CURTIS CENTURY CAPS CRANKER’S CRACKING PRESIDENT’S DAY AT LOWFIELD

There was a point around midday on Sunday when a few people at Lowfield glanced nervously at the sky and quietly muttered: “Please don’t start again.”

After the weather had wrecked Saturday’s entire cricket programme across Hertfordshire, nobody fancied another washout. Covers had been on. WhatsApp groups had been full of rain radar screenshots. Groundsmen across the county had spent most of Saturday pacing about in waterproofs looking miserable. Thankfully, by Sunday afternoon, the clouds had shifted, the sun had broken through, and President’s Day at Hoddesdon Cricket Club turned into exactly the sort of occasion everybody had hoped for. Good food. Good cricket. Familiar faces. Plenty of laughter.

And, at one stage, one absolutely obliterated rear windscreen...

Club President Peter Grant — better known throughout Hoddesdon cricket circles simply as “Cranker” — once again hosted a wonderful President’s Day at Lowfield as members, guests, former players and supporters gathered for one of the most enjoyable dates in the club calendar. Proceedings began with a superb lunch hosted by Cranker before the game, with players enjoying a bite to eat together ahead of the 1.30pm start. Esteemed guests and supporters were then treated to lunch as the action got underway outside in the sunshine.

A huge amount of work goes into days like these behind the scenes, and the relaxed atmosphere around the pavilion all afternoon was a credit to everybody involved in organising it. Outside, music was provided throughout the afternoon by Jon Dean on the decks, adding to the laid-back summer atmosphere as spectators settled in around the ground with drinks in hand while the cricket unfolded in front of them.

And the cricket itself was excellent.

The Hoddesdon Saturday 1st XI, captained by Harry Mason — who also took the gloves for the day — won the toss and elected to bat first against a President’s XI captained by the ever-popular Mark Feely. With Saturday’s league fixture having been washed out, the 1st XI arrived fresh, rested and perhaps slightly too eager to get hold of some cricket balls again.

The President’s XI, meanwhile, was packed full of familiar faces from Hoddesdon teams past and present, which gave the entire afternoon a brilliant feel from the very beginning. It was fantastic to see former players back involved again, including Richard Byrne — affectionately known around the club as “Dellers” — alongside his young son Max Byrne. Former 1st XI favourite Martin Brown was back at Lowfield, while Steve Gandy, universally known in Hoddesdon dressing rooms as “Mahatma”, also rolled back the years.

There was also a welcome return for wicketkeeper Rhys Jones, while Rob Harcombe — “Sharky” to everybody at the club — featured alongside the likes of Dan Miller, Mick Billson, Adam Sturdy, Phil Stafford and Ben Wilson. Just seeing those names back together again sparked conversation all afternoon around the boundary edge, with plenty of old stories being revisited at various volume levels depending on how close people were standing to the bar.

The 1st XI innings was built around a magnificent century from James Curtis, who produced a brutal display of clean hitting to entertain the Lowfield crowd. Opening alongside Bilal Ahmad, Curtis quickly found his rhythm after a slightly watchful start. The pair brought up the first fifty in the 10th over, with Bilal making a composed 41 from 54 deliveries before being caught by Rhys Jones off the bowling of Adam Sturdy.

By then though, Curtis was beginning to open his shoulders. A couple of lofted drives over extra cover got the crowd going before he really accelerated after drinks. One straight six disappeared into the distance with the sort of noise that makes spectators instinctively duck despite the ball never remotely threatening them. Curtis eventually retired out on a superb 100 from just 64 deliveries, including ten fours and five sixes, receiving warm applause from both sides as he left the field. It was exactly the sort of innings President’s Day deserved.

