future and what is to come. Unfortunately we were knocked out of both the Masterton and Scottish cup quite early in our pursuit of those trophies. The league came with its challenges, with a few losses putting us on the back foot. However, this year has been largely about providing opportunities for a good young crop of players who are just finding their way in senior cricket. Every one of those players has stood up at some point over the season and shown massive amounts of potential for the future. Special mention to Angus Guy, who is sadly leaving us as he makes his way down to London. He has been a key player and character in our changing room, and he will be sorely missed! Here’s to 2027! DDaC

Womens’s 1st XI Sam Evans 494 runs @ 49.4 Charis Scott 313 runs @ 156.5 Ikra Farooq 235 runs @ 33.57 Sophie Thomas 124 runs @ 17.71 Agnes Foley 24 wkts @12.54 Ikra Farooq 17 wkts @ 5,53 Kiera Ansell 11 wkts @ 19.81 Charis Scott 11 wkts @19.45 Women’s Premier League 40 - Winners Women's T20 Scottish Cup - Winners What a season for the women’s 1s. This time last year, I lamented on our 'close but no cigar' season and lack of silverware. However, what a turnaround in securing the League and Cup double!

It has been fantastic to see our younger players truly come into their own and stand up to the plate. Keira, Sonia, Aggie and Elsie have all taken huge steps forward and played important roles throughout the season. Having watched them progress since they first came through the gates at Carlton, it is hugely exciting to see them now making such an impact at 1st XI level. We also had our usual class and experience from stalwarts Maisie and Charis, alongside a fantastic all-round season from the returning Ikra. We also welcomed back former captain Netty and Arrows legend Heather after their respective maternity breaks but have said sad farewells to two amazing Carlton assets: Flora and Janie. Thank you both so much for your dedication and joy you brought to our team - we wish you all the best in your next chapters. Ultimately, this double was a brilliant reflection of the depth, talent and dedication within the squad, and a huge credit to everyone involved. A massive thank you to all players, coaches (Ally, Tom and Olly), partners and parents for their support throughout the season. Special thanks to Kelly for scoring and supporting every game, Sarah for the pre-game pitch prep at home games, our ground staff for the belter pitches, and Al for setting up Frogbox each week. A pretty special season - and one we’ll certainly enjoy and remember for years to come! SE

ESCA Championship - 4th P18 W11 L7 2nd XI Gavin Murray 479 runs @29.94 Pete Gill 383 runs @42.56 Rory Ledingham 359 runs @27.62 Stevie Gilmour 265 runs @53.0 Tom Hathorn 243 runs @30.38 Shreyas Tekale 210 runs @23.33 Charles Stronach 31 wkts @21.03 Rory Ledingham 22 wkts @23.73 Max D’Ulisse 21 wkts @19.14 Shreyas Tekale 14 wkts @21.17 Aadi Khadse 14 wkts @19.21

2nd XI The 2s had a pretty successful season in their 2nd season back in the ESCA Championship. We were competitive in every single game we played in, whilst also recording some dominant victories. Both games against Gala and Heriot’s 2s, Edinburgh Accies at home and Grange 2s away at Portgower. We finished in 4th with a record of 11 wins and 7 losses, however this doesn’t quite do the season justice as we were in 2nd for the majority of the year. We had 2 batters and 3 bowlers inside the top 20 for league statistics. I led the run scoring charts with 479 runs with Pete Gill (383 runs) being the other batter inside the top 20. There was 3 centuries hit by myself, Pete Gill and Fergus Foley and there were 16 half centuries struck with multiple batters contributing. With the ball Charles Stronach picked up the most wickets with 31 poles, finishing 4th in the league standings. Rory Ledingham (22) and Max D’Ulisse (20) both finished inside the top 20 for the league. There were six 5 wicket hauls including Felix Lisher and Shreyas Tekale combining for figures of 10-36 against Heriot’s 2s at Grange Loan. Despite not pushing Drummond Trinity all the way and slipping to 4th it was a season filled with stand out performances with different names contributing every single week. Ohhhh the Scooby Doos are magic and they’ll go again next year!” GM

The Women’s Second XI had a fantastic season finishing second in the new WPL30 league. There were great contributions from everyone throughout the season with some outstanding individual performances. A special mention to Holly for her excellent 81, Abby for her impressive 76 not out and to Sonia, Abby and Nash for all scoring well deserved fifties. I was also pleased to pass 50 in the very satisfying final match win over Grange. And then there was the Cup…..which we won 😃 Women’s 2nd XI CS Women’s Premier League 30 - 2nd Women’s Challenger Cup - Winners Abby Caton 255 runs @21.25 Amelia Beattie 216 runs @18.00 Sarah Law 1131 runs @13.10 Panashe Muzambe 104 runs @ 26.00 Ajitha Rajan 12 wkts @12.33 Lindsay Thomson 10 wkts @14.10 Mathilda Ellis 10 wkts @17.63 Krithi Subr 10 wkts @18.70

Mathilda got a fantastic five-wicket haul in the first round finishing with an impressive economy rate of 1.28. There were also some excellent batting performances in the semi final with Christina, Holly, Abby and Sarah all scoring maximum 30’s to secure our place in the final. Not forgetting Christina’s enormous SIX which was a particular highlight. There have been plenty of memorable moments this season but Ashley deserves a mention. She was ready to face the bowler with her bat the wrong way round “I’ve seen some reverse sweeps but never seen a reverse bat” 😂 There was also some drama at MDAFS when Sonia was given out for a rather dubious “elbow before wicket” decision. Fortunately it didn’t matter in the end as we went on to win the game. Abby has led the way with the bat this season scoring an impressive 255 runs closely followed by Amelia with 216. Ajitha, Slaw and Nash have also passed the 100 run mark. With the ball Ajitha has taken 12 wickets, Mathilda 11 and Krithi 10. Lindsay has also bowled brilliantly this season taking on the responsibility of opening the bowling and picking up 10 wickets. Ashley has spent most of the season behind the stumps and has done a brilliant job. With 6 run outs, 4 catches and 3 stumpings. She has made a huge impact on the field. It has also been fantastic to see so many new players make their debuts this season. Varsha, Alison, Georgie, Maisie, Kelly, Lilli and Eve while juniors Abigail, Shobha, Coco and Eva have been a great addition to the 2’s. A brilliant season full of good cricket and plenty of laughs. A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to making the season such a memorable one. Here’s to next season !!

