Last year it was Cardiff.  Eleni cerddwn at Caerdydd

Previous tours have been a great success with excellent banter and Cardiff was no different! A tour report is promised!

With no tour in the 2005 season, and preparations for 2006 slow to start, a last minute decision was taken to visit the bright lights of Nottingham. Despite the last minute preparations, the tour proved to be another huge success.

The fixtures format for the 2006 tour was slightly different, with the short travel distance enabling a 20-20 match to be played on the Friday evening against Allestree CC.

Heyford started well, setting a competitive target with Simon Legge and Tom Whittaker both reaching 50 before declaring. All seemed to be going well in the field, with Mark Ferguson snaring two Allestree batsmen, one a sharp leg side stumping by Leggie. With 6 required for the victory from the last ball, and skipper Ed Rogers bowling the odds were in Heyfords favour, until the captain was comprehensively driven over cover for 6 runs in a dramatic finale.

An exciting start to the tour was followed up by a magnificent barbeque with the Allestree players, before checking into the somewhat shabby (but cheap and conveniently located) Talbot House Hotel next to Trent Bridge.

After a groggy 9-holes of golf the following morning, and an hour of drinking on the deserted but atmospheric terraces at Trent Bridge, arrangements were made to watch the World Cup quarter final between England and Portugal. The highlight of a disappointing match was Ross Cambray in his debut season with the club doing his utmost to frustrate his football supporting team mates, falling asleep with the score 0-0 after 89 minutes. This lack of patriotism has not been forgotten.

Jongleurs comedy club and another evening of alcohol induced banter lifted the mood for those who attended, particularly Disco Stu and Ed Rogers who appeared to be getting on extremely well. Chris Peck opted to return to his pit and assume a pose like an emperor on his throne – an image that those sharing his room will never forget as they rolled in at the end of the night.

Sundays fixture saw Heyford CC led by Matt Baker at the request of a still heavily intoxicated Ed Rogers. After winning the toss Heyford set another competitive score of 180, with main contributions coming from the top of the order from Matt Baker and Stu Reid, both passing the 50 mark in a partnership of over 100.

Unfortunately a sudden downpour midway through the Matlock CC innings resulted in the match being abandoned with the match delicately poised – but not a moment too soon for the flagging Heyford players!

Gloucester was the destination for the inaugural Heyford Cricket Club tour, proving to be a huge success and generating great enthusiasm for future tours. Cricketing memories from the tour are few and fair between, with most talking points of interest taking place away from the field of play!

Jumpin’ Jaks was the chosen destination and source of alcoholic fuel behind most antics, with Ed Rogers and Stan Inwood excelling on the dance floor as the leading men for the latest generation of "turd dancers", and Nick Clarke also displaying some unique dance moves of his own.

Weather on tour was excellent, with the exception of one heavy and remarkably localised shower one night, ensuring that both Saturday and Sunday fixtures could be played.

The Saturday fixture against Densons CC proved to be a promising start to the tour, with Heyford CC victorious by 19 runs, thanks largely to Kit Andrews clean bowling their main danger man as the game looked to be slipping away. Heyford CC runs came from Simon Legge (80) and Ed Rogers (55), with Alex Kirkbride (4-56) the pick of the bowling.

Touring inexperience on the part of most Heyford tour members proved to be our undoing in the Sunday fixture at Kings Stanley CC, with the second consecutive 5am socialising finish taking its toll on the majority of the playing squad. Fortunately veteran of countless cricketing tours to exotic destinations, Alex Kirkbride, was more sensible and led the bowling once again in an 8 wicket defeat. Contributions with the bat came from skipper Ed Rogers (38*) and Tom Whittaker (33).