Wendover Women Tournament Glory

On Sunday 5th July, Wendover CC newcomer Tracy Stanton and a handful of Wendover Junior coaches waited for newcomers to the women’s cricket taster. This was the first step to realise the vision of establishing a women’s team to complement Wendover’s existing girls’ sides and widen the club’s offer to its community. Excited talk was of getting perhaps a dozen women to the first session. In the event, Tracy and co were thrilled to get 32 women to that first Sunday – as clear an expression of enthusiasm as they could have hoped for.

The amount of experience of cricket and other sports was hugely varied, but a lot of fun was had, in a very supportive atmosphere. Talking afterwards, Tracy told the players that her short-term aspiration was to take a team to an August Bank Holiday women’s softball tournament in 8 weeks time, and again got positive feedback.

So, after Sunday sessions through July and August, supplemented by some midweek nets, Wendover managed to put not one, but two sides into the 8-a-side pairs tournament hosted by Chalfont St Peter, and talk on arrival was of what an achievement even that was in such a short space of time. In like-minded company from the other 10 teams involved from clubs all over Bucks and even one from Herts, the Wendover women not only had a great time, but acquitted themselves admirably.

Both teams won their first two matches, with Wendover A beating both the hosts and Penn & Tylers Green by good margins, and Wendover B beating a Gerrards Cross/Chenies mash-up and Rickmansworth, similarly by some distance. Wendover B benefited from smart captaincy by Georgina M, tight bowling all-round, good shotmaking by Jaany R-H and some big-hitting from Eira L. But both teams lost their third matches, against Chesham and a mixed Stewkley/Chalfont St Giles respectively. There was a short wait as the judges worked out that Wendover A, by virtue of having scored more runs than their competitors, would play the final against the Stewkley/Chalfont St Giles side which had beaten Wendover B.

The final was a nailbiter and a perfect way to finish off a fabulous day. Losing the toss, Wendover A were put into bat. They started with some impressive hitting from Jo H, lost a few wickets (each costing 5 runs) and then recovered with a fabulous six from left-hander Georgina T and big hitting from Sarah E and Jo W to complete the innings with a total of 267. With Stewkley/CSG restricted in the first pair by tight bowling from Jo H and Sarah E, things were looking good, but Stewkley/CSG had some big-hitting talent late in their order and, in spite of some excellent bowling from Tilly B, saw themselves edging in front early in the last over, bowled for Wendover by Rosie B. With two balls to go, Stewkley/CSG were 8 runs ahead and had only to avoid losing a wicket to win. But Rosie took a wicket – bowled – with the penultimate ball to pile the pressure on. She then surpassed this, picking up an excellent caught & bowled chance off the last ball of the tournament to see Wendover A win by 2 runs.

It was wonderful to see the jubilation amongst all the Wendover players and their vociferous supporters at the end of the match, but also to reflect on the massive progress made in such a short time. Thoughts will turn this week to planning for winter indoor matches and outdoor hardball and softball teams for the 2027 season. Watch this space for further details.

In the meantime, if you’d like to give women’s cricket a try, please drop a line to [email protected].

Wendover A: Jo H, Tilly B, Laura W, Rosie B, Tracy S, Georgina T, Sarah E, Jo W

Umpires & scorers: Jonathan S, Sara B, Chris W

Written by Chris Watts | Team Photo taken by Tracy Stanton