Sunday 24 August saw the Surrey Cricket Collective Awards held at the Kia Oval, marking a celebration of all the off-field, behind the scenes work which goes into every successful, volunteer run cricket club in Surrey. The Wick are delighted to have several nominations across several categories. Dom Spray and Callum Donnelly were nominate for the Unsung Hero award, whilst the following were shortlisted for their fantastic work and contributions to the Wick:

• Unsung Hero – Ben Houghton
• Growing the Game – Nick Dunmore
• Inspired to play – Surbhi Agrawal
• Metro Bank Champion of Girls Cricket – James Watson.

We are delighted that James Watson was the winner of the Inspired to Play Award. A huge congratulations to James, as well as all those shortlisted and nominated. It is a huge honour for the Wick to win an award for the second consecutive year, and will only spur the club on to continue our efforts to grow the game.

Below is the extract from James’s nomination for the Award. Richly deserved.

“Richard Thompson visited Heathfield Junior School and was impressed with the cricket provision they are providing for children from disadvantaged background. James has acquired funding from OSF to deliver a number of cricketing projects which include girls’ hardball; girls’ softball as well as clubs and camps for those on free school meals. Heathfield Junior School is one of only two state primary schools included in Cricketers Top Schools Guide 2024 and was also included in 2023 and 2022. As well as being nationally recognised for HAF (Holiday and Food) cricket camp for free school meals children. Providing a free hot meal, cricket coaching, nutritional advice, sports psychology advice and a trip to the Oval to watch a game during the summer camp. Coaching sessions were also arranged with Emma Jones, Ariana Dowse, Ivreen Dhaliwal, Angus Fraser, Monte Lynch, Arun Harinath, Blake Cullen and Amelie Munday.

The Girls’ hardball team won the Surrey u11 tier 2 league after only playing hardball for 2 months. HWRCC girls u9s, all Heathfield girls and all free school meals children have won all their games this season.

Their boys, who are all free school meals children were Chance to Shine Regional Street Cricket Champions U13 (playing two years up) and came 3rd in the Chance to Shine National Street U13s Finals.

James Watson is truly breaking down barriers and making the game more inclusive”.

Club Chairman Sam Kemp commented “I am so proud and grateful for the work all those nominated do for our club and for playing a significant part in making the Wick the great club that it is. Every club member owes them an enormous thank you!”

For only the second time this season, Saturday was a complete washout. Thankfully, Friday and Sunday were dry and saw the Old Boys and the Warriors play out two excellent games. Cricket, as always, was the winner!

Off the field two newsworthy events of note….. Firstly the Surrey Cricket Collective Awards were held at the Oval on Sunday. This is a celebration of all the off-field, behind the scenes work that goes into every successful, volunteer run cricket club in Surrey. I am delighted to say that we had several nominations across several categories. Notably, Dom Spray and Callum Donnelly were nominated for the Unsung Hero award and the following were shortlisted for their fantastic work and contributions to the Wick:

• Unsung Hero: Ben Houghton
• Growing the Game: Nick Dunmore
• Inspired to Play: Surbhi Agrawal
• Metro Bank Champion of Girls Cricket: James Watson

Topping them all was JAMES WATSON, winner of the Inspired to Play Award. Huge congratulations and thanks to James and all those shortlisted and nominated. I am so proud and grateful for the work they all put into making the Wick the great club it is. We owe them all a huge THANK YOU!!

Secondly, we received the latest update from the Surrey Championship about significant changes that likely to come to senior league cricket in 2025. I say “likely to come” because the changes still need a vote of approval from the current member clubs of the Surrey Championship and the two other leagues joining to create the Surrey Cricket Championship. Click here to view the proposals. The main update was that the player survey of more than 1,600 players across the three current leagues, including more than 50 Wick players, was overwhelmingly positive. For this reason the club will vote in favour of the dissolution of the Surrey Championship at the EGM to be held in mid-October.

Two weeks of league cricket to go….where did the season go?! Enjoy it while it lasts and, of course, UP THE WICK!

Sam Kemp

HWRCC Chairman

Sometimes the stars align – and when they do, you must grab the opportunity with both hands.

And Hampton Wick Royal Cricket Club’s newly-formed girls team shows we’ve done just that.

A 2022 Wisden Magazine article took an in-depth look at a local school – Heathfield Primary – and the great work James Watson had done to bring cricket into PE lessons and after-school sport sessions.

HWRCC Chairman Sam Kemp said: “The gist of the piece was James was doing a great job but the kids, particularly the girls, needed access to club cricket to broaden their opportunities to play the game competitively.”

Now, let’s be honest – cricket committees are not well known for their rapid decision-making.

But in just a few short months, HWRCC has welcomed Heathfield girls en masse to the Wick as members.

Not only that – they are winning!

During the winter, OUR girls’ side beat Teddington, East Molesey, Churt and Pyrford in the Surrey under-11 Smash indoor events.

And 12 of Heathfield’s girls have been invited on the Middlesex Area pathway programme.

The girls will be representing the Wick in both Surrey and Middlesex leagues this summer and will also play in the season-opening *Surrey “Smash It” Festival – which is being hosted at HWRCC.

‘The girls had never even picked up a bat or ball’

Not bad – especially when you consider James and Callum Donnelly only introduced them to the game at the tail-end of the Covid pandemic.

“It seemed the obvious game to play really with all the social distancing rules, but the girls had never even picked up a bat or a ball,” James said.

“And they’ve loved it. It’s a real social thing for them.

“They can play a competitive sport with their mates and it’s great to see the effect it’s having on them all.

“Some of these kids would find it really hard to join a local club as individuals… because of their backgrounds, they feel they would not fit in.

‘Hampton Wick is a shining light to other clubs’

“But Hampton Wick has given them the chance to represent a club together – and I can’t thank them enough.

“Hampton Wick is a shining light to other cricket clubs, and what they can do to promote our game and at the same time help kids in more deprived communities.

“There’s so much talent out there – it’s about making sure that everyone has the same opportunities to fulfil theirs.”

‘It’s an exciting time for girls’ cricket at The Wick’

*The Surrey “Smash It” Festival is open to all Surrey girls cricket club teams from U7 – U13 and The Wick will be hosting the event in partnership with the Surrey Cricket Foundation.

HWRCC is hosting the event on Sunday, April 30. Come along and see for yourselves the quality and enthusiasm of our U11 girls’ squad.

Sam added: “This is an exciting time for girls’ cricket at The Wick and none of it would have been possible without the unerring support of James and Callum.”

Our very own Jack Le Feuvre is taking on the London Marathon on Sunday, April 23.

This is a spectacular effort from JLF, both physically, emotionally, and financially. He’s ‘speeding’ his way around the streets of London to raise money for Marie Curie.

“My lovely Granny was in a Marie Curie hospice in the final months of her life and received nothing but fantastic care from very kind and caring nurses who made her last months as comfortable as possible,” Jack tells us.

“This kindness was always shown to us when we would come to visit and the nurses couldn’t do enough to provide support for us at a very difficult time.”

We wish Jack the best of luck with his physical and fundraising efforts. And if you haven’t already… please sponsor him by clicking HERE.

Second XI skipper Ed ‘Boom Boom’ Charlton has been desperate to get to three figures for years!

Sadly that landmark remains elusive on the cricket pitch.

So, the self-proclaimed all rounder is hoping to get his ton on a bike instead.

On May 28, Ed will be taking part in the gruelling RideLondon event to raise cash for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Please CLICK HERE to donate to this great charity.