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31st December 2010 - New Year Thoughts
It has been an eventful and very successful 2010 for all involved at Marchmont Cricket Club. 

This year, it took the efforts of 48 playing members and countless non playing members to make a great season.  A division 2 championship, won by a single point was the obvious high point.  Add to that the Div 2 fair play award for the 3rd year running, Matt Loeffen's well deserved Div 2 batting award and solid seasonal performances by the 2nd XI and midweek teams, and you have something that all involved at MCC should be proud to have achieved.  Thank you to all involved.

Events on the field have not been the only highlights, as the social side to the club continues to grow.  The annual dinner and awards night was once again a success (Thanks again to Callum and all at the QCRs and details of the winners can be found on the Marchmont website (www.marchmontcc.com)), as were the annual President's XI and the MCC golf tour. 

In the year, congratulations were also in order for Alan & Anita and Steve & Shona, who had new additions to the MCC youth policy.  Congratulations also go to Matt and Sara, who managed to escape the Scottish snow to get married in Australia in the middle of December.

It should be obvious to all that there has been a huge amount of effort put into the club this year, not least by a number of key individuals.  To go through the contributions that every individual made would be an extensive task; however I would like to make a point of highlighting Sam, John and Pete's efforts as captains.  These should not be underpraised.  They have each handled the difficult task of team and game organisation throughout the year with aplomb.

Looking forward, 2011 promises to be an exciting year and will hold new challenges for all of us.  With the 1st XI looking to establish themselves as a rightful ESCA Div 1 side and the 2nd XI looking for promotion, it is key that members continue to show the same commitment that has been shown over the last 18 months.  As was shown this year, the more commitment, the easier it makes everyone’s lives and the more enjoyable it makes the cricket; this can only lead to on field success.

On the social side, Pete's MPL looks likely to be a highlight of the calendar, with the President's XI and Golf Tour almost certain to make a return.

As always, we are looking for further help from members to take on roles within the club, not least the Secretary role, which Aaron will finally vacate at the 3rd(!?) time of trying.  This aspect will be discussed at the AGM (date TBC), but please, do not simply leave it to others to deal with.  Start thinking now, how you want to see the club run going forward and how you can contribute.

Nets are likely to start in February, with the season starting at the end of April, so please keep an eye on the website for more details, including the fixtures for 2011. 

I wish you all the best for 2011 and here's hoping to more MCC successes on and off the pitch.

Best wishes on behalf of Marchmont CC,

Neil


26th November 2010 - Annual Club Dinner
The Annual Marchmont CC Club dinner took place on Friday (26th November) at the Queen Charlotte Rooms and was once again a great success.  With 32 players, partners and family in attendance, it was an appropriate way to end what has been an excellent season. 

The awards on the night went to:

President's Award: Pete Maksimczyk - for a good season on the pitch, but also for all his all round contribution off the pitch.  His efforts with the midweek trophies and taking over as skipper in the absence of Sam, as well as his enthusiasm for the club, are strongly acknowledged.  No doubt we'll see more of the same next year .

1st XI Player of the Year: Matt Loeffen - Club records smashed, Div 2 batting award, bowling contribution vital, attitude to the club spot on.  Only ever one winner this year.

2nd XI Player of the Year: Harith Ramachandra - Very close decsion between Harith and Steve Clayton, but consistency with the bat and taking the most wickets and scoring most runs in team edges it.

Most Improved Player: Jonathan Leburn - Improved over the course of the season and became a mainstay in the 1st XI, not just for his fielding ability, but also for his batting.  This element he's worked hard on and had the deserved success, particularly at the end of the season and his innings at Corstorphine in the league.

James Green Memorial Trophy: Sam Peachey - The epitome of MCC and the spirit of the game this year.  Efforts and attitude on and off the field, particularly in his role of captain, made him a stand out for this award. 

Photos of the event will be posted up once available and likewise the photos of the season used on the night.

Thanks to all the staff at the Queen Charlotte rooms for the hospitality.  It was great once again.


3rd November 2010 - Annual Club Dinner
The Annual Marchmont CC Club dinner will take place on Friday 26th November at the Queen Charlotte Rooms, Leith (A link to the venue is here) from 7pm onwards (for a 7.30pm (ish) start).  The format will be similar to last year with drinks, dinners, some speeches, some awards and no doubt some more drinks.

