Six cricket teams represent Ballyclare High School in both competitive and friendly fixtures during the summer term. In addition boys have the opportunity to take part in keenly contested Inter-House matches. Two artificial wickets are used for home matches, and practice sessions are conducted in two outdoor nets and in two indoor nets in the Montgomery Sports Hall where a bowling machine is also available.
Eleven members of staff were involved in cricket coaching and umpiring last season under the direction of former pupil and current teacher in charge Mr Simon Thompson. In recent years school teams have won numerous competitions and several boys have won representative honours at inter-provincial and international level.
That school cricket prospers to such an extent today is indicative of the significant development of the sport in school since the first tentative steps towards its introduction in the 1940s.
The first recorded fixtures took place in 1947 when only two matches were played due to the inclement weather, with the 1 st XI losing to Belfast Technical College and the Junior XI losing to Belfast Royal Academy.
The Headmaster’s report on the summer of 1948 identified an increased interest in the sport. The new playing fields had provided a surface “not all that a good cricket pitch should be, but which afforded practice during games and enabled us to entertain visiting teams.” The leading run-scorer was J McConnell (47), while W Workman took 16 wickets and returned the impressive bowling figures of 8/9 against Belfast High School Junior XI.
In the 1949 season the 1st XI won two of six fixtures and lost the others narrowly. J McConnell, who bowled consistently throughout the season, took a hat-trick in the first match, and the fact that several players scored more than 20 runs in an innings was considered evidence of a significant improvement in the standard of batting.
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1st X1 1949 Mr R E Russell (Headmaster), J Houston, B Patterson, W Stevenson, R Foster, J Tuppen, S Millar, K Lyle, Mr H A Mudd |
1st X1 1950 Mr R E Russell (Headmaster), D Saunders, S Black, R Lancaster, C Thompson, J Jones, T Wright, Mr H A Mudd |
There is no available record of fixtures in 1951 but the Headmaster reported that “practice matches frequently progressed without spoiling the fun with a lecture on theory.”
In 1952 the firsts won three of eight matches with Ivan Black totalling 140 runs. Stafford Stevenson claimed an excellent tally of 33 wickets, his bowling characterised by a good length which forced opposing batsmen to treat him with respect.
During the school cricket of 1953 W Heron achieved the best bowling figures of 6/10, while Stafford Stevenson demonstrated considerable all-round talent, taking 8/33 in one game, and scoring 39 from a team total of 48 in another.
The 1954 season saw school teams win four of thirteen games. Best batting performance came from S Fettis whose undefeated 71 came in a drawn game with MCB, the opposition batting out time to achieve the draw.
An absence of records prevents detailed reference to some of the years between 1955 and 1969, but the recurring theme of the period is of the development of school cricket being severely hampered by a lack of adequate facilities. The report of the 1961 season looked forward “to the day that the 1 st XI step out to play on a perfect square while the headmaster and many interested members of staff watch from the spectators’ balcony on an immaculate pavilion.”
The summer of 1962 saw the school complete a full programme of fixtures largely thanks to the work of the newly appointed Mr G Dodds as groundsman. The highest scorer for the 1 st XI was captain G McComb, while D McKenzie recorded some incredible bowling figures for the Under 14 team. He took 7/7, 5/5, and 6/7, two of these being achieved in a losing cause.
During the 1963 season D Mudd was awarded a Schools’ Trial, while D McKenzie continued the good form of the previous year with 20 wickets.
Several players caught the eye with good performances in 1965, notably R Adams, I McMeekin, K Ruddock and T Jackson. Indeed Terry Jackson went on to be selected as 12 th man for an Inter Provincial match with Leinster in 1968.
In 1970 the Under 16 team was undefeated and won the Miles Cup for East Antrim Schools by beating Belfast High by 9 wickets in the semi final and Larne Technical College by 33 runs in the final. The outstanding players were team captain Andrew Gleghorne and all-rounder Gordon Cox, while John Millar was labelled an efficient wicket-keeper and batsman, and Paul Edwards and Leslie Smith were successful run-scorers.
The Under 14 XI did not enjoy success but improved significantly, and it is recorded that Frank Gault, another current member of the teaching staff, frequently demonstrated how to hit fours!