ESCA Div 2 - 8th P17 W6 L11 3rd XI Charlie Kentish 354 runs @88.5 Robbie Murray 297runs @24.75 Pavan Yaradi 237 runs @ 26.33 Anish Amin 221runs @ 24.56 Cameron Moore 212 runs @212.2 Brad McKay 21wkts @20.71 John Gill 19 wkts @25.58 The 3’s finished eighth in ESCA Division 2 with 6 wins and 11 losses on the back of four straight wins to finish the season. This was undoubtedly the highlight as a team with Charlie Kentish’s 108 on the last day the star performance of the campaign. These were really good wins and showed what was possible when a full strength team was in the field. Other highlights included beating the eventual winners Edinburgh South early in the campaign and rolling Kelso for 60. Disappointments included two narrow losses early on and a day to forget at Leith Links (73 all out and no tea provided!). In addition to Charlie’s late season runs, Robbie Murray was the most consistent batter with over 300 runs included three excellent 50’s. Eighties for Cam and Pavan were also highlights. The bowling was more rounded with the emergence of Elliot Peltenburg and the growth of John Gill highlights. Finlay Thomson’s 5/29 against Edinburgh South were the best match figures. The 3’s also played in the ESCA T20 Braw Skelp for the first time, playing six matches and gaining great experience in the short form of the game. Thanks to everyone who took the field for the 3rd XI in 2026! BMcK

4th XI Chris Sale 327 runs @ 40.88 Al Murray 300 runs @ 20.0 Basil Khan 208 runs@23.11 David Simpson 190 runs @ 19 Abhishek Mehta 22 wkts @14.32 Jake Heller 19 wkts @21.68 Aarahdy Khadse 15 wkts @16.13 ESCA Div 5 - 4th P17 W9 L8 The 4s had a very competitive season in Division 5. There were lots of close games, none more so than when we successfully defended 97 on the Meadows against Morton 3s by a margin of only 2 runs. We ended up with a winning record (won 9, lost 8), although one of those wins was awarded to us when the opposition played an ineligible player, and finished 4th in the league. Both Chris Sale and I hit over 300 runs and a record eight different players hit half centuries. Among the highlights with the bat were Anish Amin’s 155 at Peffermill; David Simpson’s and my 119 run opening stand at Penicuik and our successful chase of high-flying Edinburgh South’s 201 with an over and 5 wickets to spare thanks to 73* from Chris. With the ball Abhi Mehta took 22 wickets at 14; Jake Heller was just behind on 19 wickets at 23 and Aaradhy Khadse & Taha Khan were also into double figures for wickets. Performance of the season though has to be Jake bowling 4 maidens in a row at St Boswells in what turned out to be a very tight game that we won by just 12 runs. AM

ESCA Div 7 - 7th P 17 W7 L10 The 5s had another good season, finishing a respectable 7th in Division 7 of ESCA. After a challenging start, we powered away to 5 wins out of 8 played in the second half of the season. Much of our success was driven by a high performing cohort of junior players (including 4 league debutants), who improved with each game as the season went on. Sam Gilmour opened the batting and hit his debut league 50, along with several other fine innings. Ollie McCallum and Dilan Amin also hit impressive 40s. With the ball, George Barry bowled consistently well in his first season of senior cricket, ably supported by Arjun Shelke and Tom Sweet. There were also excellent performances from the senior batsmen, with Vijay hitting almost 500 league runs the most impressive, but also consistent contributions from veteran campaigner Martin Robertson and 5s debutants Dan Barry and Ishan Samanta, who each hit important 50s. In addition to the league, there were regular midweek games, which were very popular with both young and old. Two particular highlights of the season stand out. Firstly, Vijay and Dan’s magnificent 150 partnership to help chase down over 200 against Drummond Trinity. Secondly, Arjun’s fivefor off 11 balls to clean up the tail against high flying MDAFS and pave the way for another excellent win. Many thanks to all who have played and in particular to Euan M, Rahul, Euan S, Kartic, Vijay & Anish who have skippered in my absence. Roll on next season! KM Vijay Ragavhan 461 runs @ 38.42 Martin Robertson 315 runs @26.25 Dan Barry 206 runs @41.2 Sam Gilmour 194 runs @ 14.92 Ishan Samanta 152 runs @ 25.33 Tom Sweet 17 wkts @21.24 Arjun Shelke 16 wkts @15.5 George Barry 16 wkts @21 5th XI

Over 50s XI Home and away fixtures with Stew-Mel and Watsonians were the backbone of the Over 50s (Under-80s) season. In the middle of the July heat wave there was complaints of being too hot at Inverleith. Memories are long in the over 50s taking the field there without several sweaters to protect against the persistent winds. Climate change has many unexpected impacts. An invitation from Stenhousemuir CC led to an entertaining game at the Tryst scene of many historic tussles between our clubs (see Arrow 81). In this latest tense encounter Carlton made heavy weather of overtaking a lowish total after a quality bowling performance. If it had not been for the resolute defence of Brad and the firm hitting of Gus Turner the outcome might not have been so happy. The hosts generously provided some local pies to accompany the post match chat. In the other matches among the many stellar performances was a series of outstanding catches. Spectacular diving efforts from Scott Fraser at Myreside and Duncan Dalzel-Job at GL in the season finisher against Watsonians. But David Simpson’s grab at Myreside when fielding as sub takes the biscuit. A big hit by Paul Kentish looked certain to clear the long off boundary until David casually backpedalled stretched behind him to pluck the ball out of the air safely into his hands just as it was about to clear the boundary. Majestic - and match winning …for Watsonians. Once again dates could not be found for the annual tussle with the Grange Masters when all Carlton’s Internationals were available. Maybe next year… Many thanks to Keith for making all the arrangements

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Season 2026 - As It Happened April is the cruellest month… TS Eliot may not have been a cricketer himself but he certainly captured the sentiment of many club cricketers having to endure the biting winds which customarily accompany the start of the cricket season. There was a whole lot of shivering going on during the 2nd XI’s opening match at Grange Loan. Nor did the action warm things up as the 2s fell to an unimpressive defeat by Morton. The only highlight was Charles Stronach’s 5-20. Elsewhere the club’s fortunes weren’t any better as the 3s, 4s and 5s all surrendered maximum points to their opponents. Nevertheless a reasonable number celebrated the arrival of the season at the Season Opening BBQ which saw 3rd XI skipper Brad gain some consolation for the afternoon’s reverse by walking away with the star raffle prize. The following day the First XI had a convincing win in the First Round of the Scottish Cup at Aberdeenshire with new recruit Shovik Chakraborty making a promising debut jointly top scoring with 44. Meanwhile the Women’s 2nd XI got off to a winning start in the newly established WPL30 league with Holly Sladen top scoring with 81.

