A Calgary Tradition Turns 100
I
am one of those annoying converts. I discovered a true passion of mine
six years ago and have come to the realisation that I am in the midst of
a proud tradition; a tradition in Calgary and a tradition from the
furthest reaches of the British Empire. Ever since that discovery, I
have played cricket, watched cricket,talked cricket and attempted to get
others to join cricket.
The
Calgary and District Cricket League was formed 100 years ago, this
week. That's nine years before the first professional hockey game was
played here; two years before the Archduke's demise; Donald Bradman was
only 4 years old, with thoughts of cricket grandeur in his head when the
league was formed. This city is steeped in cricket tradition and
history. The famed Marlyebone Cricket Club (think all of the Original
Six team combined as one, and then add some more on top) played here,
and according to Cricket Canada, they will again on July 18.
Cricket
to most is either a game for posh, English gentlemen from a Jane Austen
book or one for street children from the subcontinent; it's both, and
so much more. It's even ours. Or at least, it was. Cricket was Canada's
first national sport and we also boast the world's longest international
rivalry with the United States. We have played each other since 1844,
long before the Ashes was played between England and Australia. (We'll
have to change the meaning of 'the Old Enemy'!)
The
way it started for me was simple. At first, there were highlights,
usually from a British sports program or a sports from round the world
episode. Then it was traveling and meeting Aussies. The final straw, the
final test before my conversion was driving down 10th street
and seeing teams in white playing at Riley Park, an ongoing tradition
since 1908 (or so the famed clubhouse would lead me to believe). I
decided to Google some information and ended up emailing the CDCL and
they pointed me towards Glenmore Cricket Club, my home ever since.
Glenmore
has players from nearly every corner of the world—so far this year,
we're lacking a Kiwi (c'mon down!!). They have taught me how to bowl and
bat; they have taught me the history of the game and its greatest
player, Sir Donald Bradman who agonizingly fell short of an average of
100 runs per Test match because of a duck, a 0, in his final Test match
bringing his average to 99.94. There's inter-team sledging between
Aussies and English, between Indians and Pakistanis, between those from
the West Indies and those from South Africa, between Canadians and
non-Canadians, all done in tone of comraderie and 'mateship'. And
despite my earlier lack of talent and cricket knowledge, GCC, other
clubs, and CDCL have made me feel welcome. And I, like an annoying
convert want to spread the word of my conversion. Who wouldn'twant to
play this sport with positions such as Silly Point and Bat Pad, Long On
and Gully!
This
club and this league is more than a beer-league sport. It is a meeting
place for those from all corners of the world, for those with history
and those without, for those with skills and those who lack it. In
Calgary, there are those have played for Canada and those who are
playing for Canada and those who will play for Canada.This league and
this sport is a microcosm of our city and our country. It's here for
your enjoyment; I suggest you take advantage of the sport, the
subtleties and its history; watch a beautiful bowl, admire its line and
length; watch the frustration of a dropped catch and listen for the
maxim 'catches win matches'. It is an open and welcoming place, even for
those with proclivitys for ducks, like myself (and Donald Bradman)!
This sport in this city is coming back from its nadir. And we want you!
Come down to Riley Park on the weekends to watch.
BJ Wolstenholme,
Cricket fan and member of GCC