The Napa Valley Cricket Club will again host its “World Series” this coming Sunday from 10 a.m. at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga to kick off its 2016 season. As ever the game will be hotly contested as the Rest of the World team of members look to wrestle the trophy back from the American / Australian team who won in 2015.
Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world after soccer and The Napa Valley Cricket Club (NVCC) is now a firmly established member of that community. Cricket is played in over 100 countries worldwide and close to home the game has a strong and passionate following in the South Bay area.
“We open our season each year with this event and as the club boasts members from 10 countries.” said Club President Phil Bourke “So our World Series is a great way to start each year. It has turned into a great day out not just for the players but also for their families, friends, kids, and those curious about the game. We’ve had up to 200 attend the game in previous years and we’re looking forward to a similar attendance this Sunday at the Calistoga Fairgrounds” continued Bourke “It’s a fun day out for the family with supervised activities for the kids, food from Compadres and beverages from our sponsors Clos du Val, Chandon, and Anchor Steam Brewing”.
Australia America captain Rob Bolch holds aloft the Napa Valley World Series of Cricket trophy. Top photo, the 2015 Australia / America team. Photos by Jared Thatcher
While Bourke, an Australian, will be lining up in his familiar wicket-keeper (think baseball catcher) position Irishman Andrew Healy will be part of the Rest of the World team looking to take back the trophy they last won in 2014. “We have a Rest of the World team made up of members from six countries” said Healy, NVCC Vice President “New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, England, and of course Ireland and we’ll be playing hard to take the trophy back from the Australia / America team.” continued Healy “The game highlights the international diversity of the game of cricket right here in our own community with all of the members working or living in the Napa Valley. One of the highlights of the game for us is the fact that we have a number of American members in the club of couple of who have become cricket converts and will be key participants in the game particularly with their fielding.”
Added American member and club treasurer Jared Thatcher “I first got exposed to cricket at college; I love the challenge of adapting baseball skills to cricket and have really enjoyed the camaraderie and social aspect of the club”.
The toss for the game, to decide who bats or bowls first, will take place at 10.15am with Calistoga Mayor Chris Canning performing the task. Commentary on the game will be provided by Radio Calistoga’s Dennis DeVilbiss and the game will be umpired by Milpitas based umpire Barry Manogaran. Club members will take part in a short ANZAC Day commemoration service during the innings lunch break and during drinks breaks explanations of the game and its rules will take place at the “pitch” area in the middle of the ground. Admission is free for the day with food and refreshments on sale and an instant cellar drawing.
Sponsors
The Napa Valley Cricket Club wishes to acknowledge the assistance of the following sponsors
Clos du Val, Crown Hill Stone Supply, Silverado Resort & Spa, Tonnellerie Saint Martin, Cork Supply, Chandon, St. Helena Optometry, Anchor Steam, First Priority Financial, Compadres Rio Grille, Greg Norman Estates, Amcor, Biagi Bros., Ciatti, Lyve Systems Inc., Stone Universe, Blue Jean Black Design, TricorBraun WinePak, Calistoga Roastery, Napa Gourmet Foods, Napa Valley Body Connect, 3 rock marketing, Azmera Consulting, Bill Wagner Realtor, Bernie Peacock Mortgage Consultant, ZAM Apps.
Opening Day Details
FREE ADMISSION
Saturday 24th April 2016 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Napa County Fairgrounds, 1435 N Oak St, Calistoga, 94515
Contact
For more details please contact Andrew Healy on 707-227-4273 or by email at NapaValleyCricket@gmail.com