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In 1971 Andrew Gleghorne was selected for a Mid-Ulster XI. The Under 15 side could not defend the Miles Cup, losing in the final to Carrick Grammar by 8 runs, while the Under 13 team reached the semi final of the Moyallen Shield. The Miles Cup was regained in 1972 by a talented Under 15 team which went through the entire season undefeated. |
1972 Under 15 Miles Cup Winners Mr I Richardson, A Cartwright (sc), N Ringland, J Adams, A Bogle, C Boyd, H Patterson, J Loughridge, Mr B Vance |
Of course 1973 was the year that the 1 st XV won the Ulster Schools’ Rugby Cup. Their cricketing counterparts also did the school proud by winning the first major trophy, the Sherrygroom Cup, after a campaign which included wins over Carrick Grammar and Dalriada, and culminated in a 10 wicket win over Duke of Westminster in the final.
The 1 st XI added to their success by winning the Mid-Ulster Cup in 1974, while the Under 15 team regained the Miles Cup.
The 1975 1 st XI was considered to have scored freely, with many batsmen surpassing 30 and 40. Graeme Jennings and Mike Brown played prominent roles, while team captain Trevor Martin’s performances earned him an Ulster Schools’ trial. Also in 1975 the Under 15 side won the Miles Cup six a side while the 1 st XI squad undertook a tour to Lancashire in the company of Mr Davison, Mr McCune and Mr Wallace. |
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1975 1 st XI Tour Party ( Lancashire) Mr R Wallace, B Beattie (wk), W Campbell, C Boyd, N Carson, M Brown, G Jennings, Mr R McCune |
In 1977 the firsts again reached the final of the Sherrygroom Cup, but pride of place went to a talented Under 13 side which lost in the final of the Moyallen Shield to Strabane Grammar in a two innings match at Muckamore CC. Captained by Stephen Watt the side featured two current members of staff, Simon Thompson and Gareth Lenaghan, and future Northern Ireland goalkeeping star Tommy Wright.
An Under 16 side (S Brown, W Cody, B Anderson, J McAree, T Craig, W Houston) again won the six a side competition for the Miles Cup.
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1 st X1 1978 S Brown, B Anderson, R Todd, B Cody, J Thompson, B McConnell, Mr R McCune |
In 1978 Philip Agnew was selected for an Ulster Schools’ trial, and the firsts again embarked on a tour, facing Leeds Grammar and taking the opportunity to watch England play Pakistan at Headingley. John Thompson’s 93 not out against RS Armagh in the 1979 Schools’ Cup remains the highest recorded score for the 1 st XI.
In 1980, under the captaincy of John Thompson, the firsts lost in another Sherrygroom Cup final despite a valiant 50 from Bill Cody in the final against Limavady Technical College.
Current teacher in charge of cricket Simon Thompson held the captaincy of the first squad in 1981 and 1982. In 1981 he totalled 166 runs, while Michael Turkington and Stephen Watt also scored freely and Fred Murdock took 15 wickets.
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The following year Simon Thompson earned an Ulster Schools’ trial after accumulating a further 310 runs, at an average of 28.2, while Jeffrey O’Hara claimed 27 wickets with his fiery pace bowling. The Under 15 side lost in the final of the Jubilee Cup to Strabane after defeating Wallace and Friends. The Under 14 side was inspired to improve its fielding as Mr Martin imposed a fine for every dropped catch while at Under 13 level, team captain David Rainey indicated rich promise with 239 runs and 27 wickets, and K Caldwell contributed 17 wickets. |
1st X1 1982 |
In 1984 the first squad won 8 of 13 games and reached the semi final of the McCullough Cup. Jeffrey O’Hara, who represented Ulster Schools in 1983 and 1984, amassed over 300 runs, including four fifties, with positive batting, and Michael Anderson added 242 runs. Honourable mention also went to the Under 12 team which won the Mulholland Cup organised by Muckamore CC. Among the budding sportsmen was Gary Longwell who went on to win major international rugby honours. |
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1984 Under 12 X1 Mulholland Cup Winners G Longwell, A Bennett, K Hanna, J Glover, D Sales, A McCrea, Mr F Gault |
School cricket in the 1980s benefited from the expertise of Mr John Solanky, the professional at Cliftonville CC. Links with clubs such as Cliftonville, Muckamore and more recently Templepatrick are valued by the school, as players gain valuable competitive experience and quality coaching throughout the summer. It is also pleasing to note the role of former pupils such as Andrew Gleghorne and Andy McCrea in promoting and developing the game in the area. Indeed Andy McCrea, the Cricket Development Officer at Templepatrick CC, has completed an ECB Level 3 coaching course which makes him the highest qualified cricket coach in Northern Ireland. In 2006 he has been invited to coach at the European Cricket Council Centre of Excellence in La Manga.
