NEWS & INFORMATION

2023 UAJCA Cup Finals are to be hosted at Crossflatts, Harden & Skipton as follows:

Settle CC are to host the Yorkshire Festival under-12 semi-final of Friday 28th July

The highly popular Black Rat Festival unfolds again on June 18th at the Sandylands Grounds and this year will feature an additional Girls group for the first time, bringing the total entry also to a record, of 35 teams. Groupings will be announced in April.

The Yorkshire Festival is also expanded in 2023 by a first ever inclusion of an under-12 competition. UAJCA will feature in the u-11, u-12, u-13 and u-15 competitions, hoping to build on their first ever Festival win in 2022. The Executive hopes an under-10s Development team can be formed and the Association currently seeks a couple of managers to lead the young group.

If the good weather of 2022 can be repeated, UAJCA is confident that more fixtures will be played and likely exceed 450 allowing potentially 900 players to join in the fun. To back up the players UAJCA is delighted to learn that a recent Stage 1 umpire training course at Settle CC attracted 11 students. A Stage 2 course is to be held on Saturday 25th March

The ECB have launched their new online safeguarding training courses which provide opportunity for everyone to undertake safeguarding training relevant to their role. These courses replace the discontinued ECB Safeguarding Young Cricketers (SYC) course.

Safe Hands Training

Club Safeguarding Officers are required to attend in-person specialist training every three years. To find and book on to a local course, Click Here

Safeguarding for Specialist Roles

These new courses are designed as more in-depth than basic Safeguarding Induction course (details below) and forms a foundation for individuals who hold a specialist role within cricket. The new courses take around 60-minutes to complete and are aimed at those who want and need more knowledge and information on effective safeguarding within your club. The courses are free to complete.

Those individuals in cricket who hold specialist roles are required to complete the one-hour course (80% of their learning), as well as the shorter, specialist module relevant to their role (20% of their learning). Individuals are welcome to complete all four specialist modules  and all are free of charge.

More people needed as Cricket Umpires

Two courses have been set up in the Settle area for would-be cricket umpires on the 11^th and 25^th March. The courses are ideal for the retiring cricket player, or for those who want to learn more about our summer game, or for those young people who want to add something different to their CV whilst earning a bit of money, or for those who love cricket but were never good enough to play.

Cricket umpiring is an ideal summer activity to help boost your fitness, to improve your activity and boost your concentration. You do not ever have to have played the game, and, whether you want to join a league’s umpiring panel or just umpire your kids in the local soft ball, or All Stars competitions, then these courses are for you.

The Stage 1 umpiring course is on the 11^th March at Giggleswick School [9:30am-4:00pm] and the Stage 2 is being held at Settle Cricket Club [9:30am-4:00pm] on the 25^th March.

To apply for these courses, which cost £30 each, but both can be signed up for £40, lick or go to:

STAGE 1 - https://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/5lq4rk
 
STAGE 2 - https://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/vlq4rz

The principal benefit derives from prevention of exclusion from the game solely on the grounds of age.  Early discussions centre around the introduction of a formal process for approving transition between stages, involving the player, the parent and the team coach.  Monitoring process for the Association's officers will also feature.

A General Secretary to manage external communications and meeting management tasks within the Association is also required.

Additionally the Association needs a team manager[s] to lead its under-10s development team with fixtures to enhance their development in 2023.

If you are interested in any of these role please contact the Chairman, Mr Terry Thompson by email: twthompson@btinternet.com

The number of clubs in membership was swelled by addition of Denholme CC and Airedale CC both from the Craven & District League, and they are joined by Burley-in-Wharfedale CC who enter as affiliates in the girls cricket. The 22 clubs advised their provisional team entries for the coming season. The total was an unprecedented and record 85 teams, fully 20 more than in 2022. The previous high of 79 was in 2011.

The 85 teams embrace 71 boys [mixed] teams with 14 girls' teams. The increases come across the age spectrum with the softball sector increasing to 33 from 20 and the hardball leagues from 45 to 52. Whilst clubs have until March 16th to finalise their plans, this provisional entry certainly reveals the upward trajectory of interest in  junior cricket.