Thomas Dekker's oft quoted lines seem to comment on early season wickets. However he was not a cricketer. Indeed it would have been difficult for him to be so, since he lived from 1572-1632, well before the date historians accept as the start of cricket. O the month of May, the merry month of May, So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green! The First XI’s league season got off to a good start against StewMel in one of the few rain affected matches in the season. Innings were reduced to 27 overs which made Chris McBride think he had to get on with it and he hit 141* off 70 balls to put Carlton firmly in the driving seat. Chris continued his form the following week hitting 50 in a solid win at Edinburgh South. Max Dulisse’s resolute 21* ensured the 2s squeezed a nail-biting 1 wicket win against Penicuik at GL making up for the disappointment of their reverse a week earlier and getting their season properly underway. The 2s then had a run of solid victories, including a convincing win, in what was perhaps their highlight match of the season, against the eventual Championship winners Drummond Trinity. Skipper Gavin Murray hit top form scoring 131, his second career ton for the 2s. The next day the 4s registered their first win defeating LFAB 3 at Grange Loan with skipper Al Murray contributing 56 to conclude an impressively productive weekend for the Murray household. But Eliot Peltenberg’s first senior 5fer wasn’t enough to secure victory for the 4s against Watsonians 3 the following week as their up and down start to the season continued.

Disappointingly the First XI’s cup run came to a grinding halt at Clydesdale. Bowling first, with Rudi Adair on fire, Carlton had the hosts in all kinds of trouble at 36-3 but the tail wagged vigorously to recover to 215. Carlton got off to a similarly unimpressive start, but could not match the hosts’ later order resilience and ended up 58 runs short. The following week, the 1s struggled to recover from the defeat at Titwood and had a disappointing reverse to Falkland in their first outing at GL. But Max Dulisse was the 2’s hero with the ball, taking 5-20 against Heriot’s 2 where former skipper Tom Simpson made a fleeting return to Carlton colours to notch an impressive 80*. The 3s recovered from 14-3 to edge past Edin South 2 and secure their first win of the season. Table football (thanks to Martin for the kit) proved the main attraction at the Games night in preparation for the imminent FIFA distraction from cricket. Close results seemed to be the order of the day in the early season - the 2s grasped victory in the final over against Dunnikier. Pete Gill brought up a memorable century off the third last ball to tie the score before a wide brought victory. The 3s felt the other side of the coin falling two runs short against Bass Rock. Pete Gill’s hot streak of form continued with another unbeaten innings of 93 at Gala before Rory Ledingham ran through the home side with the season’s best bowling figures of 6-22. Pundits were divided as to the extent to which Rory’s radically different hairstyle may have contributed to the Gala batters’ confusion.

A record setting innings of 155 by Anish Amin against St Boswell’s at Peffermill set up a big win for the 4th XI. Anish’s knock is the highest in the history of the 4th XI. The final weekend of the month saw last season’s leading wicket taker Olly Davidson (sponsored by Haldi) return from Scotland duty to join the line up against Watsonians (match sponsored by Paul Bailey). But it was the wicket-taking of Arun Pillai (sponsored by Umar Mohammed Cosmetic and Sports Dentistry) and Shovik Chakraborty that delivered what seemed at the time a miraculous win against Watsonians. The Myresiders had been sitting pretty needing only 48 runs with 7 wickets in hand before the spinners took charge. Carlton won by 15 runs. May also saw the welcome but short lived return to Carlton colours of Alex Fedenzcuk who notched a 50 for the 5s in victory over LFAB4 at GL. Alex then retired to prepare for the imminent arrival of his first-born who safely entered the world in June. The Women’s 2s got their Challenger Cup campaign off to a winning start with a convincing win at Westquarter - Mathilda Ellis’s 5-3 destroying any chance the home side might have had. The Women’s 2s were undefeated through May.

The ever popular Junior 6s took place earlier than usual, giving Martin Firth’s bow tie and panama hat a late May outing as he orchestrated the fun with his customary elegance. The innovation of an all girl team provided some sharp competition for their male counterparts and they pushed Ollie McCallum’s team hard in the final. May ended with the very sad news of the passing of David Raistrick who contributed so much to the club on and off the field in his 50 year association with the club. Carlton was sorry to say goodbye to Will Hardie after a couple of outings this season as he moved to Ireland to pursue his catering career further.

June is the time for dreams to take flight and soar into reality Emma Racine de Fleur Ms de Fleur, about whom little appears to be known, might have had other thoughts if she had had to endure the continuation of three sweater weather with the persistently cold wind off the sea continuing well into June. In the first weekend of June another legendary figure made his solitary appearance of the season, braving the bitterly cold wind at Campbell Park. Zaki Yusuf top scored with 57 but it wasn’t enough and the 2s’ impressive run of wins ended. On 7 June Charis Scott (sponsored by Mitchell Glass) made her 50th appearance for Carlton and dominated the match against RHC Lynx taking 6-41 before going on to score 90*. She became the first woman to score 1000 runs for Carlton. There was great excitement to see how Carlton’s Gabby Fontenla and Maisie Maceira would go in the Women’s T20 World Cup. A decent win against Ireland at a chilly Old Trafford warmed the contingent of travelling support from Carlton but it proved to be the high point of the campaign. A narrow loss to the West Indies was disappointing but there was still lots to play for.

An excited crowd therefore gathered at Grange Loan to put the newly installed TV to good use by watching Scotland’s Women take on the might of England at Headingley. Carlton was well represented with former favourite Hannah Rainey called up at short notice to join the team alongside Gabby. Unfortunately England proved too strong for the brave Scottish women. Subsequent reverses against New Zealand and Sri Lanka meant that Scotland failed to advance to the knock-out stages. Carlton’s Masterton campaign had got off to a scratchy start with a home win against Drummond Trinity. Despite an impressive win at Campbell Park, where James Stronach smashed not only the Edinburgh bowling but also the record books by hitting 34 off one over, the campaign fizzled out in unexpected reverses to StewMel and Penicuik, leaving the semi-finals Carlton-free for the first time in several years. Also experiencing mid-week competition was the 3rd XI who entered the Braw Skelp for the first time. Despite some creditable individual performances overall they found the going against higher league opposition tough. They enjoyed the mid-week outings. In the other World Cup, Scotland’s early exit allowed everyone to enjoy the rest of the competition without hiding behind the sofa whenever Scotland’s defenders attempted to play it out from the back. Traffic cones temporarily became the dominant headwear.

Stevie Gilmour rolled back the years ignoring the protests of his hamstrings and calves, to top score with 76 in the 2s home win against Grange. For the 5s an impressive 120 run partnership spanning the ages between Martin Roberton and Sam Gilmour was not enough to bring victory at Roseburn. Sam went on to hit a maiden half century for the 5s in July. So it’s a race against time - will Stevie’s body hold up long enough to allow him to play alongside Sam when he inevitably graduates to the higher teams? For the 4s another close match in front of the throngs of adoring cricket lovers at the Meadows, saw a solid all-round bowling performance which enabled them to defend their unimpressive total of 97 to clinch victory by 2 runs. A spectacular diving catch by Jake Heller secured the final wicket just in time. 5-36 for Shiv Jhala wasn’t enough to help the 1s overcome RHC at Grange Loan when an obdurate last wicket partnership pulled off victory for he visitors. But the following week Ben Stronach’s maiden First XI 5fer was the basis of a solid 6 wicket win for the First XI at Forfarshire. The end of June saw the u13s dominate Finals Day at Perth Doocot disposing of first Hillhead and then Aberdeenshire with relative ease.

