I hope the below comes across how it is intended with much appreciation, respect and love!
To the players, organisers, juniors and supporters of Scholes CC,
As a few of you will have caught wind my playing section of the 2014 season came to an abrupt end last Sunday the 24th of August against Slaithwaite away where the points were shared due to bad light for the second day in a row!
Firstly I would like to explain the premature end to my season personally to those who have not been informed. Due to our fantastic season to this point however unfortunately having drifted off the pace of Shepley and Hoylandswaine (the only two teams left that are mathematically able to win the League) at the top and with it being an impossibility to be relegated I asked for an early release from Scholes for 2014 to miss the last two matches of the season. This allows me an extended three week break before I am back playing pre season cricket at home in New Zealand. Without this I literally would not have a weekend off cricket in my transition to home. With much appreciation I thank Scholes CC for granting this early leave so readily particularly as I am going back into my 9th season back to back over the last four years.
This left this weekends double header to play as my last weekend at Scholes CC for 2014. I felt it was possibly asking too much but knew that I had to ask for my own peace of mind and to show support to my family to also miss the double header this weekend to be able to watch my older brother (Mahé) rowing this week in the single scull at the World Championships in Amsterdam. His final (assuming he makes it through his semi final Friday afternoon) is scheduled for Sunday at 13.03UK time hence why I will be missing the last double header this weekend. This was allowed after much discussion between myself, senior players, committee members and workers within Scholes CC over the past ten days and I must pass on my upmost respect to Scholes CC for seeing this as a possibility and giving me their blessing. Although Mahé has already won this event a number of times before it would not seem like a massive deal on the surface. This however is not the case as A) I have never seen him win a World Championship in person and B) if he wins this week which he is a very good chance to he will set the record for the most wins (six- he is currently the joint holder at five wins) of World Championships in the Mens Single Scull ever. Fingers crossed he pulls through as it will be a huge moment for Mahé and my family particularly being right there with him along with my mother and my sister supporting him.
I am aware of the delicate position that the Scholes CC first team currently hold on the Drakes League Table being one of seven teams sitting between 60-66 competition points. I know that the team without me is more than capable to win both fixtures this weekend against Elland and Kirkburton with the right application and more importantly desire (I believe this is the real separator of winning games at this point in the season where many teams do not believe there is much to play for... they are wrong as a third place finish beckons for any team who wants it!).
Finally I would like to point out that concluding Mahé's race on Sunday afternoon in Amsterdam I will be returning to Scholes CC hopefully to catch the end of a victory against Kirkburton and to have my official farewell for this year. I have a couple of presentations to make to Scholes CC on Sunday evening at the conclusion of the first team game or 7pm whichever is the latter! I would like to extend an invite to all those who have been a part of what has been a brilliant 2014 season thus far and one where I have felt humbled as to how welcomed I have been into the Scholes CC community to attend and be a part of what I hope will be the first temporary farewell of many over years to come. For those who cannot make it to my farewell my departure date is next Thursday the 4th of September. I will be at Scholes CC Tuesday the 2nd September for training in the evening and in the club after or give me a bell if you want to catch up personally another time.
Kind Regards,
Pete Drysdale