Selkirk Cricket Club

Selkirk Cricket Club’s talented all-rounder, Greg Fenton, is the inaugural recipient of a new ‘Spirit of Cricket’ Trophy, created in memory of former Selkirk player and captain Allen Turnbull. The award was presented to Greg by Allen’s widow, Mrs Alison Turnbull, at a special ceremony held at Philiphaugh last Friday night.

The trophy was created by Selkirk wood sculptor Neil Fyffe, having been commissioned by Allen’s family and by his best friend Andrew Moffat.

Prior to the presentation, Mr Moffat – who had travelled up to the Borders that day from his home in Sussex – spoke of his long friendship with Allen Turnbull, whose sudden death last December, at the age of 65, had stunned the cricket community.

Allen’s daughter Julia then addressed the gathering, describing how cricket had played such an important part in her father’s life, and spoke of his enduring affection for the Philiphaugh club.

President John Smail explained that Allen had made his senior debut for Selkirk against Eton Ramblers on July 29th, 1976. Over the next 10 seasons he made 146 appearances for the 1st XI, scoring a total of 3,032 runs (including two centuries), took 49 catches and picked up seven wickets.

He captained Selkirk in the 1983 & 1984 seasons, playing his final match for the club against Dumfries at Nunholm on August 10th, 1985.

The following season Allen joined Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh, making a total of 104 1st X1 appearances over 10 seasons, amassing 1,687 runs (including six half-centuries), taking 31 catches and bagging four wickets.

A former team-mate of Allen’s, Mr Smail believed he would have heartily endorsed the selection of Greg Fenton as the first winner of the Spirit of Cricket Trophy.

“Not only has Greg had a passion for cricket his whole life, he has gone on to become one of the game’s most skilful practitioners, regularly topping the batting and bowling averages both for Selkirk and in the East League.

His high standards are not confined to the field of play. His willingness to support and assist the club at every opportunity sees him regularly appear at Philiphaugh after work, to carry out a variety of building-related projects, all in his own time.

On match days he never fails to have an encouraging word for the younger players in Selkirk’s side, while his sense of fair play makes him one of the East League’s most respected figures.”

Greg was presented with the trophy by Mrs Alison Turnbull, who in turn received a bouquet of flowers from Greg’s daughter Milly.

Greg said he was honoured to have received the award, and thanked members of the Turnbull family and Andrew Moffat for putting up the trophy. He expressed his gratitude to Selkirk Cricket Club for nominating him for the new award.

Report and photos by John Smail.

After a season which saw the team win the Border T20 Cup and finish fourth in East League Division 3, there was plenty to celebrate at Selkirk Cricket Club’s annual awards ceremony, held in the clubrooms last Friday night.

All-rounder Greg Fenton picked up no fewer than three awards – for most league runs (542, av. 36.13), most league wickets (29 at 12.66), as well as being voted the Selkirk players’ ‘Player of the Year’.

The ‘best fielder’ trophy went to Todd Dekker, the talented wicket-keeper having taken 22 catches and made two stumpings.

This year a new award – for the ‘Magic Moment of the Season’ – was introduced by club president John Smail. It was quite a year, so three players shared the award: Blaine Gillie for hitting the winning runs off the final ball against Marchmont 2; Bob Wilkinson for taking two wickets in the final over to snatch victory against Tranent & Preston Village 2; and Michael Gillie who, at the age of nine, took four wickets for nine runs in a T20 match against Hawick & Wilton at Buccleuch Park.

Other trophy winners on the night were Shaun Wilkinson (young player of the year award) and Kenny Paterson (most improved player award), who received the biggest cheer of the night, after a season that saw the 56-year-old open the batting, and amass 236 runs, including an unbeaten knock of 51.

Special presentations were made to Todd Dekker and his wife Georgia. The popular Australian couple are returning to Melbourne after a two-year stay, and go with the very best wishes of everyone involved with Selkirk Cricket Club.

The 2025 awards were presented by Eleanor Heard, mother of Selkirk captain Daniel. She in turn was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Katie Gillie, the daughter of Selkirk player Blaine Gillie and his wife Rachel.

In 2026 Selkirk Cricket Club celebrates its 175th anniversary, with plans already well in hand to mark this special milestone.

Report and photos by John Smail.

Editor’s Note: John Smail has modestly failed to mention that the final highlight of the night was his 15-minute video compilation (‘The Good, The Bad, and the Pure Dead Brilliant’) of a selection of his great photos capturing some of the best (and worst!) of the action during the season, and including footage of the last gasp heroics enabling Blaine Gillie to get the runs needed to triumph over Marchmont 2.

In a very competitive game which managed to beat the weather, Daniel Heard’s Captain’s XI celebrated a six-wicket victory over the President’s XI on Saturday.

Greg Fenton, skipper of the president’s team, won the toss and chose to bat, scoring 21 in a solid opening partnership with Lewis McCulloch (31*). The latter hit one of biggest shots of the day when he thumped a maximum over the boundary, which rolled down to the spectators outside the pavilion.

With rules to keep the contest close, McCulloch was retired as he passed 30, with the President’s XI then losing a couple of big wickets. Junior Michael Gillie (3/4) bowled Bob Wilkinson, before Rory Banks (1/8) had Gregor Borthwick caught behind.

However, Ian Gardiner (34*) relishes this kind of contest and couldn’t stop scoring, retiring for the second year running with the President’s XI total standing at 98. There was little added by the tail, but Ali Miller managed to roll back the years with a few stylish shots, before the innings came to an end when Captain’s XI skipper Heard clean-bowled Ryan Pritchard with the final ball.

Set a modest 121 for the win, the task was made a wee bit harder for the Captain’s XI following the dismissals of openers Harry Murphy (7) and Tim Cove (4) . Rory Banks also fell quickly to the combination of Selkirk’s top colts Shaun Wilkinson (1/8) and Gregor Borthwick, the latter taking a solid catch at mid-wicket as Banks mistimed and skied a delivery from Wilkinson.

With tested openers John Graham (30*) and Kenny Paterson (33*) batting down the order, cool heads entered the fray and both would be retired with victory within reach. Captain Heard probably had ambitions to win the game for his team, but was outfoxed by junior Archie Pritchard (1/14).

Having had a somewhat mixed year with the bat, Blaine Gillie played cautiously for a while, so the game went to the last over with four runs still required. Ian Gardiner was given the death bowling duties, and a single off his second put Gillie on strike with three runs required. He took the approach of McCulloch earlier in the match, and smashed another six down towards the club to bring the contest to a close.

Match report by Neil Gentleman, with photos by John Smail.

Note: Given the weather forecast, the match will now start at 13.00