At Sidbury’s recent home fixture on Sunday, during the tea interval Sidbury proudly displayed their new wicket mower, writes Simon Rowe.

The village team founded in 1972, are lucky enough to have a beautiful little ground, set adjacent to the River Sid and Millennium Green, but have struggled to prepare wickets due to the aging wicket mowers.

The old mowers have been invaluable, but with spare parts coming harder and harder to come by and the some key components starting to physically deteriorate something needed to be done to source a new mower.

A combination of club fundraising, sponsorship and support from both the Tony Coles Charitable Trust and Hill Trust Trust has helped the club raise the money and purchase the new mower.

Brian Daw acting on behalf of the Tony Coles Trustees, was pleased to support the Mower appeal by way of a grant.

He said: “We hope that this will enable you to continue your work in developing young Cricketers.”

Dave Munro-Higgs, the club’s colts coach now has over 30 children registered at the club playing junior cricket, with many representing East Devon.

The club also holds an annual Junior Festival and is starting to make its mark on the junior cricket scene.

The club fundraising this year came in part due to the innovative idea of organising a sponsored coast-to-coast cycle ride, Croyde to Sidmouth only it was done overnight. The Night Ride which was 108km was completed Friday, June 24.

Special thanks to Rex Harrison for providing refreshments at two sites throughout the night, Mark Williams for supporting the riders as a safety vehicle and for Tracey Stone and Louise Rowe for providing the refreshments when the riders arrived in Sidmouth at 4:15am!

Whilst the club doesn’t subscribe to the Devon Leagues it does has have a healthy playing support with approximately 40 players getting involved across the course of the season.

Not all are keen cyclists, but there were 10 willing to take part in the sponsored challenge. Chris Stone, Simon Rowe, Archie Rowe, Phil Grove, Chris Fitzhenry, Alex Paget, Olly Paget, Andrew Butcher, Dave Manly and Matt Bray.

Credit to Archie as the youngest participant (14 years) not only completing the event, but at times setting the pace and leading the peloton home into Sidmouth.

Chris Stone, who helped construct the idea and is also a keen cyclist, said: “This was one of the most enjoyable rides I can remember and really hope we can make it an annual event for the club.”

The club would also like to pass on its thanks to its sponsors; Sidmouth Design, Touch Design, St Johns International School, NDM Architects and the Sidmouth Surf Life saving club for allowing them to use the Arches on arrival into Sidmouth.