The AGM also marked a significant change for the Executive which has been expanded to cater for the growing workload.  The previously vacant Chairman's role is to be filled by Terry Thompson, who has relinquished the General Secretary role. Tony Fordham [Oxenhope] will assume the Hardball Cricket Secretary role whilst Terry will assume the Softball equivalent. The Representative Cricket Secretary position remains to be filled. Ian Walker [Settle] joins the Executive and takes on the co-ordination of umpiring for the Association. The Executive now has six members with other roles for Media, Training and Purchasing also available.

The Association is striving to embrace the 'Stage NOT Age' concept, trialled in the girls league in 2022. The objective is to make sure that its clubs an offer all young players opportunities irrespective of age.

The 2023 season will see introduction of new General Conduct Regulations [GCR] and a new Safeguarding management system [on-line].

 Pro Coach Yorkshire (procricketcoachingacademy.com) 

So our youngest squad is without a leader at the moment. If you are interested in taking up the role, contact the Association Secretary for further information

West Yorkshire

ECB Core Coach- Crofton Academy, Wakefield. February 5, 12, 19, 26 2023, 9.30am to 4pm. Cost: £300. Bookings online by clicking here. More info from k.gresham@yorkshirecb.com

ECB Foundation Coach- Parkside Sports Centre, Bradford. February 19 and 26 2023, 9.30am to 4pm. Cost £150. Bookings online by clicking here.

ECB Core Coach- Hipperholme Grammar School, Halifax. March 5, 12, 19, 26 2023, 9.30am to 4pm. Cost: £300. FULLY BOOKED.

ECB Core Coach - Female only- Trinity Academy, Leeds. April 2, 16, 23, 30 2023, 9.30am to 4pm. Cost: £300. Bookings online by clicking here. More info from k.gresham@yorkshirecb.com

North Yorkshire

ECB Foundation Coach- Copmanthorpe Recreational Centre, York. January 22 and 29 2023, 9.30am to 4pm. Cost £150. Bookings online by clicking here.

ECB Core Coach- King James School, Knaresborough. February 4, 11, 18 & 25, 2023, 9.30am to 4pm. Cost: £300. Bookings online by clicking here.

ECB Core Coach- Terrington Hall School, York. March 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2023, 9.30am to 4pm. Cost: £300. Bookings online by clicking here.

ECB Foundation Coach- Harrogate CC, Harrogate. March 25 & April 1 2023, 9.30am to 4pm (reserve weather day is April 8). Cost £150. Bookings online by clicking here. More info from k.gresham@yorkshirecb.com

North & East Yorkshire

ECB Foundation Coach- Copmanthorpe Recreational Centre, York. January 22 and 29 2023, 9.30am to 4pm. Cost £150. Bookings online by clicking here.

ECB Core Coach- King James School, Knaresborough. February 4, 11, 18 & 25, 2023, 9.30am to 4pm. Cost: £300. Bookings online by clicking here.

ECB Core Coach- Terrington Hall School, York. March 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2023, 9.30am to 4pm. Cost: £300. Bookings online by clicking here.

ECB Foundation Coach- Harrogate CC, Harrogate. March 25 & April 1 2023, 9.30am to 4pm (reserve weather day is April 8). Cost £150. Bookings online by clicking here. More info from k.gresham@yorkshirecb.com

ECB ACO The Occasional Umpire
This resource is for those of you who play your cricket at a level where umpires are not provided and players have to take their turn doing a 10 over stint. It contains the umpiring basics ranging from key Laws to basic field craft. It is free and will hopefully improve the game day experience for you, your teammates and your opposition.

ECB ACO It’s Your Call Umpire Education
For those of you who wish to undertake more thorough umpire training, because you wish to stand as a ‘club umpire’ or you wish to join your local league panel, YCB ACO run courses across the county, these are outlined below. These are educational courses and simply designed to teach people how to umpire. There is no compulsory assessment associated with them, but accreditation is available for those who wish it. This would take place after a season or more of umpiring and further details will appear in these pages at a later date.

It's Your Call – Umpire Education Stage One - Online course
This course is designed as a basic overview of the Laws of the game and how to apply them. It will enable you to umpire matches as a club umpire where there are no independent umpires appointed and also for those players who have to umpire their own matches. The cost is FREE to participants.