The cost of dinner plus a half bottle of wine will be £20 per person, with partners, families, friends, etc also welcome.  As last year, the options will be limited to a set menu, the only variants being for vegetarians, gluten free, etc.  The provisional menu is below.

Provisional Menu
Haggis, Neeps & Tatties
Melon Gondola (V)

Prime Scotch Roast Silverside
Mediterranean Vegetable Risotto (V)

Belgian Chocolate Duo

Coffee

If you wish to attend, then please can you let me know asap by replying to this and letting me know.  Please can you also advise on whether you have special dietry requirements.

If anyone is missing from the email list, please pass the message on.  I'll also put the information on the website.

Please get involved and let's celebrate (once again) the success of the 2010 season.


4th October 2010 - More Club Stats
More updates for the MCC stats!  The member profiles have been updated to include 1999-2010 stats.  The career averages page has now been updated for 2nd XI and all XI averages between 1999 and 2010.  Finally, the former members page is beginning to take shape, with all players who have played 10+ games for MCC featured. 

One quirky stat: Batting average of Charlie Winmill between 1999 and 2010 - 21.12.  Bowling average of Charlie Winmill between 1999 and 2010 - 21.12!  Weird!


1st October 2010 - ESCA Dinner
Marchmont picked up a good season's worth of awards at the ESCA dinner.  MCC 1st XI picked up the Div 2 Championship Trophy and Fair Play award for Div 2 for the 3rd year in a row.  Matt Loeffen also picked up the Div 2 batting award.  A good night was had by all and photos can be found here.


25th September 2010 - Golf Tour
7 current MCC players and 1 former player went down to Newcastle for the end of season golf tour and banter over the weekend.  2 rounds at Longhirst GC, in what can only be described as 'difficult conditions', was sandwiched between some celebrating of a good season.  Photos can be seen here.


23rd September 2010 - Fair Play
It has been confirmed that Marchmont will pick up another award at the ESCA dinner on 1st October.  MCC 1st XI picked up the Fair Play award for Div 2 for the 3rd year in a row.  Just shows you can play fair and win the Championship!  Well done to all.


22nd September 2010 - New Photos
Some photos from the 2010 season have been added to the photo gallery page.  I will add more as I receive them.  If anyone has more, please send them to me.


22nd September 2010 - Club Stats
As part of the ongoing project of getting the MCC history books up to date, a number of old scorebooks have been found.  Consequently a number of new 5-fors and centuries have been added to the honours boards, as well as a new top score (157 in a friendly by Fraser Buchannan vs Murrayfield, beating Tony O'Donnell's 156 which does still stand as highest league score).

Thanks to Will, 1st XI averages between 1985 and 1998 have been located too.  This has highlighted and 8 for for both Roger Sardesai and Gus McLean, as well as some more career stats for certain individuals.  We also now have full 1st XI averages from 1985 to 2010.  And yes Will, I found your 7-6!

More to follow.


11th September 2010 - ESCA Dinner & Golf Tour
Couple of events coming up in the Marchmont calendar.

First off, Pete is organising a club olf tour to the North of England.  All MCC members are welcome and it should be a good way to celebrate the end of the season.  Original email is below.  If you are interested, please tell Pete ASAP.

======================
Hello Folks,

To celebrate what has been a fantastic season, I have decided to arrange a wee Golf Tour down to North East England the details of which are below:

Leave WPR at 9am on Saturday 25th September
Breakfast/ Brunch en route
Arrive at approx Midday for golf at Longhirst Hall GC for tee off times from 12.30 onwards......
Either have Tea at Golf Club following round or drive through to Newcastle drop bags at accomodation and go out for Dinner and Drinks in Newcastle/ Morpeth depending on location of where we stay
Retire to bed from Midnight onwards......
Wake up grab some breakfast about 11am on Sunday.
Head back to Longhirst Hall GC (There are 3 courses at Longhirst) for a second round about Midday.
Rounds should finish from 4pm onwards, quick drink and back up the road to Edinburgh.
Optional Friday Evening trip down avalaible if there is enough interest.
Total Cost works out as follows: golfing costs roughly £30, Accomodation no more than £20 other expenses are fuel and extras (food/ drinks/ extra golf balls for when I stick it out of bounds).

