A record of played 10, won 2 drawn 4, lost 4 sounds a lot worse than it is. We also had 4 games abandoned due to the rain, along with another that was cancelled because Old KCS Wimbledon could not get up a side for our Cricket World trophy match - not a very good effort

Before getting to the cricket, I feel that I must say thank you to Iain Wilkie and John Cooke who have been Captain and President respectively for the last five years. They did a fantastic job on the administration and certainly made my life easier by recruiting some excellent players for the future from the School.

On the field, when the weather allowed, we had some excellent games. The best of these was undoubtedly the game against Lancing. Having won the toss, I put them in on a brown, hard wicket with a green patch on what I thought was just short of a length. A total of 300-1 tells you that my idea of just short of a length is a half-volley. Fortunately for us their Captain was persuaded to declare - he wanted another twenty runs. A rapid 82 from Richard Gutteridge followed by an almost as quick 70 from brother David contrasted beautifully with Simon Copleston's maiden century. We eventually muddled home with the more experienced chaps almost making a hash of things, winning by four wickets with seven balls to spare. This was the first time in our history that we had chased 300 and won.

Our other win came at Ardingly where I won the toss on a very damp wicket. We promptly bowled them out for 120 with watkinson, Chetwode and Corp taking three wickets each. At tea we were 62-0 with Copleston and Richard Radbourne on 29 each. What followed afterwards was complete slaughter - from one end. Radbourne won the game in seven overs with an unbeaten 86...Copleston still had 29! This was the first ten wicket win in the Club's history.

Perhaps we should talk a bit more about these newer boys. Copleston and Radbourne are lazy in the field - Shelley thinks they are asleep. When they bat they have contrasting styles - Radbourne all gung-ho and six or out. Copleston all quiet and one or I'm run out. Henry Watkinson is a class act that everyone knows about. He tends to bowl as the mood takes him. He can be very fast, as when bowling to Porter in the School match who was hit on the helmet twice but won the battle and the game with 46 not out. Or he bowls at a more sedate medium pace, but still manages to get wickets. His bowling at St John's in particular was a mixture, sometimes fast, sometimes not so fast. Who knew what to expect? Certainly not Willie Boulter the 'keeper. I think it's down to the Thumper. Watters also bats a bit.

Richard Gutteridge is another who is an excellent cricketer with both bat and ball - a bit like the Captain really!! He can bowl really quickly when the mood takes him, as the broken box of the Eton Rambler will testify - it split down the middle and I would think he can still feel it. His batting was sometimes quite brilliant, as with his knock against Lancing. It was also great to see David playing. he is a real find for the Club with his brilliant fielding, strong, but correct hitting and more than useful swing bowling.

Richard Johnson is a new face that we have not seen before, and he will be a great asset in the future. He tells everyone that he keeps wicket but prefers to field - so he fields. He bats at number three because he wants to and dresses terribly. If we can do something about that next year he will look a fine cricketer.

Nigel Radbourne was our new Vice Captain and, although I never seemed to know where he was living or working, he did a great job in backing me up and doing some of the more mundane jobs.

So what of other players and games. We were pleased to see old faces such as Paul and Nigel Dunnett and Willie Boulter. Richard Pollitt turned his arm over as well as ever and made useful runs except against Lancing (0). Bad luck Richard. Mike Chase played a few and complained about his place in the order as usual. Henry Corp bowled a kept wicket to great effect, but batted terribly. John Wells came off his long run and bowled well. Iain Wilkie continues to get the odd ball off the square and held the innings together on more than one occasion. He also has some new blinding orange keeping gloves, but still cannot catch anything. Martin Williamson still thinks he is a class act and got a good fifty against the Old Walcountians. He also bowled tidily throughout the season.

On the field we lost to the School (4 wickets), Old Georgians in the Cricket World Trophy (11 runs), Old Georgians in the week (151 runs) and the Old Walcountians (1 wicket). We had the better of the draw against the Old Johnians where they made 88-9chasing 214-6 and we drew against Headley, Frogs who recovered from 102-9 to 233 all out, and Old Wellingtonians.

Despite the fact that it was very wet and we had three games rained off, the week was one of the most enjoyable I have ever been involved with. Much of it was spent at Simon Copleston's parent's pub, where Old Thumper was the order of the day. Comments about Willers and Coppers Doggers abounded and Henry Watkinson has now been paid by the aforementioned Willers for the windscreen wipers.

All in all it was an excellent season. Thanks must go the John McDermott, our new President, for all his support during the season, especially during the odd crisis that occurred. Thanks to Martin Williamson for his usual help. I now know what previous Captains have meant when they say his indispensable.

Richard Seeckts, our Fixtures Secretary, as usual has done a fine job - many more years yet. Thanks also must go to Peter Woodhead and his staff at the School for producing what must now be one of the top school pitches in the country, and also Jon Ayres for his help while we are at the School. The umpires did a terrific job and thanks must go the Brian Adams and Roger Bullen, whose last year this may have been - too early, surely - but we shall see.

Michael Chetwode's contribution to "The Cranleighan" was written whilst waiting for Securicor to deliver his Child Benefit.