You can access the course here: Stage One Online Link

The principal decision taken at the November meeting was that UAJCA will offer girls cricket at three age-grouping s in 2023 with under-9 and under-13 groupings being added to the under-11 league of 2022. The ball is now in the court of the 19 member clubs to review their intentions for 20023 and to make efforts in recruitment during the winter to be able to meet the aspiration.

Since the meeting two more UAJCA clubs have expressed definite interest whilst Katie Stewart [West Yorkshire W & G] is to seek other interested clubs from outside the current UAJCA catchment. Geographically the four existing 'Hub' clubs are at some distance and inclusion of clubs nearer the centre of the patch would help create a fixture programme more readily achievable both midweek and at weekends.

So will this inspire other clubs to re-constitute their under-18s teams? There are sufficient players on the UAJCA player registration database which suggests there is prospect of perhaps three or four more teams.

The move from under-17 to under-18 cricket was instituted pre-covid in the hope of retaining players longer and the signs are that this may well have been successful.

TO VIEW THEM CLICK HERE

The UAJCA Presentation Night held on Friday, 30th September attracted huge number of players, parents and supporters, noticeably swelled by large numbers of girl cricketers. The newly re-decorated event room at Bradford & Bingley RUFC was packed to the rafters to acclaim the 2022 season winners and achievers. Photographic support on the evening was provided by Mr Haidery of Timeless Clicks. The large attendance combined with an increased number of prizes to 73 individual winners and 14 team wards stretched the Officers in meeting the planned time schedule.

The audience heard Katie Stewart from the Yorkshire Cricket Board outline how Women’s and Girls’ cricket is starting to mushroom across the County with UAJCA’ inaugural Girls League now sits alongside a league in the Leeds-Wetherby area as attractions for girls wishing to join the fabulous game. Lizzie committed to supporting UAJCA to now further expand the development of girls’ cricket in the Upper Airedale catchment and its wider surrounding area.

The Presentations unfolded with the Softball Cricket awards which included achievers from the historic inaugural UAJCA Girls League and to younger players undertaking the Softball Development Programme, recognising the efforts of newcomers and of those progressing well from 2021. There was also under-11 hardball awards for those in their first year of transition from softball. Team and individual awards to older age-groups, u12, u13, u15 & u18s followed and culminated with presentation of the Tom Barritt and Derek Hurren Memorial Trophies.

The principal team awards went to the four Championship winning teams, three of which fell to the highly successful Great Horton Church club [u-11, u-13 and u-18] with Skipton under-15 halting their potential clean sweep. But the loudest acclaim came for the UAJCA under-13 Representative team which became UAJCA’s first ever winners of a Yorkshire Festival Trophy, closely followed by that for the UAJCA under-10 team which reached the Final of the Cricket Asylum Plate competition.  

UAJCA Secretary Terry Thompson announced the closely guarded identities of the seven winners of its Cricketers-of-the-Year. Lizzie Stewart handed these to Mohammed Zaid Khan [Gt Horton Church u-11], Olive Ratcliffe [Embsay u-11] Noah Kennedy [Skipton u-13]. Unfortunately, Freya Craddock [Earby u-13] was not able to attend to receive her award. The Girl Cricketer of the Year from the Girls’ League fell to Aliza Hafiz, also from the Great Horton Church club. The Tom Barritt Memorial Trophy was presented to Hamza Saeed [Gt Horton Church u-15] and Charlie Raby of Oakworth u-18s received the top award of The Derek Hurren Memorial Trophy.

The incredibly warm and sunny 2022 season in UAJCA was summarised as an unqualified success, following the depressed seasons curtailed by the Covid-19 virus. The introduction of the Girls League, a 40% increase in numbers participating in the Softball Development Programme and a total of 124 [15%] new players playing junior cricket all contributed to a marvellous return to ‘normality’ and re-set of Junior Cricket to an upward curve.  2023 beckons and hopes are high that the trajectory will continue to bring more and more youngsters into the game.

Amongst the final fixtures sadly Skipton Girls declined the fixture with Crossflatts as they were unable to raise a team and seemingly unable to offer a revised fixture date. This has left Crossflatts as undefeated Champions in our first ever season. Congratulations to Crossflatts Girls [pictured], their coaches and managers and all at the club in their well-deserved success.

