As no doubt you all know, nobody is really sure when the game of creckett really began, you note I use the correct spelling of the word here. Its usage over the years has changed it into cricket. Indeed there is considerable evidence suggesting children playing in the clearings of the woodlands in Kent and Sussex, devised the game during the Norman and Saxon times.

Little is really know about adult participation until the early 17^th century, when it is thought the game could have derived from bowls, with a batsman trying to prevent the bowl reaching its target.

Naturally we bears know a little more, seeing that we have played the game for many years. Albeit that in recent years we have had little opportunity to engage in the sport - due to the lack of consideration of many clubs installing flood lighting to allow evening matches, denying us the opportunity to us the grounds.

These pictures tell their own stories

Playing under a star bright sky is far more challenging, and of course leads to the name of the   game, a derivation of "crick neck". A condition many players suffered from at some point, due to the straining to see the ball in the twilight of summer evenings.

Sometime towards the end of the 1890’s famous Bear Crecketter Benjamin Batty was presented by his wife a supper of cold mashed potato on yet another of his late homecomings, which she served in a trophy previously won by Benjamin for his endeavours in the sport.

For reasons which even to this day, are by no means clear, the Mash Trophy became one of the most sort after awards in the sport of creckett between the participating teams in the country. The winning team being given a replica of the original trophy, which has been preserved over the years by many coats of vanish. A special supper of fresh salmon and mash is served after the contest.

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