Origins
Cricket has been played in this District as early as the 1850s - about 20 years after settlement. Cricketers’ of last century had many difficulties caused mainly by rough roads and grounds. In 1897 Kenthurst played at Rouse Hill and at the end of the game they found that the horses “had tired of waiting and made for home of their own account”. In 1895, in a match between Glenhaven and Glenorie at Glenorie Park, a fieldsman, James Stubbs, chased a ball into the outfield where he found a large black snake with a “spherical bulge half way along its length”. After calling ‘lost ball’ the batsman “smote the serpent on the head and the ball was recovered with a knife”. (Source: Alfred James: Golden Jubilee History 1976).
In the early days, family teams were common. The South Colah Cricket Club had 18 sons of Patrick and John Duffy of Thornleigh, Dural CC was sustained by the seven sons of Thomas Best, Pennant Hills CC by the 10 sons of Arthur Thompson and Castle Hill CC by the eleven sons of John James (source: Claire Schofield: The Shaping of Hornsby Shire 1988 p86).
The Fuggle family has a long and distinguished history in the local area. Along with the Hunt, Roughley, Best and Sippe families, the Fuggle family sustained the Dural Cricket Club throughout the 1890s. Dural Park (off Quarry Road) was the home ground of the Dural Club.
An extract from the ‘Cumberland Mercury’ records details of a game on Australia Day (then Anniversary Day) in 1878:
Source: Alf James, HKCA Jubilee History 1926/27 - 1975/76 page 1.“On Anniversary Day, a cricket match was played between South Colah and Peat’s Ferry Clubs on Mr. Boulder’s ground at Peat’s Bight. The gentlemen of the former club laboured under some difficulty having ridden 20 miles the morning of the match. On their arrival at the Ferry they met with a hospitable welcome from Mr. Lloyd, one of their opponents.
When the game commenced, there must have over 200 onlookers present including a large number of the fair sex. The Peat’s Ferry gentlemen won the toss at once went to the wickets and were all put out for 82 runs.
After adjournment for luncheon, the South Colah players were put out for 59 runs after a long and tedious game and the Peat’s Ferry players in their second innings scored only 20 so that South Colah needed 44 to win.
Amid tremendous excitement, they were put out for 43 and the match ended in a tie. As the game progressed, the wind became more boisterous so that it was impossible to pitch the ball with anything like precision and, owing to the rough crease and fast bowling, several of the players sustained injuries upon which the young lady visitors were most assiduous in their attention.
At the end of the match, the players adjourned to a large marquee where an excellent dinner was provided. After the dinner dancing was indulged in right good earnest till midnight and on breaking up preparatory to starting for home, Mr. Osborn, in a very neat speech, thanked the Peat’s Ferry gentlemen for the kind manner in which they had been treated.”
The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Cricket Association (HKCA) was formed on 11 March 1926 after a meeting at the Hornsby Masonic Hall). This is now the site of the Meriton building (right next to Quaffer’s Liquor) The first clubs were; Hornsby United, Hornsby Railways, P A James Pty Ltd, St. Ives, Galston, North Hornsby, Pennant Hills, Normanhurst, IOOF, Cheltenham and Evening Continuation School. The first century was scored by John Copes of Cheltenham A (Source: Alfred James: Golden Jubilee History 1976 p 9). The HKCA was renamed The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai and Hills District Cricket Association in 1988/89.
West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Cricket Club
WPHCCC started playing the the HKCA 1946/47. Notable events at this time were:
Famous People
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History
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Sport
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Our Club started in this Association in 1946. However, in the same week (October 2004) that archaeologists discovered Homo floresiensis (The Hobbit Man) in Indonesia we made our own discovery. A scorecard has been unearthed by Alf James (Former Association President) that shows a West Pennant hills side playing in the Parramatta Competition in 1933. The match was against Rydalmere on the 26th October 1933. This looks like a researching project. Stay tuned! Despite this, WPH is the longest continuously running Club in the Association starting with 2 teams in B and C Grades.
The HKCA reformed after the war and Mt Colah, RSL, Waitara Catholic, Thornleigh Waratahs and Northern Districts accompanied our entry. WPH finished 4th in each grade.
The founding fathers were Wally Howard, W Franks, W Allum and G Smith.
In the early years, WPH and other Hills teams were considered far enough away to justify the Association running a bus to grounds - a practice that continued into the 1950s.
The West Pennant Hills Sports Club was formed in 1969. The Club comprised; Basketball, Little Athletics, Soccer and Cricket. Total Club membership peaked at 720 in 1981. The Club eventually folded in 1991 with individual Club’s going their own way.
Cherrybrook took its name from the 65-acre orchard of Joseph and Mary Harrison. The land had been granted originally to Mary Russell during the 1820s. The southeastern corner of Cherrybrook lies within the orchard. The first land was released in 1978.
Tough beginnings
During the 1950’s the Association battled for numbers in junior cricket. Indeed the 1950/51 season was abandoned not through lack of interest but the absence of administrators. In 1952/53 an U16 competition was formed in D Grade that played on Saturday afternoon.
WPH fielded one junior team in 1947/48. However, we did not field another junior team until 1966/67. Seniors also experienced problems with numbers – being reduced to a one-team club in 1954/55.