On the same weekend, the u15 Girls were not so successful - in their first venture in the ECB Cup they ventured south of the border where they came second to South Northumberland despite valuable contributions from Sonia Amin and Aggie Foley. However Sonia and Aggie maintained their batting form into the following weekend, before the bowling of Kiera Ansell and Elsie Fraser overwhelmed West and secured the Women’s 2s progress to the next round of the Challenger Cup. There was a disappointingly modest turn-out for the innovative Cricket Bingo night. The small attendance did not detract from the enjoyment of those playing and Dan DaCosta and Ollie Davidson swept up the prizes in a compelling display of sublime bingo skills. June reached its conclusion in a blaze of sunshine, and as the season reached its half way point the First XI were well placed in the Premier Division, although Grange were looking hard to catch. The 2s were tucked in second place behind the leaders Drummond Trinity in the Championship. Both Women’s teams were in strong positions and the 4s were mid-table. But the 3s and 5s both had work to do in the a second half of the season to lift themselves from the relegation spots. The u13s’ cup victory wasn’t easy viewing for everyone.

Roald Dahl is not alone in preferring taking the field in July to the torture of January’s indoor nets. If I had my way, I’d remove January from the calendar altogether and have an extra July instead. — Roald Dahl Cricketing aside, the undoubted highlight of July was the Quiz Night presented by Mathilda (with help from Mirren). A packed clubhouse saw the Boomers pip the Clicky Ponting Appreciation Society to take the prize following a tension-filled tie-break. On the field as the heatwave arrived and the outfield scorched, the 1s welcomed the return of Jamie Beattie, who had spent the first half of the season playing in the Durham leagues. In his first outing on return Jamie took a couple of wickets in a comfortable home win over StewMel. A good partnership between Anish Amin and Robbie Murray got the 3s a much needed 20 points against EU Staff. Robbie just falling short of what would have been a record equalling 4th half century in a summer for the 3s. The return of Ikra Farooq to Carlton’s cause couldn’t have gone better as she bagged a hat-trick in the Women’s win against Grampian Thistles at Grange Loan.

Angus Guy hit an unbeaten 139 as the First XI beat Edinburgh South. Guy’s second season at GL has been as productive as his first and he will be greatly missed when he goes to London. Away at Falkland, Arun Pillai again showed his all round value to the club - his resolute 57 (the seventeenth time he has passed 50 for Carlton) dragged Carlton to a defendable total after a top order collapse. A mean bowling performance by Olly Davidson with 3-19 ensured an unlikely victory. The recovery to win from the desperate position of 35-5 is among the greatest escape acts in the club’s 163 year history. However the celebrations were dampened by the season-ending injury to Chris McBride who badly damaged his ankle in a seemingly harmless stumble in the field.

Early July had seen a dip in form for the 2nd XI with three consecutive defeats denting their title aspirations. However they came back strongly to post scores of 300+ in successive matches. Their record total of 363-7 against Heriot’s 2 featured the maiden Carlton century of Fergus Foley and a brisk 79* by Rory Ledingham, confirming his all round value to the side. There followed a devastating spell of bowling of 5-5 by Shreyas Tekale demolished Heriot’s as he and Felix Lisher evenly shared the 10 wickets A unbeaten partnership of 54 between Arjun Shelke and Tom Sweet for the 5s against Peebles wasn’t enough to win the game but it was great to see the two u13s play with such skill and resolve. The weekend of 18-19 July belonged to Women’s skipper Sam Evans who elegantly stroked 144* at Grange Loan as part of a comprehensive win over West of Scotland, and become the second woman to notch over 1000 runs for Carlton, following Charis Scott who had reached that milestone a few weeks earlier. Finlay Thompson’s first senior 5-fer was the highlight of the 3s defeat against league leaders Edinburgh South. The following week Tomos Hunt similarly took 5 for the first time for the 4s against St Boswells and was the bedrock of a hardfought win. Photo from 2023 by David Potter

After a bright start to the month the 3s returned to losing ways and slipped to the bottom of the table. Towards the end of the month they were unlucky not to defend 249-7, which included 50s for Robbie Murray and Aadi Khadse (his first senior half century) against Bass Rock. A strong bowling performance by George Barry (4-29) (seen below batting against Peebles earlier in the season) gave the 5s a much needed victory at Leith Links as they began to clamber their way up the league table. They followed up with another solid victory over StewMel4 with 89 by Vijay Raghavan the highlight and the season’s top score for the 5s. The Women had a successful visit to Hamilton Crescent to win their Cup Semi Final. July came to a rousing conclusion with the outstanding victory of the u13s in the ECB Vitality Cup at GL - their all round performance proving too good for the visitors from Durham City.

Rejoice! ye fields, rejoice! and wave with gold, When August round her precious gifts is flinging... John Ruskin In his autobiography Ruskin, the eminent Victorian art critic and historian, wrote that his mother "never let me play cricket lest it should quicken my pulse." What she would have made of August’s events involving Carlton can only be imagined, for pulse quickening episodes came thick and fast. The month started with a bang - at least for Watsonians’ Ollie Hairs. A seventh wicket partnership of 109 between Ben Stronach (65*) and Fergus Foley (45) allowed the First XI to post what might have seemed a defendable total of 259-7 at Myreside. Hairs had other ideas and in a trademark demolition blasted 186* off 74 balls to emphasise the point. This is the highest individual innings ever scored against Carlton, and probably the most destructive. Sometimes you just have to sit back and admire. The u13 departed in high spirits for Neston and the Northern regional finals. A confident performance in the semi-final fired by Aaradhy Khadse’s hattrick is followed by the heartbreak of a 1 run defeat in the final. There are lots of consolations to be taken from such a great campaign, although it doesn’t seem like that on the long drive home. But junior cup action wasn’t over and towards the end of the month the u14 boys beat Clydesdale to become champions - victory coming with a mighty six from Ollie McCallum. On the same day the u14 girls saw off Stoneywood Dyce to take the trophy. Sadly however the u16 girls came up just short to lose their final to MDAFS.

