The 'Home of Cricket' Stages the 2010 Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival
Over 1000 Golden Oldies Cricketers, their families and supporters enjoyed a fantastic week based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, for the 14th Air New Zealand Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival, 08 - 15 August 2010.
The weather was (mostly!) fine, the cricket was of a high standard and the hospitality of the local host clubs throughout North Yorkshire was outstanding.
Town Cryer, John Todd got the Opening Ceremony off to a most traditional start in the quintessential English village of Masham. Teams listened in magnificent sunny conditions to speeches of welcome, including those from Festival Director, Sir Thomas Ingilby and Festival Ambassador, former England Test player and Captain, and Festival Ambassador, Ray Illingworth. Click on the images below to view a slideshow of full sized photos of the Opening Ceremony & Parade.
Teams then marched around the village square to the rousing beat of the York Samba Drummers and on to the convivial surrounds of the local Theakston’s Brewery, for the Festival Welcome Party. Click on the images below to view a slideshow of the full sized photos of the Welcome Party. A great range of traditional folk and rock music from local band ‘The Bogtrotters’ got everyone into a real party spirit.
24 local clubs hosted over 700 International participants from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and USA and entered some 260 themselves in the matches played at 29 locations. Click on the images below to view a slideshow of the full sized photos of the cricket action.
Participants thrilled to demonstrations of the ancient arts of jousting, falconry and archery at a medieval-themed mid-week picnic held in the grounds of Festival Director, Sir Thomas Ingilby’s 13th century castle. Click on the images below to view a slideshow of the full sized photos of the picnic.
An evening Cricket Forum was put on by The ‘Lords Taverners’, the Festival’s associate charity and featured ex England Test players, Chris Cowdry and Jonothan Agnew. An auction followed, raising £7000 for dis-advantaged and disabled children.
The week rounded off with the traditional ‘Grand Finale Dinner and Air New Zealand Awards’. Former English test player and Captain and current National Selector, Geoff Miller presented an entertaining background to his career and auctioned some memorabilia on behalf of the Festival Charity. The traditional Air New Zealand Awards Ceremony followed with the following teams and individuals featuring...
- Special Committee Award
- Best Team Uniform – Gold Coast Golden Oldies, Australia
- Friendship Award – Local Teams (collected by Ouseburn CC), England
- Personality of the Festival – Rob Crawford, Valleys Die Hard Cricketers, Australia
- Special Merit – Cliff Cox, British Colombia Golden Oldies, Canada
- Spirit of the Festival – Cuckfield Golden Oldies, England
- Best supporters – Springwood Royals, England
- Special Festival Directors Award
Click on the images below to view a slideshow of the full sized photos of the final dinner and awards.
Dancing to covers band 'The Directors' and entertainment from a tribute 'Elton John' artist got the evening rocking and completed a most memorable week.