Without doubt they have been the team to beat and have set the bar at pretty high level for others to follow. And of course we sincerely hope they will. In 2023 we hope that more teams will join the league and potentially we may be able to also offer an uneder-9s section and/or an over 11s competition. So if your clubs is considering these sort of options, we at UAJCA ar extremely keen to support the growing interest in Girls' cricket.

pos	TEAM	P	w	l	c	a	lcn	wcn	t	d	BtP	BwlP	NRR	Pts
1	Crossflatts	6	5	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	5	4	1.48	27
2	Skipton	6	4	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	5	3	1.04	20
3	GHC	6	2	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	3	-0.46	14
4	Settle	6	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2	-1.54	6

All four UAJCA Girls' teams [Skipton, Settle, Great Horton Church & Crossflatts] are to play a Festival format competition at Skipton CC on 21st August [start 09:00 am] for the UAJCA Girls' Softball Pairs Cup.

The ground will be split to enable two games to  be played simultaneously. The format will be 12-overs aside Pairs with each pair of batters batting for 3 overs. The bowling schedule will allow 4 bowlers to bowl 2 overs and 4 bowlers to each bowl 1 over. Normal Pairs format playing regulations will  apply. The draw will  be undertaken by the four managers on the day. The winners of the first two matches will then play the Final with the two losing teams playing off for third-fourth place. The winners will receive the Cup and individual medals with medals for runners-up. The winners will also re-receive the cup at the Annual Presentation Night on 30th September at Bingley.

 

21st AUGUST [09:00am] THE GIRLS' SOFTBALL PAIRS CUP FESTIVAL

Despite weather forecasts of doom, the William Spencer Memorial Cup Final for 2022 went ahead as scheduled at sunny Harden Cricket Club with Great Horton Church and Oakworth under-18 teams lined up to re-test which was the better team in 2022. GHC had overcome Oakworth twice during the T20-T00 League campaign and were seeking a hat-trick of victories. Great Horton Church batted first with Subhaan Ahmed, ironically an Oakworth senior, in tandem with Huzayfa Azam. Huzayfa did not last long, caught behind by Jacob Stephens for left-armer Jake Holroyd at 5-1. Skipper Muhammed Yusuf joined Subhaan for a long stay. 72 runs in fact were added as the GHC innings developed. Yusuf was out bowled by his opposite skipper Charlie Raby for an excellent 40. With Ayaan Khokhar a further 17 were added before Subhaan fell to the off-spin of Elis Jones for a superb 44 [8 fours]. So at 89-3 GHC were well placed for a 150 plus score.  This soon became 90-4 as Muhammad Taahaa copped a 3-ball duck, smartly run out by Akeel Umar. Ayan and Raheeb Akhtar boosted the tally by a further 12 and at 102-5 the game was potentially at a tipping-point. Ifzan Shafique was superbly stumped by Jacob Stephens, back behind the timbers in the absence of Max Hibbert. 118-6 and it seemed the pendulum was swinging towards Oakworth. But the advent of Razi Ullah Raiz soon stopped thoughts of a low total as another 30 runs were posted before Ayaan was caught by Elis Jones for a first wicket for Jake Keslinke. Ayaan made 24 from 31 balls at 148-7. Kaif Malik again supported Razi in adding another 18 runs before Razi was skittled by Keslinke's second wicket at 166-8. His 31 came from just 18 deliveries and really boosted the GHC total and hopes for victory. A further 14 came from the tail whilst Jake Keslinke picked up another two wickets, to lave GHC on an excellent 180 all out. Oakworth had used six bowlers with the clear pick being Jake Keslinke with 4-17 in 28 balls. Off-spinner Elis Jones added 3-28 to his catch to claim a stake of the bowling honours.