In the weeks previous there was also cup action for both senior Women’s teams. The Women’s Second XI were the first senior team to taste the spoils of victory as they made their way to Brechin and returned with the Challenger T20 Cup with Abby Caton contributing well with both bat and ball and Lindsay Thompson grabbing two wickets. Abby continued to show the progress she made by hitting an unbeaten 76 against Prestwick Women. Two weeks later it was the Women’s First Team’s turn - in their semi-final against Watsonians a 159 first wicket partnership between Charis Scott, who brought up her century in the final over, and Ikra Farooq put them in an unassailable position. In the final they overcame a stronger challenge from Grampian Thistles - Sam Evans playing a captain’s innings before the bowling attack did their work sharing the wickets around. The following day the Women secured the league title beating Grampian Thistles in Huntly with a partnership of 109 between Charis and skipper Sam Evans being the highlight. A fantastic season for the women.

At home the month had got off to a rousing start with Swati Khadse providing delicious curry before the Cricket Olympix. As the sun dropped and the dusk deepened, three teams of doughty Olympians faced off in a tie break for the honours. History and faltering memories have failed to record the medalists. Back on the field of play the 2s delivered a solid win over Grange at Portgower Place with Fergus Foley entering the record book with 5-46 to complement his century earlier in the season. However their season tailed off as they closed their campaign with two disappointing reverses against Edinburgh and Edinburgh Accies. As the first tinges of Autumn colours appeared, the minds of the 3s and 5s were focussed on league survival. The 3s started August with a bang scoring 289-6 against RHC3 with 86 and 89 respectively for Charlie Kentish and Pavan Yaradi, backed up by 4-22 for Aadi Khadse. Undefeated in the month they seemed to have brought off another great escape with a commanding run-in of 4 straight victories. They benefited particularly from the return from injury of Charlie Kentish who, having flirted with the three figures all month, finally got his maiden ton in the final match of the season - he scored 317 runs in August at an average of 79.25. Alas, as the dust settled on the season it became clear that this heroic effort was not enough o avoid relegation as StewMel’s relegation from the Premiership means that the ESCA leagues would see three demotions from each Division. Eighth place was not as secure as it was thought.

The 5s had an up and down month getting off to a good start with a 5-wicket win over MDAFS where Arjun Shelke took 5-9. After a reverse to Tranent, they finished in style with a 6 wicket win at Westquarter, Vijay top scoring again with 82. The 4s were awarded victory against Morton 3 who fielded an ineligible player. They were therefore on the point of being undefeated through August until an agonisingly narrow defeat at Roseburn in their final outing. The First XI finished the season with two encouraging wins against Forfarshire and Arbroath. Against Forfarshire it was the youth of Tom Hathorn striking 42 on his debut and James Stronach unbeaten on 98 which saw them over the line in a compelling finish at Grange Loan. Then at Arbroath Arun Pillai finished his 10th season with Carlton in fine style taking 6-36. 79 from Angus Guy in his final Carlton innings again underlined his value to the club and bookended his 86 in very first innings for the club. There was also another half century by Dan DaCosta, his 8th of the season, his highest number of scores over 50 in his 4 years at the club. And that was the season. Again I find that I have anticipated and reached the autumn before I have finished with the summer... Kate Trimble Sharber (b.1883), At the Age of Eve, 1911

Raise money for Carlton through EASYFUNDRAISING website or app Raise money for Carlton through EASYFUNDRAISING website or app The Kindness of Strangers An interested supporter from south of the border watched the live stream of the u13s cup match against Durham and was concerned by the dilapidated state of the bench in the background. That bench has taken a bit of a pounding being used as a barrier and step for the bowling machine at the nets Despite being assured that this was not typical of the general state of the many benches in the ground, he immediately offered to donate a bench to the club which duly arrived two days later. Many thanks to this benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous.

SHIRT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Following Carlton’s highly successful relationship with PIZZAGEEKS, we will be looking for a new First Team Shirt Sponsor for season 2027. More information on the benefits of this sponsorship are outlined in this booklet which sets out the full range range of sponsorship opportunities at Carlton and the benefits they will bring to any sponsor. The booklet can be downloaded as a PDF on this link. It is also available in hard copy. To discuss any aspect of sponsorship at Carlton, please contact sponsorship@carltoncc.co.uk

18-19 July A Record Breaking Weekend The weekend of 18-19 July was a special one for the club’s statisticians. On Saturday 18 The 2s total of 363-7 against Heriot’s 2 is their highest ever, beating 336-8 scored v Kelso in 2021. Fergus Foley scored 104 in that innings and is the second youngest to score a century for 2s - the youngest is Gavin Murray at Kelso. The partnership of 147 for the 7th wicket between Foley and Rory Ledingham is the highest for that wicket in 2s history - there are only 14 partnerships higher for any wicket. The highest 2s partnership overall was 253 for the 4th wicket between Chris Kear and Paul Bailey in 1991. The club’s highest partnership of 262 was achieved in 2023 between Ruaraidh Main and Dan Da Costa. The Carlton bowling also produced something for the record books - the opposition’s 10 wickets were evenly shared between Felix Lisher (5- 31) and Shreyas Tekale (5-5). Only the second time, and the first at Grange Loan, that this has happened in 2s history. Charles Stronach and Conor Regan shared the goodies last season at Linlithgow. The even split of wickets has happened only twice the history of the 1s - in 1957 when James Aitchison and JA Scott shared the spoils against Stenhousemuir and more recently at Myreside by Chayank Gosain and Omar Ahmad. There have been 10 other instances where two First Team bowlers have shared the wickets but unevenly. The margin of victory of 279 runs is the highest by the 2s. This is still some way short of the biggest winning margin by a Carlton team which was the 314 run victory by the 3rd XI over Leith FAB in 2010. The 3s scored a massive 441 for 5, with centuries for Ross Burns and Nick Hunt, and LFAB struggled to 127 for 9. On Sunday 19 Sam Evans scored 144* against West of Scotland Women at Grange Loan - the highest woman's innings since Ollie Rae scored 171* in 2016 and 152* in 2017 - neither of which was in the WPL as formatted at present. Sam became the second woman to top 1000 runs for the club, following Charis Scott who had been first to that milestone earlier in the season (see Arrow 86). The Women's total of 353-7 is their highest ever total (albeit this is the first year they have played 40 over format), beating their 330 for 4 against Watsonians in 2021 which led to their widest victory margin of 308 runs.