In 1986 David Rainey was selected for Ulster Schools having averaged 56 for the 1 st XI, and Gavin Hawthorne was chosen for Ulster Town Under 19. Meanwhile the Under 12 side defeated Antrim Grammar and Parkhall to regain the Mulholland Cup. The new cricket square on the Rashee Road was used for the first time and was considered to have provided a reasonable, if lively, surface.
In 1988 the Under 13 team lost in the semi final of the Moyallen Shield to eventual winners Strabane High, and in 1989 the Under 15 team, under the captaincy of Colin Storey recorded a major win by claiming the Ulster Schools’ Jubilee Cup after defeating Bangor Grammar in the final.
1990 proved to be a significant year in the history of cricket in Ballyclare High School. The Under 14 team won the Ulster Schools’ League and Kyle McCallan gave an early indication of the match-winning talent that would lead to such a successful career at international level. The Under 14 team defeated Ballymena Academy, Larne Grammar and Antrim Grammar in the group stage to reach a semi final against Bangor Grammar.
Kyle McCallan contributed 18 to a Ballyclare total of 65, and spirited bowling from Darren Dunlop (2/6) and N Snoddy (3/7) guided the team to victory by 18 runs.
In the final MCB could only total 48 thanks to excellent bowling from McCallan (4/11), Dunlop (2/14), Snoddy (1/6) and Daryl McLean (2/16). An unbeaten opening partnership between McLean and McCallan steered Ballyclare to a deserved 10 wicket success.
The 1992 season also proved to be one of the most successful in the history of the school. By defeating Strabane Grammar in the final, the 1 st XI won the Sherrygroom Cup outright having shared the trophy the previous season. The 1 st XI won 9 of their 11 games under Allen Huxley’s captaincy, with Kyle McCallan scoring heavily and earning selection for Ulster Schools, Irish Schools and Ireland Under 23. Alistair McKeown also played for an Ulster Schools’ Invitation XI against the Leprechauns.
The Under 14 side played ten matches and only lost one, the final of the Ulster Schools NCU Cup by 3 wickets to Regent House. Jeremy Nutt, William Murray and Harmesh Chada all surpassed 100 runs, while Jeremy and Chris Nutt took 24 and 17 wickets respectively.
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Ulster Schools’ Under 14 League Runners Up 1992 Mr T Stewart, P McQuillan, W Murray , H Chada, J Nutt, D Stephenson, N Cahill , Mr P Leckey |
In 1994 Kyle McCallan had the honour of captaining Ulster Schools, and was vice captain of Irish Schools. Darren Dunlop was selected for the Ulster Schools tour to Cumbria. And towards the end of the summer an Old Boys X1 defeated the 1 st XI in the inaugural Old Boys match. This fixture has now become an established tradition, eagerly anticipated by current and past pupils alike.
The highlight of the 1995 season was Andrew Hassard’s undefeated innings of 92 for the Under 15 side against Friends. Despite an early exit from the Moyallen Shield the Under 13 side showed potential that was to be richly fulfilled the following season.
In 1996 Richard Duffield captained a talented squad to the final of the Under 14 Ulster Schools’ Derriaghy Cup with wins over Limavady Grammar, RS Armagh and RBAI. The side travelled to face Strabane Grammar, unfortunately without their unavailable captain. Ballyclare bowled first and restricted the home side to a manageable total thanks to attacking bowling and excellent fielding. Andrew Lowe (36 not out) opened the reply with purpose and assurance, while Colin Davison made a pleasing 32 as Ballyclare recorded an outstanding win.
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Under 14 X1 Derriaghy Cup Winners 1996 L Bell, C Davison, R Hall, A Lowe, G Barnett, J Chesney, D Chesney |
The same squad then reached the final of the Under 15 Jubilee Cup in 1997. Wins over Bangor Grammar, RBAI and Ballymena Academy again owed much to Lowe and Davison’s run-scoring and Laurence Bell’s penetrative bowling. Unfortunately Bell missed the final and a 9 wicket defeat to Campbell College. Both Davison and Bell were selected for NCU Under 15, and Bell also toured Northern England with Ulster Schools’ Under 15.
In the same year the Under 13 team reached the final of the Moyallen Shield for the first time since 1977. Cambridge House, Regent House and Bangor Grammar were all accounted for as the side reached the regional final of the Slemish Cup. Defending a modest total of 88, Ballyclare inflicted five run outs upon Ballymena Academy in the final to reach the Ulster decider.
In an echo of 1977, Strabane Grammar again provided the opposition and again proved too strong as they set a demanding target of 145 runs. Ballyclare could only muster 71 in reply. From this squad both Patrick Lutton and David Tweed were selected for NCU Under 13, while Ronald Burns, Richard Martin and Richard Moore also played consistently.
