Rain rain stay away -Sunday is cricket day.

[Marions]

Cricket Logo.jpg (5.46 KiB) Viewed 384 times

The match postponed from last week is all set to go tomorrow Sunday 18th Jan. Note new venue, namely Bellapais Stadium, half way up the hill towards Bellapais and near the Bella View Hotel.

Game starts at 11a.m. and should be finished by 3-3.30p.m. by which time the game of of TRNC against Nicosia cricket club will have determined who is the winner of the C reditWest North Cyprus League award.

The organisers hope that their supporters old and new will come and in the meantime maybe light a few candles for the rain to stay away. Saturday's morning's weather is NOT needed for Sunday !

For those who are disabled or wish to bring friends who are, please note that disabled access is reasonable. There are however a few steps inside the stand, but the car park is very close and it is a 'gentle path' to the pitch.

So, carry on chanting to keep the rain away, and carrying on supporting your very own cricket team.

[Ragged Robin]

Thanks Marion, the forecast is for sun, let hope it is right!

[Marions]

Indeed RR. Cricket without sun is like apple pie without cream.

[Marions]

Wow. Someone heard. What a beautiful day for cricket. No excuse for not going to support - unless you are football bound.

[Keithcaley]

I've just had a 'Full English' - I'm Egg Bound !

[Marions]

Egg bound is supposed to get you going. Remember 'go to work on an egg' - sound s you are half way there!

[Shell232]

My partner just walked along to the stadium and there is no one there?

[Oops]

Oh the joys !!
Sorry anyone who may have turned up at Bellapais stadium.
The UN Nicosia team cancelled us again, this morning 9am !!!!! We tried really hard to find a replacement team for a friendly game but that was to no avail.
Having gone to the ground to apologise to anyone coming along to watch we also discovered that the pitch was used yesterday for a football game & it is in a terrible state, very, very muddy.
The sun may be shining but everything went against us today.
Good news is we are the winners of the Creditwest Cup 2014, shame it was by default.
Thank you everyone for your support & sorry again if anyone turned up to watch.
Lynn & Nigel

[Ragged Robin]

Having hardened my heart against the dogs that needed exercise and the neglected garden, I decided I needed have a rare treat and take an hour or two off to watch cricket and managed to get there about 11.20. So disappointed to find the ground totally deserted, the gate from the carpark padlocked. and no notices to explain (surely in these circumstances a brief message could be put on the fence). I did think, however, that the ground was hardly playable for cricket and assumed that was the reason. I walked around a bit to see if I could find anyone to explain, but only football fans watching a game on the other pitch bemused by the presence of a sole elderly Englishwoman

A sad waste of a lovely sunny morning. I am just glad in a odd way that the late notice did not give me time to prepare the packed lunch I had intended so I could stay longer. I will have second thoughts about going again.

Bwt I dont "do" Facebook but last time I was there I left my email address and was promised I would be sent details of future fixtures but have heard nothing.

For info of the less able the carpark was very muddy, but since there werent many cars there it was possible to avoid the worst danger in car and on foot, but be careful of skidding or potholes hidden under water. I forgot to check out public toilet facilities last time, so took the chance to look for them this time, but appears there are none. Of course there is a cafe opposite, but it appeared pretty crowded. Pia Bella may be a bit too far (and there are those steps) in an emergency.

[Shell232]

Ragged Robin, the match was cancelled but I also think you were at the wrong location. The match was suppose to be at the Bellapais stadium today not the one opposite Pia Bella? The only places opposite the Bellapais stadium is Bella View and Bellapais Monastery Village Hotels?

[Ragged Robin]

Thanks Shell! Definitely not my day! I obviously saw "Bella" and stupidly assumed, and the silly thing is I probably wouldnt have gone if I had known it was somewhere I hadnt been recently and didnt know if I could access. Its a long time since I have been to Bellapais and I dont remember where the Stadium is? Apart from the main one opposite the Monastery, I think there are two - one on the left (which I seem to remember was down a very steep slope) near a school and one on the right just before you enter the village.

[Oops]

Sorry again Ragged Robin, Nigel did email you ( no phone number ) as soon as we were certain that we couldn't get a replacement team to play after the UN let us down again ( they waited until 9am match day ) !

We did go to the ground & stayed around 45 mins to explain to people but obviously cricket is a long game & people come & go throughout the day, then I posted on here & someone put it on facebook & our website, sorry not a lot else that we could do.

We must check your email Ragged Robin as we did send out a message to everyone on our database details of the venue & it's disabled access on Thursday as soon as we were allocated the pitch.
No cricket until March now, but we are the winners of the first Creditwest Cup, thanks everyone for your support and sorry again any for any inconvenience caused yesterday.

[Ragged Robin]

Obviously "s***s" law was well at work here, because the email to me didnt reach me because of a misplaced letter (easily done!). However I have now had a very nice email and am in contact, and looking forward to the new season in March. I hope the cricketers have better luck with the arrangement for fixtures and good weather next season.

Can I just take the opportunity to say that my request for information about facilities for those with physical problems was not just for cricket or for my own benefit.]: I am trying to get the message over to all event organisers, particularly Charities . There are lot of people with different and far worse handicapped than mine and North Cyprus is not well equipped (as well as having a lot of steep paths) for them. I have been involved both in the UK and here with more seriously disabled people, and it is important to their morale that they be helped to be as independent as possible and do not become housebound for lack of forethought of others. Sometimes of course the venue makes it impossible for the worst cases (who need wheelchair access, disabled toilets etc), but often a few simple details about access, availability of nearby parking, seating etc. can help, and at least save disappointment and wasted journeys. And we are an aging population and many of us are quite glad to know of the location of the nearest ordinary toilet after a long journey!

There are of course other people who may need help/information - those with young children, or without transport for instance and people with impaired sight or hearing. Often sadly too proud or too embarrassed to ask for help. Perhaps the Mods could consider a place where people could post here, for the benefit of event organisers, the sort of information , cooperation or assistance they need to make an event viable for them.

Thanks to the cricketers for their understanding, and to others in advance for their cooperation.