Latest news with #Grades
Press and Journal
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Cricket prodigy, 14, makes two centuries to break Aberdeenshire record dating back almost 200 YEARS
For 14-year-old Aberdeenshire cricketing prodigy Ethan Shedbal, centuries were a bit like buses last weekend. After waiting a couple of years for his first in adult cricket, two came along in quick succession. The teen has been playing in the North East Grades for Mannofield for the last two seasons – since he was just 12 years old – but hadn't made a hundred until last Saturday. However, Shedbal racked up 102 in the Grade One fixture against Aberdeen Grammar, and the following day he scored 110 for 3rd Mannofield in their Grade Four match against Ceylon Deeside. It is thought he may be the youngest person to make back-to-back centuries in the history of the Grades – which go back as far as 1893 – and in the history Aberdeenshire Cricket Club, which formed in 1857. Shedbal said: 'I felt absolutely brilliant after making the two centuries, it was a great weekend and I couldn't really have dreamt of it being any better. 'After the game on Sunday, I was thinking: 'Have I really done this?' 'I'm only 14 and the Grades is a high standard of cricket, so it was unreal to achieve that. 'My century last Saturday was my maiden century in adult cricket. 'Afterwards people were joking with me, saying: 'You got a century today – you'll have to get one tomorrow.' 'When I got the second one, it was a great feeling and an amazing thing to achieve.' Shedbal started playing soft ball cricket when he was nine and began playing with a hard ball a year later. He has appreciated the people who have helped him develop and has lofty aspirations for the future. Shedbal added: 'This is my third year playing adult cricket and the past couple of years have been great for my development. 'I need to thank Phil Wood (Aberdeenshire junior convener), Rahul Chandu (Mannofield captain) and Tony McKenna (Cricket Scotland regional development officer) because they've really helped me in the last few years. 'Four years ago I couldn't hold a bat properly, but they've pushed me on and helped me develop my game so much. 'As well as them, the senior players have helped me a lot. 'So I just want to thank all the people that have helped me reach the stage I'm at today. 'I have high hopes for the future, in the next year I hope I can be playing for Scotland Under-15s. 'Hopefully I can have big roles in games for Aberdeenshire as well and help us win games – those things are driving me to try to keep improving my skills.'
Press and Journal
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Cricket: Grades chief hails increased participation - but is on the hunt for new pitches
The president of North-East Scotland Cricket (NESC) Robin Taylor believes there is a strong appetite for the game in the region as he attempts to secure new playing facilities. This year eight new teams have joined the Grades, swelling the number of sides from 32 to 40 and leading to Grade Four being reintroduced. NESC chief Taylor has been encouraged by the increased participation at grassroots level this summer. The 59-year-old, who is in his second stint as president of the organisation, said: 'It's very positive that we've got more teams this year and that there are so many folk in the area wanting to play cricket. 'I think cricket is the most inclusive sport you'll find because we have games in the Grades where you have 11 and 12-year-olds playing alongside 70-year-olds. 'Male and female play together and there is also a wide range of nationalities that play. 'It's great to see a lot of clubs putting out more teams with the idea of giving youngsters a chance to play. 'The purpose of NESC is to promote involvement and development within the game and the more folk we have playing the better. 'There is a real appetite to play the game. A lot of clubs are running junior sections and getting a lot of children attending to take up the game.' However, one issue for cricket in the north-east is having enough facilities to meet demand. With more teams in the Grades this season some matches have had to be moved from Saturday to Sunday to allow them to be played. A number of clubs don't have their own ground with council-run facilities like the two pitches at Inverdee, as well as Duthie Park, Harlaw and Groats Road used by multiple sides. But Taylor is optimistic new venues for cricket can be secured and revealed there have been positive talks with Aberdeen City Council. He added: 'There has been an extra strain placed on facilities because we've got more fixtures to play. 'We had hoped there may be one or two new venues in place for the start of the season, but work is still ongoing on that front. 'The Inverdee facility has proved to be a wonderful thing and we're looking at whether it's possible to put in a third pitch at Inverdee. 'We've also spoken to Aberdeen City Council about other possible venues and those discussions are ongoing. 'There's a will on the council's side to help us if we can find suitable locations, their attitude and willingness to try to help us is very encouraging. 'Cricket is a big participation sport in the area and the more pitches we have access to the better really. 'Ideally if we could get at least another two venues that would be a big help to us and would allow more games to be played on Saturdays.' Aberdeenshire and Huntly are both aiming to make it two wins out of two in the North East Championship tomorrow. Both clubs started their season on a winning note and Shire welcome Freuchie to Mannofield this weekend, while Huntly are on the road and face Strathmore at Lochside Park. Stoneywood-Dyce aren't in league action this weekend, but visit Dumfries on Sunday in the first round of the Scottish Cup. In the same competition Aberdeenshire have home advantage against Grange and Huntly welcome East Kilbride to Castle Park. Meanwhile, in the Grades it's Gordonians v Crescent, Master Blasters Aberdeen v Aberdeen Grammar, Bon Accord v Mannofield, 2nd Aberdeen Grammar v Grampian and Knight Riders v Inverurie in Grade One. In Grade Two, Huntly are at home to 2nd Gordonians, 3rd Grammar play 2nd Knight Riders, 2nd Grampian tackle Fraserburgh, Cults meet Aberdeen Tigers and Banchory take on Portcullis. On Saturday in Grade Three Dunecht have home advantage against Crathie, Stonehaven Thistle meet 2nd Mannofield at Mineralwell Park and Stoneywood-Dyce host 2nd Banchory at People's Park. Then on Sunday 2nd Master Blasters play Ellon Gordon and 3rd Gordonians meet Methlick. The action in Grade Four sees 2nd Inverurie play Ceylon Deeside and 2nd Methlick face 2nd Fraserburgh on Saturday. On Sunday it's 3rd Knight Riders v Granite City, 3rd Grampian v 2nd Bon Accord and 3rd Mannofield v 2nd Stonehaven Thistle.