As a footnote to the 1997 season it is worth recording that three NCU Section One clubs were captained by Old Ballyclarians, namely Kyle McCallan at Cliftonville, Jeffrey O’Hara at Lisburn and Simon Thompson at Muckamore.
The 1997 Moyallen Shield finalists combined again in 1999 to win the Ulster Schools’ NCU Under 15 Cup, comfortably beating Banbridge Academy in the final. Batting first the Ballyclare team was disappointed to reach only 93/8, thanks largely to some late boundaries from Ronald Burns (26) and a patient innings of 21 from Patrick Lutton. However David Tweed set the tone for the team’s performance in the field, bowling with great control and forcing a mistake from the key opposition batsman which allowed Richard Moore to claim a crucial catch. Moore’s off-spin brought variety to the attack as he took 4/16 and Lutton rounded off an impressive all-round performance with figures of 3/8.
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1999 Under 15 X1 NCU Cup Winners Mr G Lenaghan, R Moore, K Hassard, D Tweed, G Ferguson, M Lilley, R Moore, D Beard, R Martin, Mr S Thompson |
The 1998 1 st XI lost to Wallace High in the final of the Sherrygroom Cup, but the two sides met again in the final of the same trophy in 2000 and on this occasion Ballyclare emerged the winners. Colin Davison (31) and David Tweed (31) batted well in a convincing win, with Ireland Under 19 representative Davison being named Man of the Match.
In 2001 the defence of the Sherrygroom Cup failed only at the final hurdle with defeat to RS Armagh in the final. Ballyclare made 147 from 30 overs with Patrick Lutton, David Tweed and David McWilliams all enjoying good innings, but Armagh went on to win by 6 wickets.
The 1 st XI won the Sherrygroom Cup in both 2002 and 2003, on both occasions defeating Sullivan in the final. The 2002 decider resulted in a comfortable 8 wicket win. Sullivan could only total 77 all out thanks to steady bowling from Matthew Cooper (2/15), Adam Kelly (3/34), John Busby (2/9) and David Tweed (2/10). Patrick Lutton’s imposing innings of 61 not out steered Ballyclare to a comfortable win to regain the trophy.
The 2003 squad overcame Portora, Belfast High and Banbridge Academy (Andrew Cowden 49 not out) to reach the decider, where Ballyclare amassed 173/5 thanks to Chris Busby (69) and Richard Lutton (39). John Busby’s inspired spell of bowling (6/6 including a hat trick) guaranteed a comfortable 113 run win.
At Under 13 level Robert Smith enjoyed the distinction of scoring an unbeaten 104 away to Grosvenor in 2003, and two years later he scored 112 against the same opponents.
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Scorecard of Robert Smith's century for Under 13 X1 in 2003 |
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Scorecard of Robert Smith's century for Under 15 X1 in 2005 |
He narrowly missed the opportunity to record a third century when dismissed for 98 off the last ball of the innings in the Under 15 Cup against Parkhall College.
Having monopolised the Sherrygroom Cup in recent years the firsts were entered for the Ulster Schools Division One Gordon McCullough Cup in 2004 and went on to record the school’s first major senior cricket trophy win, defeating Limavady Grammar by 17 runs in the final at Muckamore CC. A talented squad led by Andrew Cowden had previously beaten Ballymena Academy (Richard Lutton 42), Regent House (James Jackson 34) and MCB (John Busby 34 not out). Cowden (44) and Jackson (39 not out) played crucial innings in the final.
In 2005 the firsts made an early exit from the Schools’ Cup despite excellent pre- season preparation on tour to Christ’s Hospital, Sussex. Andrew Cowden proved to be a committed captain and totalled 280 runs for the season at an average of 56. Cowden and John Busby played for the Irish Under 19 Schools team against a touring New South Wales team, James Jackson played for the Irish Under 17 team in England and Robert Smith played for the Under 15 Irish team at their European tournament.
The Under 12 team ensured one trophy for Ballyclare High by winning the Wesley Ferris Cup after a 26 run win over a Grosvenor side coached by Irish international and former BHS pupil Kyle McCallan.
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The trophies won and the honours awarded evidence the ongoing development of school cricket and it is hoped that it will continue to prosper in the future. The value of school sport goes far beyond the mere record of these successes and achievements to encompass a vast range of opportunities and shared experiences. The knowledge and commitment of staff combine effectively with the energy, enthusiasm and talents of pupils to enrich the experience of school life for all involved, thereby upholding a long-standing and valued tradition of extra-curricular activity, which remains central to the ethos of Ballyclare High School.
MN June 2006
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