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HE MAY have become the all-time leading run-scorer in Middlesex County Cricket League history but Paul Weekes admits he was not thinking about breaking records.
Weekes, who plays for Hornsey, smashed 92 against Highgate in Division Two to surpass Brondesbury’s Tom Simpson’s record of 6,079 runs.
The 47-year-old played almost 250 first-class matches for Middlesex before retiring from the county and focussing on club cricket.
Despite making the historic figure, Weekes admits he was not thinking about the landmark and was fully focussed on helping Hornsey try and win the game, which ended in a draw.
“It was really humbling to make the record, of course, but, unfortunately, we didn’t win the match and, for me, that’s what it was all about,” he said.
“I honestly wasn’t thinking about it until someone let me know afterwards. Records aren’t the main reason I play the game, but it is a nice thing to have.
“Someone told me that I was level with Tom Simpson and he was a fantastic club player who scored lots of runs, so it’s good to surpass him.”
Weekes made 11,060 first-class runs for Middlesex, helping them to finish second in the 2005 National League.
The left-handed batsman started his cricketing life at Hornsey as a colts player and admits it was fitting to break the record with his boyhood club.
He added: “It would have been nice to get 100 with the record as it’s not easy to get 100 these days, but it wasn’t to be. I went for the smash but it didn’t work.
“I’ve been back at Hornsey for six years. It was my first ever club as a boy so to come back and do the record with them is a really nice feeling.
“I’ve been in and out playing club cricket for 17 years, which is a long time, so in a way it’s nice to have shown some consistency throughout my career.”
The right-arm off spinner, who spends a lot of time helping the Hackney Community College Cricket Academy, revealed he has been close to hanging up his spikes on many occasions but cannot get away from the game.
He said: “I enjoy it, for sure. I am just trying to stay as consistent as possible and keep the reputation alive and keep ticking over. I’m probably one of the oldest in the league but I’m enjoying it, I just need to keep going.
“At the end of each season, I say I’m going to give it up and I’m still back out there every year so we’ll see.
“It’s a nice record to have, I suppose, but it’s nothing I’ve thought about. It’s not something I work towards but when people ring up for the next few days after it’s quite nice.
“The records only began in 2000, so it will be interesting to see who else scored runs before that. Records are there to be broken, so who knows how long I’ll hold onto it for. There are a lot of talented batsmen out there.”