FIXTURES SOON TO BE PUBLISHED

Beaten finalists under the Rose Bowl floodlights in August, Ventnor have landed a home tie in the opening round of next summer's Southern Electric Twenty Cup.
Ironically, they will again face Sarisbury Athletic - the side they beat in the first round this year - but this time the tie will be played at Steephill.
Ventnor went on to reach the final, but were comfortably beaten by old rivals Lymington in front of a near 1,000 crowd.
The first round ties to be played on either May 30 or June 13 (actual dates to be advised) are: Bashley (Rydal) v Old Tauntonians & Romsey, Burridge v Fair Oak, Calmore Sports v Bournemouth, Hambledon v Havant, Hook & Newnham Basics v Hartley Wintney, Hursley Park v New Milton, Lymington v Andover, Portsmouth & Southsea v Fareham & Crofton, Rowledge v Liphook & Ripsley, South Wilts v Easton & Martyr Worthy, Sparsholt v Paultons, St Cross Symondians v Alton, Tichborne Park v Trojans, Totton & Eling v Gosport Borough, United Services v Portsmouth, Ventnor v Sarisbury Athletic.

Ventnor are celebrating promotion to Division 1 of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League - the Islanders can look forward to competing against some of the best club sides in the south of England in a format which includes all day matches as well as the more traditional 50 overs a side cricket.
The Club, who will play their home matches on the magnificent new County Ground at Newclose, have received the ‘green light’ after League President Alan Bundy contacted club chairman John Hilsum.
The opportunity to compete at the top level of club cricket is the realisation of a dream which began way back in May 1993 with a victory at Cowplain in Hampshire League Division 3 East. Now, seventeen years and thirteen league titles later, players past and present, together with club officials and vice presidents, can reflect on a tremendous achievement.
It is with some irony that the Islanders have finally made it to the top table of club cricket on the south coast. Having been pipped by Rowledge to a sixth division 2 title on the last day of the season, Charlie Freeston’s side have benefited from the north Hampshire team’s failure to meet gold league ground criteria.
For Hilsum in particular, Saturday 1st of May 2010 will a moment to savour when Ventnor take the field for their first ever match in Premier 1. Frustrated by the ground accreditation issues at their unique Steephill ground which have denied the Club promotion despite five successive Premier 2 league championships from 2004 to 2008, the man who joined the club in the early 1970’s has been one of the driving forces behind the wonderful all-Island Newclose facility which has enabled Ventnor to fulfil their long held ambition.
That first Saturday in May will also be memorable occasion for Brian Gardener, the Club’s President and the man whose vision, generosity and determination has created a venue that the Island can be proud of and one that Ventnor will be delighted call their Premier 1 home.

CRICKET SEASON DRAWS TO A CLOSE AT VENTNOR
Ventnor brought the curtain down on the 2009 cricket season in glorious sunshine over the weekend of 26/27 September.
On the Saturday Brian Gardener’s President’s XI were the visitors and batted first on winning the toss. Bashley’s Shaun Lilley fell victim to a brilliant Charlie Freeston slip catch while former Ventnor and Shanklin man Nick Holland made just 14 as early wickets fell to Rob Snell and Marcus Toms. Lymington’s James Lucy with 63 and Shanklin’s Andy White (48) led the President’s recovery, enabling their side to reach 168-4 from 40 overs.
Ventnor were given a fine start by the impressive Adam Hose (59) and went on to win by six wickets, Mark Price (27) and Ian Hilsum (29 not out) the principal run scorers.
Sunday’s final game of the season ended in a three wicket victory for visiting Old Tauntonians & Romsey.
Adam Hose again top scored for Ventnor in a fine knock of 70 and with David Beven making 63, the home side totalled 222 from their allotted overs.
The visitors successfully chased down the target with four overs remaining.

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