Todd Sturdy then added a valuable 31 from 34 balls, an intriguing battle with his brother Adam a particular highlight, while Rob Jones finished unbeaten on 51 from 45 deliveries, peppering the boundary with seven fours and one six as the 1st XI closed on an imposing 250 for 4 from their 35 overs. For the President’s XI bowlers, Adam Sturdy impressed with 1 for 40 from his seven overs, while Steve Gandy picked up a wicket despite receiving some fairly unforgiving treatment from Curtis during the middle overs. Richard Byrne also bowled tidily, conceding just 32 from his seven overs.

The chase began in lively fashion as Dan Miller came out swinging, smashing 24 from just 12 balls including four boundaries and a six before Charlie Tackley removed him. At 58 for 4, the President’s XI looked in danger of folding quickly, but Rhys Jones and Phil Stafford then rebuilt brilliantly. Jones in particular played some gorgeous shots during his 29 from 40 balls, including one enormous six that instantly became the talking point of the afternoon.

Unfortunately for Adam Sturdy, the ball came down somewhere near his parked car and smashed straight through the rear windscreen. Thankfully nobody was injured, although rumours that Rhys immediately offered to put it through the insurance as “act of God” remain unconfirmed. The crash was followed by about five seconds of stunned silence before half the ground burst out laughing. After some bin liners and a large roll of gaffer tape were sought, Adam returned to the boundary rope to finish his pint.

President’s Day cricket at its absolute finest.

Phil Stafford meanwhile produced a classy innings of 61 from 72 deliveries, striking ten boundaries as he anchored the chase impressively alongside Rhys. Martin Brown chipped in with 25, while Steve Gandy entertained everybody with a quickfire 26 featuring three towering sixes that briefly threatened parked vehicles once again.

Despite the entertainment, the target ultimately proved too much as the Saturday 1st XI closed out a 35-run victory, restricting the President’s XI to 215 for 8. Charlie Tackley and Connor Hunt each picked up two wickets, while Freddie Webb, Bilal Ahmad, Todd Sturdy and James Curtis all chipped in with one apiece.

Special thanks must also go to Animal and Alan Casbard, who umpired the match superbly throughout the afternoon. Animal’s involvement was particularly appreciated as he continues to recover from a nasty leg infection. We also thank scorer Liz Woods for keeping everything running smoothly throughout the game.

At drinks, the afternoon paused for a special presentation as Freddie Hawkins was announced as the 2026 recipient of the Rodney Norville Trophy. The award is presented annually to a young person who has contributed enormously to club life both on and off the field, and Freddie was a hugely popular winner. An excellent young cricketer in his own right, Freddie has also dedicated huge amounts of his own free time to helping the club behind the scenes, regularly coaching youngsters on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings while also assisting Animal with work around the ground preparing facilities for cricket each week. Freddie was presented with the award to warm applause from everybody gathered around the boundary.

His father, 3rd XI captain Dan Hawkins, admitted afterwards that he was incredibly proud.

Dan said:

“Freddie absolutely loves this club and he never really expects recognition for anything he does. He just gets on with it. Whether it’s coaching the juniors, helping around the ground or playing himself, he’s always willing to help. Seeing him receive that award in front of everybody meant a lot to all of us.”

Club chairman Ian Munday also praised Freddie’s contribution to Hoddesdon Cricket Club.

Ian said: “Freddie is exactly the type of young person every cricket club hopes to have around. He’s respectful, hardworking, enthusiastic and always willing to give his time to help others. What he contributes behind the scenes often goes unnoticed, but it certainly doesn’t go unappreciated. He thoroughly deserves this award.”

As the evening sun slowly dropped behind the trees at Lowfield, players and supporters remained around the ground long after the final ball had been bowled. People laughed, shared stories, enjoyed a drink together and reflected on another hugely successful President’s Day.

Huge thanks go to Peter Grant for once again hosting such a brilliant occasion, and thank you to everybody who attended and supported Cranker’s President’s Day. The cricket was excellent, the company was even better.

And somewhere in Hertfordshire, Adam Sturdy is probably still vacuuming bits of glass out of his car...

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