More Records ● The partnership of 109 for the 7th wicket between Ben Stronach and Fergus Foley against Watsonians on 1 August is the highest for that wicket, beating the previous highest of 88 between Arun Pillai and Umair Mohammed against Arbroath in May 2022. ● 17 year old James Stronach’s matchwinning 98* against Forfarshire at Grange Loan on 22 August is the youngest half-century for the first XI, comfortably beating the previous record held by Fraser Watts whose maiden 50 in 1997 was at the grand old age of 18 years 2 months and 25 days. ● It is worth noting that in that same innings Tom Hathorn debuted for the First XI and scored 42, a mere two weeks after his 16th birthday. Tom has all of next season to overtake James’ record. And either of them could be the youngest to reach 3 figures - Fraggle was an old man at 19 when he achieved this. Tom already holds the record of the youngest to score a senior half century which he did twice for the 5th XI in 2022. ● However Tom does have a First XI record of his own - when in the final EPL match of the season at Arbroath Oli Stones caught Jack Plomer off Tom’s bowling, he became the youngest wicket-taker in Carlton First XI’s history. ● With 29 league wickets this season Arun Pillai becomes only the 9th bowler in the club’s history to take over 200 league and cup wickets - he finishes the season with 214. But he has a long way to go to overtake the leading wicket taker Alun Davies who bagged 638. ● Dan Da Costa passed 50 eight times this season. Only Ben O’Connell in 2006 has done better - he passed 50 on 9 occasions going on to 100 three times. In each of his two seasons at Grange Loan Alastair Storie hit eight half centuries. ● When Fergus Foley took 5 wickets for the 2s at Portgower Place on 8 August he became only the second player in 2s history to score a century and take 5 wickets in the same season. The only other player to do so is Richard Dickinson, who made hay on a couple of rare appearances for the seconds in 1987. He took 344 wickets and scored 2235 runs in 253 First team games. Several First XI players have done this double. ● Three players scored centuries for the Second XI this season, the first time since 2013 that this has been achieved when Ali Shah, Matt Crowther and Tom Barrett all delivered tons. In addition there were 16 half centuries, the highest since 2010 when there were 21 in addition to 6 centuries. ● Partnership records are more difficult to confirm in the lower XIs but the 163 run stand for the 5th XI between Vijay and Dan Barry against Drummond Trinity 4 is likely to br the hightest 5th in 5th XI history. ● And on the debit side, Ollie Hairs’ whirlwind innings of 186 * off 74 balls at Myreside on 1 August is the highest individual innings scored against Carlton, beating George Munsey’s 177* for Grange at Grange Loan in June 2015. Munsey scored 12 sixes in that innings - 1 more than Hairs dispatched - so he still has some hold on the record books. The previous issue of the Arrow reported on a number of records set in the first half of the season. In addition to those on 18-19 July, there were several more to note in the second half of the season

Coming back to Carlton this season has been really special. My first spell was around ten years ago, when I was still a teenager, so I’m not going to pretend I remember every detail! What I do remember is how much I enjoyed playing here and the role the club played in my development, eventually helping me progress through to the Scotland setup. I actually started playing cricket through school and plenty of back garden cricket with my family. I was then invited along to a softball session, where I was encouraged to find a club. I think it was the suggestion of a CricketScotland person that I came to Carlton, and that was really where my cricket really started to take shape. There are plenty of memories from those early years, including winning the league and playing alongside some great teammates, but it’s been brilliant to create some new ones this season. The hat-trick, winning the double and being back playing with such a great group have been particular highlights. Coming back has been a great reminder of where my cricket journey started, while also seeing how much the women’s game and the club have moved forward since I was last here. Ikra in full flow 6 July 2017 The return of Ikra Farooq Ikra’s return has been a great bonus for the Women’s team - she recalls her early days at Carlton

*Arjun’s fifer*— A spell that didn’t just take wickets; it shifted the entire energy of the game. Pure impact, pure authority. *Tom & Seb’s attacking fielding* — Lightning reflexes, fearless intent, and two direct-hit runouts at the most crucial moments. They dismantled key wickets and flipped the momentum instantly. *George Barry’s ferocious demolition* — a spell defined by raw aggression, dominance, and intimidation. His bowling against Leith Fab didn’t just win the match; it snatched victory straight out of their hands. *Rahul & Aarahdy’s spin choke* — Tight lines, clever variations, and pressure from both ends. A proper family spin clinic that suffocated scoring completely. *Euan Sweet, Dan & George’s fielding wall* — Extraordinary commitment that cut at least 25 runs off the opposition. Add Rohan & Dilan, who covered the ground like they were playing with 15 fielders. A defensive masterclass in teamwork and fitness. *Ollie’s powerful punch of 48 vs TP&V* — Punchy, fearless hitting that lit up the innings. Even though the team lost the game, his intent and striking were one of the brightest sparks of the season. *Sam’s comeback fifty* — After consecutive ducks, he produced a patient, determined, character-defining 50+ against Edinburgh South. Held the innings together while wickets fell around him. A redemption arc worth celebrating. *Martin’s steady opening platform* — Classic off-drives, crisp cuts, and those cheeky U16-style aggressive singles that kept the strike rotating. His calm starts gave the batting lineup the stability it needed throughout the season. Vijay’s Champagne Buffet Vijay Raghavan had a memorable season himself with 465 runs for the 5th XI. He sets out his personal choice of champagne moments from the Carlton 5th XI’s season.

*Dan & Vijay’s 150+ partnership vs DT* — A majestic stand played in a ground that looked straight out of a fairy‑world backdrop. Smart rotation, clean hitting, and partnership chemistry that kept the head cool. Their constant chats helped maintain composure, resist the opposition’s pressure, and chase the winning runs with clarity rather than panic. *Euan’s tactical captaincy* — Strategic brilliance in the first half of the league: even in games we lost, he secured maximum batting and bowling points. Smart, calculated leadership that kept the team competitive throughout. *Keith’s inspirational captaincy* — When the 5s were sinking at 9th place, Keith didn’t just steady the ship — he rebuilt it mid‑storm. His calm authority, sharp field placements, and ability to lift team morale transformed the season. Under his leadership, the 5s surged to a safe 7th place with crucial wins. A captaincy defined by resilience, clarity, and unwavering commitment to the squad. Did someone say champagne - Cheers!

2016 Carlton’s Championship Year Time passes ever quicker and it is hard to believe that it is already 10 years since the great day at Grange Loan when Carlton beat Clydesdale to wind the inaugural Scottish Club Championship on 3 September 2016. Under a cloudy sky skipper Stevie Gilmour won the toss and Carlton set a commanding total as the full weight of Carlton’s experienced batting line up delivered. But Clydesdale’s line up was equally star studded and all were aware that a solid performance in the field would be needed to protect the total. There were great concerns that the looming clouds would bring an enforced end to proceedings and Carlton hastened to get to 20 overs and a winning position. Carlton’s bowling was well up to the task with early strikes by Ali Evans before Omar Ohmad came on and removed the Clydesdale super-stars in successive balls. As skipper Stevie Gilmour remarked in Arrow 31, ‘two Omar specials in two balls (very slow, big away swing, bit of extra bounce, perfect line and length, clipping the outside edge... poetry in ultra slow motion!).’ In Arrow 67 Omar described dismissing Richie Berrington with the perfect ball, ‘I bowled the perfect ball, pitched on middle and leg, then seamed away hitting the outside edge of the bat, going straight to Drummo for an easy catch. I remember the spectators cheering loudly - the in form Berrington had caught out to the clever bowling of Omar.’ The next ball he did for Con de Lange in similar fashion and Carlton's confidence surged. Arun Pillai made it a memorable first season at Grange Loan with four wickets before an equally memorable direct hit run out from Mario Olivier finished Clydesdale’s response at 168 and Carlton’s celebrations could begin. You can read the full match report on this link