Significant Dates
Some of the significant dates in our history are:
The West Pennant Hills Sports Club was formed in 1969.
On Monday 5 July 1993 the Club’s name was changed from West Pennant Hills CC to West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook CC.
Incorporation was approved on Monday 22 November 1993. It was effective on 20/12/93.
1992/93 - Kanga Cricket was introduced with tremendous success
1995/96 saw the introduction of a separate girl’s competition within the Association. WPHCCC provided 44 of the initial 75 Association registrations. Arthur Souter was a driving force behind the competition.
Perpetual trophies - what is their history?
President’s Award (The Jim Fuggle Trophy)
David Steer (President 1983/85) started the President’s Award. The Award recognises significant contributions by people that are above and beyond the norm. It is not restricted to the Club Executive but to those that have an interest translated into action.
In 2002, the trophy was re-named the Jim Fuggle Trophy to commemorate the achievements of the finest administrator our Club and debatably Association has seen. Jim died in April 2002. Jim started playing for WPH in the 1960’s and had been tirelessly involved in the major administrative roles (in Club, Association and District levels) since that time. This contribution was acknowledged in 2001 when he won the inaugural Hornsby Shire Council Award for contribution to Sport in the Shire.
With the exception of Life Membership, this Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed each Year.
Club Player of the Year
The Award is for the best player in senior ranks. It is a prestigious award that has been won by players who rate among the best in the Association. An important requirement is that the player also shows very high standards of sportsmanship.
Outstanding Prospect - West Pennant Hills Bowling Club Award
Awarded to a player typically under 21 years playing in the senior ranks with the potential to play at least A Grade.
Junior Player of the Year – The John Coulthard Award
Similar to the Club Player of the Year Award. To be eligible, a player must have achieved performances above his/her peers and display a high level of ‘citizenship’. The Award is named after John Coulthard who coached junior teams throughout the 1980s. The nomination came from Arthur Souter who started the Kanga and Girl’s competitions for our Club. John’s commitment was matched only by the determination to make sure that his players had a clear understanding of their responsibility to the team and the game. John was a very good cricketer playing B Grade with distinction well into his 50s for our Club. Prior to that he played 26 years of A Grade in the Churches Competition. John later made a ‘comeback’ to the Club after his retirement and in 2002 ran the Kanga section with distinction.
In 2003 he was awarded Life membership. John already has Life Membership in the Churches competition.
Charles Booth Memorial Award
Our longest standing award. It is named after Charles Booth who spent considerable time with junior development in the early years of the Club. Charles was a foundation member, playing between 1946/47 to 1952/53. Charles died in 1968 when he was managing the U13 WPH side. The Award is given to an U13 player competing in the U13 competition. It is awarded on the criteria always emphasised by Charles. The player must show the highest standards of sportsmanship, fair play and commitment to the team. The player does not have to be the best player but this not a condition. Indeed, many of the winners are among our most outstanding junior and later senior players.
Arthur Souter Shield
The inaugural Arthur Souter Shield was presented at the conclusion of the 2003/04 season. It was named after our Life Member Arthur Souter who established the Club’s Kanga program1992/93. Arthur also set up the Girls competition in 1996/97. His involvement in both sections was so significant that he was also the key person to setup these competitions throughout the Association.
What makes this more significant was that his children had grown up and he did it for love of the game as his sole motivation. Initially the Award was made to player who has played right through from Kanga to U16’s. To be eligible the player:
- must be a team player and a good citizen of the Club with a real commitment to the team
- must also display the highest standards of sportsmanship and demonstrate a sense of fair play in accordance with the Club’s Code of Conduct
- does not have to be the best player.
In 2005 the Award was changed. it is now a Medallion that is presented to every player who has graduated from U10s. In the case of exceptional players, a separate Award is still possible.
West Pennant Hills Sports Club
Our association with the Bowling (now Sports) Club goes to its establishment in 1968. In this year, the Bowling Club purchased 5 acres of land at the current site for $39,000. Colonel Hall whose house was located owned the land where the No 2 tennis court is located today.
The Future
WPHCCC has a rich history and this paper gives an insight into just some of the talented cricketers, characters and amusing incidents. The future is even more exciting. We are a rapidly growing Club that provides tremendous opportunity for players of all abilities.
Historically, it is reality that in all sports (cricket in this Club has been no exception until recently) that the large number of children who start playing in Kanga and graduate to juniors drop off rapidly after U13s. However, since 1996/97 we have seen a reversal of this trend with increasingly large numbers of children coming through from Kanga’s, and moving through to U16’s and then Seniors. The reasons for this are many but include, excellent Leadership from out Junior and Girls Committees, a Club Executive that is highly efficient and the introduction of a ‘Participation over Results’ policy that gives every child a go. The trends are now good.
The next challenge is to maintain the growth of the Club. The West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook area has seen rapid population growth since the early 1980’s. Now that development has eased and house prices are very high the area will become increasingly more difficult for young people to become established, causing an aging of the population and the obvious flow on effect to Junior numbers. We now have an excellent Kanga programme under John Coulthard but the challenge is real.
The history is a living document. If you think of anything that is worthy of inclusion, let Ross Anderson know and it will be added.