Cambridge Society of Luxembourg

On Saturday, 29 June, 2019, with temperatures in the 30s Celsius, the Cambridge team soundly beat the Oxford cricketers in a fine match watched by a good crowd at the Evrange Oval, just over the border in France and adjacent to the Schuman Farm.

This splendid annual family event began at 13.00 in the garden of the Schuman Farm where Pimms, non-alcoholic punch, crémant, beer, chilled wine, and other refreshments were served. Over 40 adults and 20 children from the Cambridge and Oxford Societies took part in one of the main events of the calendar.  The BBQ was fired up for those who had brought sausages, hamburgers, chops, steaks, meatball-and-prinskorv kebabs, and other delicacies to accompany their picnics. Your correspondent observed some fine picnics worthy of Glyndbourne!

Then, around 15.00 people moved down to the Evrange Oval with their blankets and folding chairs and sunshades. Fortunately there were two large canopies to provide some shade for spectators, and the catering corps transported abundant supplies of refreshments down to the spectators.

A knowledgeable and enthusiatic crowd watched the action

This year, with the 50 overs World Cup going on in the UK,  there were plenty of aspirants wanting the opportunity to shine out in the square, and some entertaining cricket ensued. The outfield being extremely slow and with unpredictable bounce, the best chance for runs came from mighty heaves towards the boundary. There were some great sixes played behind the wicket, as well as through the on side in front of the wicket, and it was amazing that no balls were lost in the rough beyond the boundary. It was great to observe the range of talent, from youngsters under the age of 10 to distinguished mature players whose glory years wielding bat or ball were a few decades ago.

A truly bucolic scene – how good is that!

The young…..

….and the not-so-young!

Everyone had a chance to play

Cars with French number plates driving along the road up from the Château de Preisch were observed slowing down so as to watch in puzzlement and incomprehension this extraordinary spectacle!

The day’s proceedings drew to a close just before 18.00, after Cambridge passed Oxford’s total of 74 for 6 after 15 overs with 75 for 2 after 8,3 0vers. The full score card is:

OXFORD
Oscar Macrae  ct Adrian Wykes b Stella Wykes-Templeman   4
Mans Hedberg    run out    21
Ian Harcourt   not out    14
Jermy Harcourt    retired    6
Jos Van Bommel    run out    5
Angus Macrae    ct Lydie Wykes-Templeman b Stella Wykes-Templeman    0
David Weis   run out   1
James Leader  not out  5
Thomas Van Gilst   run out    9
Herve Hansen run out 0
TOTAL 74-6 WICKETS OFF 15 OVERS (including extras)
Bowling pick- Stella Wykes-Templeman 3 overs, 2 wickets for 20 runs.

CAMBRIDGE
Lydie Wykes-Templeman   ct Angus b Ian   10
Simon Norcross   retired   12
Chris Brealey   retired   20
Henry Brealey   retired   0
John Verrinder   not out  10
Nicholas Forwood  ct and b Oscar  Macrae  2
Adam Petersen  not out   4
TOTAL 75 FOR 2 WICKETS OFF 8.3 OVERS (including extras)
Adrian Wykes, Stella Wykes-Templeman and Natasha Petersen Did not bat

CAMBRIDGE BEAT OXFORD BY 8 WICKETS

Huge thanks to Adrian and Fiona for welcoming us once again to their lovely home and garden at the Schuman Farm!!

The Oxford and Cambridge Societies are pleased to invite alumni and their families and friends to one of the Society’s main events of the year, the annual Cricket Match and Picnic, on Saturday 29^rd June, 2019 at the Evrange Oval and Schuman Farm. Remember this is a great day, so sign up soon! We are looking forward to a good turnout!

As it was very successful last year,  we will follow the ‘bring your own picnic’ theme. We invite all participants to bring whatever you would like to eat; from Marmite sandwiches to a spread worthy of Glyndbourne, feel free to use your imagination.

As usual, we will have BBQs for people who bring food that requires grilling, and there will be tables and benches, but please remember to bring your own crockery and cutlery. We will also supply liquid refreshment (Pimms, crémant, wine, beer, Coke and other soft drinks, fruit juice, water), so bring non-breakable beverage containers 😉. Let’s try to make this event as green as possible, we would request that if you can please avoid lots of plastic disposable plates, cutlery, etc.!

The cricket match is for all levels of player, from complete beginners to those in contention for a Test match place, so don’t be shy!! Sign up soon! Here is what you need to know to enjoy the day …

Date: 29 June 2019

Time: The event will start at 13:00 with cremant and Pimms

Place: Schuman Farm & Evrange Oval, 14 rue Principale, Evrange (courtesy of Fiona and Adrian Wykes)

Registration: Please register by Friday 21 June, 2019* by sending an email to secretary@cambridge.lu indicating how many adults and how many children will attend . There is a charge of 10 EUR** per adult (children under 18 are free) which is to be paid to the bank account of the Cambridge Society of Luxembourg (Details available from the Secretary).

* This registration deadline allows the organising volunteers enough time to purchase the appropriate amounts of supplies, drinks, snacks, etc. for the number attending.

** This small charge is used to cover expenses for drinks, other material and the Luxembourg Cricket Federation fee for the cricket ground rental which is €100. We have increased the charge this year because we had a significant deficit last year 😟.

To Note: There will be a canopy at the cricket grounds, but please remember to bring folding chairs, blankets, sun cream and other protection for small children and babies – it can get hot on a sunny day!

I look forward to seeing lots of you there, and to the Cambridge cricketers emulating the Light Blues crews in the Boat Races this year!