A terrific lunch prepared the lads by the Harden club heralded the second innings with Jacob Stephens joining his skipper Charlie Raby as openers. It proved a wise selection by stand-in manager [and first team Captain] Robert Hollingsworth as the pair posted a terrific 61 run stand to establish the fine balance in the contest. Charlie's share was 15 from 37 balls as he rotated the strike to allow the inform Jacob to take the majority of the strike but who was first out a for a sterling 38 from 34 balls. After Charlie fell at 67-2, number 3 James Powell and number 4 Jake Keslinke combined as on many occasions at all levels including County Their mutual understanding began to plunder the GHC bowling. James reached a stylish retirement of 50 from just 44 balls as the GHC attack wilted. The loss of Elis Jones for a 3-ball duck didn't hinder the Oakworth run-a-ball reply as Jake too went on to retire on 53. He and James had 15 fours and two sixes [from James] to savour in their 105 run stand. Akeel Umar and Jacob Davies saw the innings out to 181-3 in 27.1 overs [run rate 6. 6 per over]

It had proved an enthralling contest from the very best two teams in UAJCA and likely beyond] and entertained a pretty good crowd enormously.  Taahaa, Shafique and Akhtar each picked up a wicket for GHC as their fielders did a superb job in trying to limit the Oakworth progress, but it proved too little. Oakworth had lived down their two league defeats to share the silverware with GHV for 2022. The player of the match was awarded by the umpires to Jake Keslinke for his 4 wickets and 53 runs despite his dropping of a 'dolly'!

Great Horton Church were seeking to strike back having lost the Hargreaves Cup Final to Skipton on Sunday. The Allerton Road team batted first and Hassan Khan led from the front with 26. Hamza Saeed again contributed well with 18 but only Zaki Butt with 12 again made double figures. The GHC scoring ws severely held up by Joe Horton with 3-9 and Harry Atherton 2-10. The 91-9 total looked attainable and the Skipton skipper Joe Birks played the Captain's innings with 35 no and the Skipton team required just 15.4 overs to reach their target. Moheed Shafoiq [15], Joe Horton [17no] and Luke Lovell [12mo] all combined to again defeat the Great Horton team. Joe Horton added to his Cup Final prowess with a fine display,.

Warm and sultry Skipton was the venue for the Raleigh Hargreaves Cup Final for under-15s. GHC won the toss and inserted the Skipton boys. Openers Joe Birks [29] and Moheed Shafiq [35] built nicely to give the Skipton side a real platform on which to consolidate. Form man Aaron MacRae made 13 but the telling innings came from Joe Horton with 29 batting at no 5. Without a duck in sight, the Skipton boys tallied a challenging 159 all out. Mo Ibrahaim Khan had done his best to restrict the total with 3-22 from his 4 overs. With Haider Ali 2-42 and Hassan Khan 2-25 the Bradford side were always in the hunt.

The early loss of Hassan Khan was a blow for GHC but Zaki Butt ploughed on to make 39 from 44 balls. County boy Hamza Saeed chipped in 25 and Mustapha Hussain a further 22 but the Bradford boys were slipping behind the run-rate. The tail didn't really wag and the final tally was 120 all out, 39 adrift of the Skipton excellent total. The Skipton bowling honours went to Henry Mounsey [2-5] and Joe Horton [1-11] who held their nerve as the business end of the innings unfolded. The umpires adjudged the Player of the match to be Joe Horton [Skipton].

The 23rd Barritt-Stephenson Cup Final was between holders [since 2018] Great Horton Church and Bingley side Harden CC. Openers Hashim Husaain and Ayaan Abbas were both dimissd early by Max Rigby to give Harden an early supremacy.  Further wickets fell including that of Taverener Hamza Mahmood and an unfortunate lbw decision for Zaid Khan to leave GHC at 4 down. But rescue was at hand with Ammaar Muhammad and Riyaan Farooq pitching in 31 runs with Ammaar retiring on 20. Another Taverner, Freddie Padgett picked up a couple of wickets in addition to a smart run out by Ella Rhodes. GHC ended their 20 overs on 97-7 with a racking second half in prospect.

The Harden batting was evidently top-end loaded with Sulaiman Mahmood [21] and Padgett [20] getting them well ahead of the run-rate. The attack was extended by Oliver Noble [14] before the GHC bowlers found their straps. Talisman Hamza Mahmood led the fight-back with 2-11 and all the GHC bowlers responded with wickets. Harden began to slip behind the rate as their tail failed to wag. After 18.3 overs Harden, with just 10 players, were all out on 82 after a really entertaining final. Congratulations went to Gt Horton Church and commiserations to Harden on a gallant effort. The Umpires awarded the Player-of-the-Match prize to Freddie Padgett for his all-round impact.