It still feels slightly surreal that my first season at Carlton ended with a national title — I’d swapped colours from Grange only months earlier, not quite expecting to re-live the feeling of lifting the National trophy in back-to-back years with two different clubs - this one was special though! The season built nicely towards that day. The side put together some big totals through the summer — 388 for 5 against Stoneywood-Dyce among them — and had the depth to cope when regulars were missing, grinding out results against Aberdeenshire and Watsonians when it mattered. There was a gut-wrenching Cup semi-final loss to Arbroath along the way, a reminder of how fine the margins can be, but the league form held up and we topped the Eastern Premier to set up a National Final against Clydesdale, champions of the West. Opening with Fraser Watts at Grange Loan, we put together a decent stand before I fell to Richie Berrington — true to reputation, I was first man back in the hut once again. Hugo and Rory then took the game away from Clydesdale to give us a competitive total. Evo and Mario gave a steady start with the ball, but then Omar made an instant impact when he was brought into the attack — two balls in a row to remove Berrington and de Lange, both edges pouched by Drummo at second slip while I stood at first slip, watching two Scotland batsmen go in successive balls, the celebrations that followed gave us some of my most favourite captured moments at the club. As the weather closed in, Cheeky and I bowled through our overs at a rate Ravi Jadeja would have been proud of, sprinting between deliveries and overs to make sure we’d got through 20 overs so the game would stand if the rain arrived. It held off just long enough, and the innings ground on — Omar came back for a third big wicket around the 30-over mark before I was brought back into the attack later on, picking up few wickets of my own, to bring the game to the brink. As the game ended, it brought an end to something as special if not more - The guard of honour we formed for Drummo in his last-ever outing for Carlton’s First XI remains etched, what a way to sign-off. Also it’s rather nice that Angus Guy, on the losing side that day as a 15-year-old, has gone on to play for Carlton these last two seasons. Ten years on, Stevie lifting the trophy, stays as one of the most cherished moments with the club for me — and here’s hoping the club gets to lift that trophy again before too long. As for what happened once the sun went down and it was dark enough — let’s just say a few of the lads decided the National Champions should celebrate exactly as nature intended, with a lap of Grange Loan. Arun Pillai is the only member of the Championship XI still playing. Here is his account of the day. Arun captured in Championship action by David Potter

Drummo’s Swansong The celebrations of Carlton’s Championship win were tempered with the sadness of knowing that the match marked the end of Gordon Drummond’s playing career. The big man had announced his intention to retire some time before. Drummo’s two slip catches were a vital contribution to the team’s effort on that day and perhaps the most important of the 45 catches he took in his 106 matches for Carlton over seven seasons. Gordon Drummond 2067 runs @30.85, HS 168, 118 wkts @19.36 Photos - David Potter

Recent Carlton favourite Angus Guy was on the Clydesdale team that day. His memories are slightly more bitter-sweet 2016 was my first trip to Grange Loan, except as part of the opposition. I still remember being slightly overawed seeing Ally Evans at the top his mark, and overseas pro Mario certainly wasn’t shy of a word or two. It was a pretty tough day out for Clydesdale that day, losing in front of a sizeable crowd. Fortunately the last couple of seasons have given me some better memories of Grange Loan! Drummo’s Guard of Honour Photo - David Potter Photo - David Potter

HELP US TO MAKE CARLTON BETTER THE 2026 PLAYER/MEMBER SURVEY WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY THROUGH PITCHERO YOUR VIEWS MATTER MAKE SURE YOU TELL US WHAT YOU THINK

Here we go, the annual trawl through the quagmire that is Pitchero's database of playing stats. First, as ever two disclaimers: - Any data analysis is only as good as the quality of the underlying data, and some of the data in Pitchero is decidedly dodgy. I've fixed anything I've spotted, but there are bound to be errors remaining. - Any data analysis is only as good as the quality of the person doing the analysis, so the following should be treated as for entertainment only. Fixtures Fixtures scheduled Pitchero records 351 scheduled fixtures this year, up slightly from 2025's 344, mainly due to some storming junior cup runs. To my surprise, we scheduled more senior fixtures than junior ones (193 vs 158), probably driven by the Women's Second Team playing in two leagues, and Keith's insatiable desire for midweek friendlies. Unfortunately, we had to cancel 35 fixtures, 14 senior and 21 junior. The larger junior number is almost certainly because we almost never suffer senior cancellations through lack of numbers, whereas it is a disappointingly frequent occurrence for our juniors. PITCHERO SUPREMO MARTIN FIRTH DONS HIS WET TOWEL AGAIN AND REVIEWS THE VOLUMINOUS DATA FOR POINTS OF INTEREST Table 1 Matches scheduled - Senior/ Junior; Male/Female Cup Friendly League Total Cancelled Senior - Men 16 40 88 144 12 - Women 6 8 35 49 2 - Total 22 48 123 193 14 Junior - Boys 14 30 93 137 18 - Girls 6 1 14 21 3 - Total 20 31 107 158 21 Grand total 42 79 230 351 35

Senior fixtures played We played 179 senior fixtures. Top team (no prizes for guessing) were the 5s on 38, followed by the Women's 2s (31), 1s (26), closely followed by the 3s )25), boosted by their appearance in the Braw Skelp. Team Cup League Friendly Total Cancelled First team 8 18 0 26 2 Women's first team 2 12 2 16 1 Second team 0 18 2 20 0 Women's second team 4 23 4 31 1 Third team 6 17 2 25 2 Fourth team 0 16 2 18 2 Fifth team 0 16 22 38 5 Over 50s 0 0 5 5 1 Social event 0 0 0 0 0 All teams 20 120 39 179 14 Table 2 Senior matches played by team Players selected 165 players were selected for at least one senior fixture this year, up from 149 last year. Team League Cup Friendly Total First Team 21 23 0 26 Women's First Team 20 16 20 27 Second Team 31 0 14 35 Women's Second Team 32 20 28 35 Third Team 31 32 16 44 Fourth Team 33 0 18 35 Fifth Team 34 0 69 72 Over 50s 0 0 24 24 Totals 144 81 122 165 Table 3 Senior matches players selected by team

