A Review of the 1934 Season
In the 1934 season the club was re-organised into 1st, 2nd and 3rd elevens on a Saturday and two mixed elevens on Sundays.
The General Committee’s pre-season report contained the following:
Most of the members will probably have realised that this coming season is the Jubilee of the Club. The Committee hope that this year will be marked by outstanding success in sport.
They also suggested:
It is a suitable opportunity to renew the Club flag, which has served for a good many years, and for this purpose it is proposed to ask members to make a contribution on the night of the Annual General Meeting.
The Eastern Mercury’s pre-season preview stated:
Chingford Cricket Club’s lease on their excellent ground at Forest Side will expire in 7 years’ time. Whether the Club will be able to retain it or have to find a ground elsewhere is not yet known, but the officials of the Club are wisely dealing with the matter now so as to be fully prepared when the time comes.
Technology had appeared and the tea hut was now served with running water, this cost less than £2 to accomplish!
The complete results for Saturdays were:
|
|
Won
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Drawn
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Lost
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|
1st XI
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13
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4
|
7
|
|
2nd XI
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8
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3
|
11
|
|
3rd XI
|
7
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5
|
8
|
Gordon Downes was the 1st XI Captain, and as usual was amongst the wickets with 83 for the season – including 8-42 v Walthamstow, but Jock Harwood led the way with 91. Francis Harley took 62 , amongst which was 8-40 v Band of Brethren and Bill Adamson captured 58 wickets.
With the bat Noel Westerhout led the way with 1069 runs and Len Parslow made 860, and Syd Spicer 855.
In the 2nds over Bank Holiday weekend, Jock Harwood took 8-56 in 20 overs on the Saturday v Cheshunt following this up on the Monday with 7-18 in 23 overs v South Woodford. Following these tremendous efforts, Jock was promoted to the 1st XI and celebrated his debut with 3-38 in 18 overs at home to Buckhurst Hill.
On August Bank Holiday Monday, Chingford 2nd XI visited South Woodford, who totalled 120. In reply Chingford helped themselves to an incredible 334 all out, believed to be the highest score ever for the 2nd XI. The 2s twice scored over 300, yet on consecutive weeks they were twice dismissed for 25, with Buckhurst Hill inexplicably appearing on both sides of the balance sheet. In the away game at Claybury Mental Hospital, Frank Cheesewright took a hat trick to finish off the innings and ended with 3-0 from 4 balls!
In the Sunday XIs Jock Harwood took a hat trick v Edmonton in a huge win. Frank Cheesewright took 9-70 but still ended up on the losing side v Erith Technical College.
On 8 July the Eastern Mercury reported:
Chingford were to have sent a side to play Wanstead at Wanstead on Sunday but the match was cancelled as Wanstead have decided to scratch all Sunday games until the drought comes to an end. This is an instance of the anxiety the dry spell and consequent restrictions in the use of water is causing groundsmen.
Cricket Week saw Chingford (141) beat a strong Essex Club and Ground (117) with the heroes in the victory being Jock Harwood (5-35) and Noel Westerhout (46) and Don Spencer with 3 fine catches in a brilliant team fielding display. Cricket Week ended with the traditional flannel dance in the Queen Elizabeth.
On 25 August, the match with Jack Townrow’s XI of well known footballers and cricketers was played in front of a good crowd and was in aid of Chingford Football Club. The visitors could only muster 53, Fred Cheesweright capturing 5-31. In reply Chingford won easily and went on to total 185-6, Don Spencer making 60.
Sunday 2 September saw a charity match against LC Eastman’s XI, which contained 10 players who had played for Essex in 1934. Chingford put up a terrific display , having the better of a draw, with Noel Westerhout making 101* and Don Spencer 87 in Chingford’s 289-8. The visitors closed on 181-8 with Bill Adamson bowling magnificently to take 5-43.
In the Tennis Section a number of the members were also cricketers and the Cornish Challenge Cup was won by Miss D Baulch (Ladies’ Singles) and Mr ED Tonge (Men’s Singles) and the Petingall-Norbury Trophy (Mixed Doubles) was won by Miss J Pinhorn and Mr TA Spencer. The Ladies’ Doubles was won by Mrs GC Gaines and Mrs LW Loe, while Mr J Wisbey and Mr WE Sansom claimed the Men’s Doubles – both these feats were to be repeated in 1935 . In matches the results were Played 10 W4 D4 L2