The disappointment for GHCCC in finishing as beaten finalits in the Soft-ball Cup could be dispersed within the same day if the GHCCC under-13s  could overcome the challenge from Settle.

Opener Mueed Malik could them off to a cracking start with 19 and then Ayan Ahsan and Arnmaan Mahmood combined with 10 and 21 respectively. The introduction of Will Heys to the Settle attack seriously pegged back the Bradford side's progress. He ultimately claimed 3-26 from 28 balls. But the counter-puch came from no 9 Mo Taha Iftikhar who smashed 33 rapid rune to push their score beyond Par to 134 all out. There were wickets for 5 other bowlers, none of whom were dominated by the GHCCC batting.

With the ball in hand, GHCCC looked strong with some excellent fast bowling. The pick of the bunch w as last year's u11 Cricketer of the Year, Ayan Ahsan, who excelled with 4-8 from 21 balls. Will Heys had a great day out aklso top-scoring with 19 runs and he had backing from Taverner Cup winner Sam Walker with 12. But the tail certainly didn't wag for the North Craven side as five ducks followed to curtail their innings at 66 all out having been 62-4. Ahsan had been helped by a brace from Hashim Khokhar and Armaan Mahmood wuith another couple of scalps.

So GHCCC did claim a Cup to take back to Allerton Road. It was the third time in sucessive seasons that the u13 Trophy has been sat on the GHCCC shelf. The late order blast from Mohammed Taha was adjudged the Man of the Match performance by Umpires Town-Jones and Davison.

A lovely sunny morning at Cullingworth swung into action with Great Horton Church Soft-ballers winning the toss and choosing to bat. First pair Hamza Gul and Deshan Gaurav were steady picking off just 1 run but Deeshan lost a wicket caught by Crossflatts skipper Oliver Pennington for Arya Raval. Unays Ahmed and Imaad Ijaz fared better with 8 runs but again wickets fell to Heidi Rae Bailey and Arya. Third pair Rohaan Hafiz  and Abbas Bashir crafted another 7 runs but Abbas lost his wicket to Louis Haigh. Asim Bashir and Mo Kamil Muy Udin stepped the scoring up to 10 runs. This time it was Ralph Bell who claimed a scalp. With hopes high from the final pair [Aadam Bashir & Rayyan Malik] were scuppered by quick bowling from Louis Haigh who grabbed another3 wickets with an additional one for Captain Pennington. All in all Great Horton Church had lost too many wickets costing them 45 runs to conclude at 212-9. Louis Haigh had a remarkable 4-8 in his 3 overs, with Arya Raval taking 2-7.

The Crossflatts innings began in better style with openers Sam Wilkinson smashing a terrific 15with partner Kavi Reddy on 3 [out once]. Betsy Wilkinson & Arya Raval chipped in 4 runs [one out]. Then keeper Dougie Lunn added an unbowed 11 with Ava Tarren to accelerate the Crossflatts lead. But that precluded a mini-collapse as Deeshan Gaurav picked off 2 wickets and Muy Uddin had Oliver Peenington caught followed by further wickets for Asim Bashir and a run out. Suddenly the game was more in balance with Ralph Bell and Louis Haigh the last pair. They added 8 runs for 1 out to maintain their healthy lead of 19 runs at 231-8.

Crossflatts became the seventh team to win the Pairs Cup in seven years and the Umpires decision to name Louis Haigh as man of the Match was warmly received.

All of you know UAJCA was committed on Sunday to the UAJCA Festival at Skipton, but we followed the progress of our fantastic under-13s team. The first UAJCA team to win a Yorkshire Festival. UAJCA cannot be too proud today. We must thank all the players who performed so well and also the two intrepid managers Mark and Tony. What a fantastic effort. UAJCA has shown today that a small District can achieve miracles with dedication from its players and managers. We are lost for words and despite an enjoyable day at Skipton we are sorry to have missed the event. Your fame will endure!  To see the scorecard Click Here

Our batting reply was led by Oakworth 18 years-old Bradley Powell with 58 and Oakworth team mate Akeel Umar with 38. The winning runs came off an inside edge from skipper Ollie Bishop with almost 4 overs in hand.