With the welcome support of a well-known (to the Lodge, at least) guest player, St George Abadan Lodge No. 6058 fielded a team of five for the annual Provincial Bat and Trap competition, held at the Farriers Arms, Mersham, Kent, on Saturday 26th July.
After a practice session at Lordswood earlier in the week, hopes were high. Unfortunately, our DC – an Essex man and a complete novice to the game – was unable to attend the practice. This soon became apparent, as two enthusiastic swings at the ball both resulted in fresh air. OUT.
Thankfully, those who had practised managed to steady things, notching up a few runs and even taking a couple of wickets. With that, the team put in a stronger showing than last year.
The banter was lively, the spirits equally so, and the camaraderie flowed – not just within our side, but across all the Lodge teams taking part. Around a hundred people attended, including Masons, friends, and families, and a thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all.
One of the highlights came courtesy of the raffle, when many signed up under the impression that the prize was “a barrel of booze” – only to discover it was, in fact, “a barrow (wheelbarrow) of booze”!
Here’s hoping that next year a few more St George Abadan members can take part – with a bit of extra practice under our belts, we might even make a push for the runners-up medals!