WITH the Cricket Leinster annual dinner coming up, you’ll be reading and hearing a lot about trophies such as the Marchant Cup and Solomons Cup. These coveted awards are given annually to the leading performer in many categories of club cricket. But just who were the people behind the trophies? Last week Ger Siggins took a look at Division One, this week he checks out the 2nd and 3rd divisions.
Division 2 Awards
Richard Bruton Cup for batting
Richard was a long-serving member of Phoenix CC who died in March 2011. He was President of the club in 2009. He played cricket for Gonzaga and UCD before he joined Phoenix where his father had played. He was a member for 45 years and in the year before his death he collected, framed and hung the gallery of historic photos which hang in the Phoenix pavilion. The trophy was presented by Phoenix in 2011 when it served as the Division 14 league trophy. It became the Division 2 Batting award when that was introduced in 2012.
Dick Clarke Cup for bowling
Dick Clarke died in September 2011, a much-loved member of Merrion CC where he was a member for many years. He was a canny bowler for most of the club’s sides, including a good run at senior level which only ended in 2002 when he was well into his 40s. The trophy was presented by his club in 2012.
Ralph Satchwell Cup for wicketkeepers
Ralph died in February 2012 and his beloved North Kildare CC presented the trophy in his honour. The club website records his highest score as being 38 against Merrion 3rds in 1982, but there were bigger innings lost in the mists of time. His sons, Guy and Roger continue to emulate him by making huge contributions to their club and Leinster cricket as a whole.
The All Rounder Award is currently without a sponsor – contact Mary Sharp if you fancy a sliver of immortality!
STOP PRESS - I'm delighted to report that Clontarf CC has presented a trophy to commemorate one of its great volunteers Robert 'Hoppy' Ellis, who passed away at a tragically young age last year.
Arthur Vincent Cup for catching
The Arthur Vincent Cup is notable in that it is named after someone who, happily, still walks among us. A long-serving member of YMCA, Arthur was also for many years a generous sponsor of the sport through his employer Wiggins Teape. He was a very popular President of Cricket Ireland in 2009 and 2012.
Division 3 Awards
Bookman Cup for batting
Louis Bookman was a serious sportsman in the first half of the 20th century. Born as Louis Buchalter in Zagaran (now Lithuania), his family fled pogroms and moved to Dublin. He played football for Bradford City and Luton Town before the First World War, winning four caps for Ireland. He played cricket for Leinster and Railway Union and for Ireland throughout the 1920s, winning 14 cricket caps. He died in 1943 and Carlisle CC and his widow Rosa presented the trophy in his honour. The award was made to the best batting average in Senior 2 until 2011 when it was reallocated to Division 3.
Oulton Cup for bowling
This cup was also inaugurated in 1943 for the best bowling average in Senior 2. It was presented by J G Oulton of Clontarf who was Leinster Cricket Union president from 1946-51. He lived in Clontarf Castle from 1933 until his death in 1952. Like the Bookman Cup, it was reallocated to Division 3 in 2011.
A similar named trophy is still awarded at Castle Avenue to the member of each of the Club's elevens who has done most for the game on and off the field.
Webster Cup for all rounders
This Cup was presented by his family to commemorate the former Civil Service all-rounder and long-time LCU junior branch chairman Willie Webster who died suddenly in 1995. Besides being an excellent cricketer in Senior 2 and 3, Willie was a tireless worker at junior level, and also organised the Dublin Business Houses cricket competition for many years. His 42 in the final helped his ESB win the cup for the first time in 1973, and he was again on the winning side in 1983 and 1984. Several of his sons are still active in the sport at CSCC.
Carmel Cullen Cup for wicketkeeping
Carmel, too, is happily still to be seen around the boundaries of Leinster, usually on the arm of her paramour Arthur Vincent. A popular and convivial tourist, Carmel has followed Leinster and Ireland teams all over the world.