Cricket match in aid of the John Merricks Trust

The Bugle’s Annual Charity Cricket Challenge raised £1,603 this year

The Bugle’s Annual Charity Cricket Challenge raised £1,603 for the John Merricks Sailing Trust.

Hamble village pubs The Bugle, King & Queen, The Victory Ye Olde Whyte Harte all fielded teams for the coveted Bugle Charity Cricket Challenge Cup. The annual contest is organised by The Bugle in order to raise money for the John Merricks Sailing Trust, a charity that offers financial assistance to support youth sailing across the UK.

The day kicked off with wall-to-wall sunshine and gazebos were duly erected all around the pavilion for the players and supporters. The four teams entered a draw to decide the playing order, for their short 20 over matches.

The Bugle team, captained by Jonathan ‘Boycey’ Taylor, fielded a host of internationally renowned sailors including Guy ‘Nipper’ Salter, Matt ‘Catflap’ Cornwell, James ‘Shag’ Stagg, Tom McWilliam, Mark ‘Tommo’ Tomson, Sean Barber and Mike Forster. They fielded first against The Victory and could not stop them from knocking up a cricket score of 99 runs!

“100 to win lads!”, cajoled Captain Boycey Taylor, “Lets’ go!” However it was not to be and The Bugle team could never get close to The Victory’s fantastic score.

With the sun blazing down and spectators setting up camps around the playing fields, the scene was set for the next game, which was won by the King & Queen against Ye Olde Whyte Harte.

With everyone filled with BBQ food and beer, put on by The Bugle, the losing teams returned to the crease for a semi final match, with The Bugle winning Bronze position over Ye Olde Whyte Harte.

Ian Walker, JMST Trustee, double Olympic silver medallist and Volvo Ocean Race skipper, who sailed with John Merricks at the Atlanta Games in 1992 where they won a silver medal in the 470 class, arrived to umpire the final between the King & Queen and The Victory.

It was a close match but the ‘Master Batters’ of the King & Queen could never quite catch up with the score laid down by The ‘Victorious’ Victory team

But the best bit was that a total of £1,603 was raised through the raffle, The Bugle’s Bar & BBQ and Team entry fees.

The Bugle’s Bar & BBQ operates on a non-profit basis and all takings are donated to the JMST. The Bugle generously donates the supplies and resources for this event.

Many local businesses support the event by donating wonderful raffle prizes namely:

The Ideal Collection; The Bugle; Coast Graphics, The King & Queen; The Victory; Ye Olde Whyte Harte; RYA; Grapefruit Graphics; Andark Diving and Watersports; La Dolce Vita; Katie Mawson Flowers; Steph Brandt - Hedge End Golf Centre; Force 4 Chandlery; Covet & Collect; Sea, Sky, Art; Bonne Bouche and Force 4 Dinghy Centre.