Makaretu sports field now in action
Return to glory days as the grand old ground reopens
Against the backdrop of the Ruahine Ranges, under cloudy skies, a mighty battle recently took place on the Makaretu sports field in Ashley Clinton.
Acrowd of community membersgathered to participate and support friends and familymembersas the field re-opened aftermany years in recess.
The sports field, loaned to the community by the White family, has significant roots as a community venue with records showing a club starting there as early as 1913.
Local historianWendy Anderson was able to retrieve newspaper clippings showing the annual sports day hosted events including woodchopping, the greasy pig race and various horse events like the cigar and umbrella race.
In the early 1900s, the sports daywas used as a fundraiser with proceeds being donated to the WoundedSoldiers Fundand a donation beingmadeto St Hilda’s Orphanage in Otane.
In 1923, the Governor General ofNewZealand, Lord Jellicoe, attended the 10th anniversary celebrations along with club patron Sir George Hunterwhowas the local MP.
The sports clubwas dissolved in 1952, and since then the field has been used formanypet days, pony events and school sporting celebrations, retaining its connection with the community.
The newly-formed Sherwood Cricket Club Inc has breathednewlife into the field by installing a cricket pitch and clubhouse on the site of the old sports ground withAndyHunt namedas club president and TomWhite as club captain.
The Sherwood Cricket Club was officially opened on Sunday, November 8with a ribbon cutting by club patron Shona deLatour, then the inauguralgamebetween Ashley Clinton and Makaretu teamswas under way.
Scorekeeper Hilton Ellingham supervised the toss for thegame in front of team
captains Willie White [Makaretu] andHoward Pedersen [Ashley Clinton]. Ashley Clintonwonthe toss and chose to field.
Thegamewas presided over by umpires Graeme Annear and Larry White.
Anexciting afternoon followed withmuchlaughter
and good sportsmanship. The final score sawAshley Clinton score 91 runs with Makaretu all out for 56.
Howardwaspleased to accept the winning trophy, a handcrafted cricket bat, from Larry White and he promised another challenge for the title wouldn’t be far away.