You dont have to be a golfer to go, you dont really have to be a cricketer to go, Just up for a good time.  Please reply to me by the end of the week if you are interested in attending, It wont take much effort to book but if I can firm numbers by midweek next week I can book tee times and hotel rooms.....?

Cheers,

Pete
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2nd is the ESCA dinner at Prestonfield Golf Club on Friday 1st October.  Details HERE

Cost is £20 and we are looking to send a few MCC boys along to pick up the awards and Championship.  If you wish to go, please let me know ASAP.


31st August 2010 - End of Season Averages
End of season averages are up to date and can be found hereSeasons leaders and club records have also been updated.


28th August 2010 - Marchmont 1st XI - CHAMPIONS!
MCC 1st XI produced the performance of the season, to take
20 points from Kismet and be crowned ESCA Div 2 Champions.
A phenomenal bowling (and career best) performance from Euan
Granger (7-6) ensured that Kismet, who had helped MCC into
1st place with results over Musselburgh and Murrayfield in recent
weeks, could not take any more than 47 runs off a strong MCC
bowling lineup. 

The MCC response took just 9.3 overs, Matt Loeffen (20*) fittingly
hitting the winning runs, to kick starting the celebrations.

More to follow...but off to the pub for a few beers!!!

Well done to the twos who also made it 3 wins from 3 to finish the
season strongly.  Wickets and runs shared around, but special
mention to Zeeshan who's 50 last week was backed up by another
32 this week.


24th August 2010 - Marchmont a Win from Championship
MCC 1st XI grabbed their chance to go top of Division 2 for the first time this season, but were determined to make it as difficult as possible for themselves, with a hard fought win over league leaders DAFS.

The 1sts knew that a win and limiting DAFS to 5 points would see them leapfrog into 1st. On a Roseburn pitch that had seen a low-scoring affair the previous weekend, Captain Sam Peachey won the toss and elected to field.  Peachey's decision paid off immediately when Loeffen (3-17) continued his excellent form with the ball with a wicket in the 1st over. Further wickets fell in quick succession to Loeffen and Maksimczyk (2-15) and, thanks to some very quick thinking by F Sheikh to run out A Mohammed, by the 10th over DAFS were positioned precariously at 10-4.

All the bowlers were keeping tight lines and making sure there were no easy runs on offer, backed up by an excellent fielding and catching performance. Davi Sardesai (4-33) had another outstanding performance, including the wicket of the dangerous Akerkar for 29. With another 13 maidens in the innings, by the 30th over, DAFS had been limited to 53-6, and then 67-8 in the 36th over. 

With MCC in command, they felt that they may have been able to limit DAFS to under 75 and no batting points. However, the last 2 wickets put on what could have been a vital 27 runs before being bowled out for 94 in the 43rd over.

At this point, MCC felt they had the advantage in the game but were mindful that the chase would not be easy against a strong DAFS bowling attack and on a pitch that was more suited to accumulation than explosive hitting. However, no-one could have predicted what would unfold over the next 3 hours.

Openers A Sardesai and A Renwick fell early and in the 15th over, 4 wickets had fallen with only 31 runs on the board. DAFS were showing why they had stayed in pole position from the opening round of fixtures and the tight bowling was creating real pressure on the MCC batsmen. Some excellent lines, helped by some injudicious shots, put MCC in a perilous position. 

The score had reached 63 in the 29th over when the pressure appeared to get to the batsmen. 3 wickets fell in the space of 2 overs for no runs, and suddenly DAFS were in the ascendency and MCC were down to their final 3 batsmen with 32 still needed to win. Cricketers are a naturally superstitious bunch and a number of players refused to move from their positions as Chetty (19*) and D Sardesai (13*) gave a lesson on how to bat on the Roseburn surface.

The scoreboard was ticking over and with time not a factor, the 2 men knew they didn’t have to take any risks. As the required runs were slowly knocked off, the supporters were arguably more anxious than their counterparts in the middle. The team knew that one more wicket for DAFS would take them back to the top of the table, irrespective of the final result.

Finally off the last ball of the 44th over, the winning run was scored and the MCC players could finally relax. An excellent partnership of 32 had allowed MCC to get over the line and deny DAFS the 6 points they needed to stay top. With Musselburgh beating RH Corstorphine, it means that everything is still to play for on the final weekend of the season. MCC need 9 points to guarantee promotion but their minds will be on the win which should see them crowned champions.
EMG
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ESCA Division 2 - Champions 2010