Crikey, it’s cricket: IF THE mere mention of silly mid-field, short leg, or point bring happy memories of your cricket-playing youth rushing back, perhaps you should Iook up the West Vancouver Cricket Club. Vhere you will find a field full of kindred spirits delighted to find another body ta fil! ia these fielding positions (or even simply to warm oa chair in’ their clubhouse). Such was Charles Bristow’s in- troduction to the West Vancouver squad. Bristow, an Englishman who'd just moved to West) Vancouver, was walking through Brockton Oval last year when he spotted a game of cricket. “T hadn't played cricket for 20 years, so fF asked when their next Almost 40 years old, the West Vancouver Cricket Club follows cricket tradition, including the white uniform and a roster full of expatriate cricketers ... season would be starting up,” Bristow says. They looked ai me and said, “Next season? You're playing now, We're short a man!" Since then, Bristow has joined the ranks of the West Vancouver club whose = 1990) season starts Saturday. This year West) Van will be fielding four teants in the BC, Maintand Cricket League as well as sharing a junior program) with the North Vancouver-based North Shore Cricket Club, Almost 40 years old, the West Vancouver Cricket Club) fotlows cricker tradition, including — the white uniform and a roster full of expatriate cricketers from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies. But you don't need to be an ex- to qualify. “40's fair to say if they’ve ever played or wanted (© play, they should come and see us, It's highly social,”* Bristow says. Club president’ Terry Oseman says cricket suffers to some extent from the image of being a tradi- tional sport no longer active. “It's much Jarger than the gen- eral populace is aware of, is cricket. At a junior level it’s very active in) Vancouver, Richmond and far flung places like Kamloops and Kelowna. I find cricket to be sprouting, if you like, not in calibre but in) numbers. PF think Canadians are looking for an alternative to the tradition of hockey and football,” Oseman Says. Home for this squad is a stately clubhouse built on the grounds of Hugo Ray Park, perhaps West Vancouver's best kept secret. Situated just above the highway by Taylor Way, Hugo Ray Park resembles a piece of old England with the clubhouse sandwiched by lush green fields. Built three years ago ater in- tense fundraising mathed by che provincial government, the cricket club shares the clubhouse with field hockey, the only two sports permitied at Hugo Ray. The games, played Saturday and Sunday, can sometimes take up to five hours which, Bristow says, provides a day out with the family. “You bring your family along and the kids can go and pick blackberries or have picnics. Last it brought me closer to: my PF know ny three-veur-old looks forward to coming up here because it's a place he can run and hick a bail, People can also join che clubhouse as social members, but Osemian is quick to point out Chiat it's not just another watering hole. “We don't want to give the im pression that we just want to sell beer. We're here as a social club of which cricket and field hockey is an integral part,’ Oseman says. For more information on the West Vancouver Cricket Club, call Terry Oseman at 984-7157, Doug son (captain) 2t 985-1738 or Bristow ut 926-2916. For informa- 13 - Wednesday, April 25, 1990 - North Shore News Stop noise pollution PAGE 37 FAVORITE SPORT OF THE EMPIRE IS ALIVE AND WELL IN WEST VAN aris: " NEWS photo Nett Lucente Hi on te cumin prone ail WEST VANCOUVER cricketer Steve Milbourn fails to protect his wicket during inter- . vn . : © squad competition at Hugo Ray Park on Saturday. The West Vancouver Cricket Club had North Shore Cricket Club can be reached by calling Bill Image at patriate, nor an experienced player 984-9887. this Saturday. a full day of warm-up games in preparation for their first competitive game of the season Hockey Chiefs stall Honda tfT_pai season starts NORTH INDUSTRIAL HOCKEY LEAGUE ACTION FOSTER CHIEFS trounced Westwood Honda 1-4 in North Industrial Hockey League action, despite league-leading North Shore Hustlers’ loan of two players to the ailing Westwood team, The Chiefs opened the scoring eight seconds into the game on a solo effort by dordie Walker followed a minute later by Scott Blaney. Laurie Metcalfe notched two more goals for the Chiefs while Westwood’s Ken Hoody had one to finish the first period at 4-1. Forty seconds into the second, Blaney added his se- cond, then Lawrence Smith, Dave Dawson, Milan feydrysek and Don Sinclair added singles. Hoody had his second goal of the three Westwood goals to make the 9-4 tally at the close of the second. In the third period, Graham Mackinnon and Frydrysek closed off the scoring for the Chief's, In other games, the North Shore Hustlers routed Pemberton Station Steamers 7-2, Raven Rangers out- shot Lyanwood Inn Chasers 11-7, and Sailor Hagur's Seumen outlasted Coach House Flyers 9-8. League plavoffs kick off with the Hustlers pitted against the Flyers and the Rangers ayainst the Chiefs. VANCOUVER CANADIAN pitchers Shaun Hilligas and Steve Rosenberg joined more than 450 Forest’ Hills Little Leaguers at Eldon Park this weekend to watch Brad Johoson of the T-ball Mari- ners throw the league's season opening pitch. In opening day games, Skyline Sports soundly defeated Pacific Honda 11-5 after Greg Phillips had a triple, driving in three runs for we Skyline, and David Ellis notched two doubles. Pitching for Pacific was Jevin Werbes, with Michael Jones and Kurt Shidlow each hitting doubles. In other games, Capifano edged Whitman I4-f1, Highland Chevron squeaked by A & W 9-8, Super Valu doubled Capilano 2! and Park Royal Towers defeats | Forest Hills Reds 8-5.