Selkirk Cricket Club

For some information about our opponents, newly promoted to East of Scotland Cricket Association Division 3, check out their Website.

Selkirk Cricket Club held its traditional Captain’s Night in the Clubrooms on Saturday evening, when new 1st XI Skipper Daniel Heard received his Club blazer from friend and fellow opening bowler Michael Fenton, the Club’s 2024 Captain.

“It’s a huge honour, and something I’ve always dreamed of achieving,” Daniel told assembled members and guests.

“The start of the new season is only a week away, and I’m sure every player in the side is as excited as I am at the prospect of another League and T20 campaign.”

“I’m lucky being able to call on my Vice-captains Rory Banks and Greg Fenton for support and advice, and I’m confident the boys are going to do everyone proud in the weeks ahead.”

In his introductory remarks, Selkirk President John Smail (pictured left) said Daniel had always given his all for the club, and in 2022 had been the inaugural winner of the George Oliver Trophy as Selkirk’s most improved player.

“I’m sure he’s going to give a lead that his team-mates will be happy to follow, and here’s wishing Daniel and all the players every success in the season ahead.”

Given the recent wet summers, the Club has bought a new set of Stuart Canvas pitch covers. The covers can be used overnight before games if rain is forecast, and put over the pitch if showers interrupt play; this lessens the risk of games having to be cancelled or curtailed in inclement weather due to the pitch become unplayable.

The purchase of these new covers would not have been possible without the fund-raising efforts of ex-captain Kenny Paterson, who last year – along with team-mates Blaine Gillie, Ian Gardiner and friends Gordon Douglas and Iain Minto – undertook a sponsored walk along the West Highland Way. Thanks go to everyone who sponsored them, as well as to Scottish Borders Council for grant assistance, and to the four companies whose logos appear on the covers.

The Club’s players have been preparing for the upcoming season by attending the net practice sessions at Philiphaugh on Tuesday and Thursday evenings; the photo shows a good turn-out for the first nets on Tuesday 1st April.

Back row from left: G. Fenton, R. Banks, L. McCulloch, M. Fenton & D. Gardiner. Kneeling: A. Robertson, D. Heard, M. Gillie, B. Gillie,, G. Borthwick.

The cricket season is about to start, and there’ll be a couple of posts about preparations for that in the coming days, before the first match at home against Edinburgh South 2 on Saturday 26th April.

Meantime, we need to celebrate the outcome of the major competition that takes place at the Club over the close season. The Celtic Bhoys are cock-a-hoops after their Factory Cup Carpet Bowls triumph!

In a repeat of the 2023 final, Celtic Bhoys defeated the Agriculture Boys 13-9 to win the club’s 2025 Factory Cup. However, a new-look Ex-Standard Bearers team came within a whisker of reaching the final themselves, with their semi-final against the Celtic Bhoys going to an extra end after finishing 8-8 – the Celtic Bhoys eventually clinching victory. The other semi-final saw the Agriculture Boys overcome Bob’s Babes 15-9. In the 3/4th place play-off, the Ex-Standard Bearers defeated Bob’s Babes 16-7.

Competition organiser Lorna Blake presents the Factory Cup shield to Celtic Bhoys skip Kenny Paterson, watched by his teammates John Coyle (left) and Derek Roden. Lorna herself later received two presentations – one from the SCC Committee and one from the Factory Cup players – in recognition of all her hard work over the winter months.