12th Annual Pincher Creek Cricket Match a time for fun and laughter

Batters Mike Barkwith and Tim Jorgensen on the run
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

The Pincher Creek 12th annual Cricket Match happened Sunday, June 30 at the Lions Park ball diamond.  Around 40 people came to play, cheer, or get to know more about the game.  Moira Robbins is one of the main organizers of the event and was very happy at the turn out. "This is real back-yard cricket," she said.  The rules were relaxed and everything was casual.  Throughout the day, more people came and were added to the lineup.

Half-time break

Frank Wood decided to have players alternate through positions, taking turns at batting, bowling, and field rather than breaking them up into teams.  This made it easier for newcomers to be coached through the position that they were playing and for people to be added throughout the game.  The Pincher Creek Cricket Match started 12 years ago as a way for people from Australia, New Zealand, and England to get to know other people in the area that were from home and celebrate their sports culture.  "It was Ozzie and Kiwi ex-pats, now half the people here are Canadian," he said, expressing delight at being able to share the game with newcomers.

Justine Jorgenson as bowler

For those that love the game, it was a bit of home, and for those that were new to the sport it was a chance to try out a new sport, get to know different people and have some fun under blue skies, gentle breezes, cottonwood drifts and the flags for Australia and New Zealand that were placed on the fence line.  There was lemonade sold for a quarter by young entrepreneur Tim, and watermelon shared by everyone halfway through the game and a planned get together after the game.  "Moria Robbins has done a superb job of organizing this from the beginning," said Woods.  "She has requested a leave of absence, so I think we might give it a break after this for a couple of years."

Heeere's the wind up..

Gavin at bat

Psyching out the bowler