Numbers of players used for league games are in two bands: - first teams - 20 or 21 - other teams - 31-34 Adding cup and friendly games, the pattern remains broadly similar ... except for the 5s, who selected an amazing 69 players across their 22 friendly games. Adding junior fixtures, 280 players were selected for all fixtures this year (1 more than last year!). In addition to the 165 senior players mentioned above, 151 junior players were selected for at least one fixture, including 36 juniors who also played at least one senior fixture. Of those 280: - 51% (143 players) played 0-9 fixtures - 28% (78) played 10-19 fixtures - 16% (44) played 20-29 fixtures - 5% (14) played 30+ fixtures - all but one of them juniors. The top 6 players are all juniors - and are all in the victorious U13 and/or U14 cup squads. Particular kudos to Sid, who joined the club only this year but has clearly got straight into the spirit of playing loads of cricket. Despite strong competition Aaradhy Khadse retains his crown of having the most overall appearances. Sarah Beith is Ms Cricket once again - she is the only senior player to play over 30 matches - the top 6 are First name Last name Matches Aaradhy Khadse 66 Tom Sweet 59 Sam Gilmour 53 Arjun Shelke 49 Siddharth Vishnu 48 Sebastiano Ved Nadali Gupta 41 First name Last name Matches Sarah Beith 31 Amelia Beattie 28 Ishan Samanta 25 Daniel Da Costa 24 Ashley Robertson 23 Shovik Chakraborty 23 Angus Guy 23

First name Last name Sen Lge+Cup Sarah Beith 25 Daniel Da Costa 24 Amelia Beattie 23 Angus Guy 23 Sarah Law 23 Shreyas Tekale 23 First name Last name Senior League Sarah Beith 21 Amelia Beattie 19 Sarah Law 19 Tom Hathorn 19 Rory Ledingham 18 Shreyas Tekale 18 Ajitha Rajan 17 Arun Pillai 17 Charles Stronach 17 Focussing just on ranking fixtures - ie league and cup - Sarah remains top, but only just ahead of Dan. Here's the table of just league fixtures, particularly interesting as it shows that Tom Hathorn managed the unusual feat of playing more senior men's league fixtures than there are league weekends - without playing twice in one weekend. And finally (for now) - the table of just junior fixtures. Unsurprisingly, it includes the same names as the table for all fixtures, but with the interesting addition of Rajveer who, along with Aaradhy, played more junior fixtures than anyone else. In fact, Rajveer was joint 7th overall across all players (senior and junior) - but without playing any senior fixtures. First name Last name Junior Aaradhy Khadse 39 Rajveer Shelar 39 Siddharth Vishnu 38 Tom Sweet 37 Sam Gilmour 34 Arjun Shelke 34

First Team Shirt Sponsor Junior Cricket Sponsor Women’s Shirt Sponsor Player sponsors Mitchell Glass, Haldi, Umair Mohammed Cosmetic & Sports Dentist, Ace Club Goif Board Sponsors Haldi, Bodysmart, Womens and Mens 10K, Chambers Tutoring, Square Cut Kitchen Match Sponsors Paul Bailey Carlton could not achieve its successes without the brilliant support of its sponsors. Thank you for helping us to realise our ambitions. Interested in a sponsorship package? Please contact sponsorship@carltoncc.co.uk Livestream Sponsor Carlton Patrons Carlton is grateful to the following patrons for their generous support of the Club. Hugh Parker, Chris Paul, Jill Millar, Graham Whyte, Michael Ross, Paul Bailey, David Main, Kevin Whitaker, Archie Gray, Andrew Macpherson

Congratulations! And congratulations to Alex and Catriona Fedenzcuk on the arrival of Kira Elina Fedenczuk Sunday, 28 June 2026. Congratulations to all time Carlton great Fraser watts on his induction into the Cricket Scotland Hall of Fame and to Carlton parent Neil McCallum who was inducted at the same time.

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Giving Bats Another Chance Scott Fraser It all started when Ian Thompson asked, “Do you repair bats?” I had just shown him the results of a repair I had done on a bat I had picked up at the club sale. I replied, “I do now…” - fake it till you make it, as they say. I have always enjoyed working with my hands, and had been looking for a project to keep me busy (and, if I am honest, maybe keep me occupied when AI takes my job). What’s more, refreshing my own bats is something I have always enjoyed doing, and when the opportunity came to do it for someone else, I took the chance.

Ian Thompson comments on the restoration of his bat - before and after pictures above. ‘I was fearful my trusty “Chase” bat with its seriously cracked shoulder; damaged toe and loose handle was heading for the woodpile however, Scott Fraser offered to “have a go at repairing it.” I found out later it was his first paid repair job, but a week later, with strong glue, clamps borrowed from his father, kitchen twine and a second go to fix the handle the bat was returned ready to go again. It had been cleaned to look almost new (all the ball marks and nicks on the edges had thankfully been removed) and we are now enjoying a renewed partnership, the only drawback being the skill of the batsman, the bat itself has many runs left. I would whole-heartedly recommend Scott to bring life back to any of your old bats.’ Since restoring Ian’s bat my activity has built slowly to almost fifty bat repairs. This has been helped by the support of more than a few club members, who I will always be truly thankful to for trusting me with their sticks. They have acted as ambassadors, not only spreading the word, but also proving, with every innings, that the repairs have stood the test of time. You know who you are - thank you! I have also been lucky enough to repair bats for a few international players, regional pathway players and players from other clubs. With all that said, I still treat every bat as if it were my own. In fact, some of my favourite projects have been reviving bats for pals at the club. Fixing a treasured bat, handed down by a player’s father-in-law was a particular highlight. And that is really why I enjoy repairing bats. Hearing, “My favourite bat,” “This one means a lot to me,” or “I just want to keep this one going for a couple of seasons” makes it more than just repairing sports equipment. It’s also one of the few sports where the kit is still made from natural materials. It needs looking after - coaxing back into peak condition. That is intensely satisfying.

So, thanks to everyone who has come to me to fix their bats. I look forward to doing a few more for club members, and beyond in the future. So, if your bat has a huge crack, needs a new handle, or you just want to give it a glow-up for the next season (or innings), drop me a line on edinburghbatrepairs@gmail.com, follow me on Instagram @edinburghbatrepairs, visit my website, edinburghbatrepairs.co.uk or just collar me at training! For now, I’ll let the bats, and their owners, do the talking: “Just got the bat dropped back! Looks really good. One of the best services I’ve had.” — International player “Amazing, thanks Scott. You’re a wizard.” — Club player “Must say, your attention to detail and customer relations are second to none.” — Club player Bat refresh for Olly Davidson

I've looked at clouds from both sides now From up and down, and still somehow It's cloud illusions I recall I really don't know clouds at all Joni Mitchell The weather records will show 2026 as an exceptionally dry summer, but there have been some great cloudscapes above Carlton’s cricketers.