Yarrambat are back again, this time for a tenth anniversary appearance. We are hopeful that several faces from the past will be popping by to enjoy this magnificent tournament that has given us all so many memorable moments and laughs along the way.
Despite walking away empty handed last year, the team and supporters still had a ball on and off the pitch. Expect very much more of the same this time around as the kids of 2005 now lead the elders a merry dance around the bars of Chiang Mai.
Once again we’ve asked our part time Victorian movie maker Chops to do the duties with the write ups. A few snap shots from the early days are also included to keep you amused.
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1. DANIEL ‘SHAWRY’ SHAW
13th Tour: Captain. Has captained Yarrambat for each of its 10 years at the Tournament. I recall predicting that Dan could be a bit of a handful after play in last year’s round up. If only my betting tips were so accurate. Ever improving as a skipper and drinker, who always leads from the front both on and off the field, he managed to once again lift the Dukes pizza challenge from the Chief in dramatic circumstances last year. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, for those of us who just enjoy a quiet ale, the big lad didn’t arrive until Tuesday morning last year but no sooner had he touched down he had us out seeking new bars to make up for lost time. It would appear his time in transit was well spent as he learnt expertise in Feng Shui and how to place bedding in bath tubs to bring joyous good luck to the occupant – me!
Favourite 10th anniversary memory: The amazing match winning over in the Bowl Final of 2013 taking 3 for 5 to turn the game on its head.
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2. SIMON ‘SIMO’ BRAY
8th Tour: Simo has had a busy twelve months since leaving Chiang Mai, as first he celebrated his accountancy qualifications Down Under and then set off for a summer of cricket in the UK interspersed with the European vacation – Chevy Chase style! He headed back to Australia to settle down and begin to take life as a serious adult – yeah right! He had a fine spell of cricket in Lincoln as well as many adventures, including getting the pair of us dressed up in top hat and tails for a day at Royal Ascot. The second of our young trio who tend to have a thirst until all hours and frighten us older lads to death.
Favourite 10th anniversary memory: His shots in that unforgettable Bowl Final in 2009 to chase down 87 with big Dan with a couple of balls to spare.
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3. MICHAEL ‘CHIEF WIGGUMS’ BURNS
14th Tour: The second of 4 who has completed all 10 tours, the Chief quickly lost his ‘My Way’ mantle with a seemingly more carefree attitude in 2014 – surprising given he seems to hold a Masters Degree from the Adolf Hitler School of Management. To the team he is the Manager, the Negotiator, the Organiser and the eloquent Communicator – Yarrambat could never have had such good times without his efforts each year. Good to hear he’s back involved in sports in Newcastle and we are looking forward to a more svelte model of the Chief this year. He put in some very impressive performances with the ball last year and is looking to lead the bowling averages again this year. Chief is still in desperate need of golf course accountancy but makes up for it with his itineraries by night.
Favourite 10th anniversary memory: Big match winning hitting in 2008 v Irish Pub in a game that he nearly skewered himself on the boundary fence.
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4. TROY ‘HARVS’ HARVEY
18th Tour: Harves will be more than ready for his annual holiday. I empathise with the poor bloke working shifts. He’s as keen as mustard to count down the weeks to the commencement of the tournament as soon as Christmas has passed. Harves showed a talent we’d forgotten about last year as he put in a wicket keeping performance that made Geraint Jones look competent (no mean feat). He more than made up with it with some stellar babysitting performances pre tour in Bangkok. Still swings from the hips with the bat in his hand, occasionally connecting with the ball.
Favourite 10th anniversary memory: Getting a shout in. Can anyone guess the year?
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5. RUSSELL ‘BOOKEND/CYMBALS’ LAMB
9th Tour: Good old Rusty. Increasingly my drinking pal as we both have similar stamina and no doubt he’ll soon have me laughing with his typically blunt Aussie observations. I’m hoping he’ll arrive a little earlier this year for our intensive pre-season regime, but whatever, you can guarantee he’ll pull out all the stops to quickly catch up to the rest of us. Russ pulled off a miraculous catch in a losing cause last year to roll back the years. What’s he got up his sleeves this time?
Favourite 10th anniversary memory: Undoubtedly, that boundary catch in 2009. He sometimes mentions it!
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6. ROB ‘CHOPS’ BERNARD
10th Tour: (Editor) For those new to the tournament - no Chops is NOT the guy who stars in An Idiot Abroad – but it’s a very close likeness! A lovable guy who is kind to both batsmen and bowlers serving pies and hitting singles with ease to help those new to the week significantly improve their averages. Chops always has a very busy week with his dedication to on field playing duties, time commentating in the box and a little Chops time in the massage chairs. Will be keeping his hotel room key in his pocket this year to ensure that his room is not ransacked again.
Favourite 10th anniversary memory: (Chops) For me it’s my 1 for 9 match winning over v Southerners, but my mates seem to find hilarity in my final over in 2010 where I was smacked for more runs than you and I have fingers and toes to lose an unlosable game on the final ball of the innings.
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7. DYLAN ‘DIZZ’ FORSTER
3rd Tour: Dizz missed a year and came back bigger and livelier than I could ever imagine. What happened to that shy young lad who I met on his virgin tour? Dizz is a handy addition to any squad as he performs with great aplomb with the willow in hand. He did get a player of the day award last year for his batting prowess and I’m sure he’ll be happy to detail his performance to you ball by ball if anyone cares to ask. He also has that animal magnetism that attracts plenty of young maidens to provide eye candy for the rest of the team. Yet another who declined the pig picking to carry out some feng shui on my room back at the Porn Ping whilst I was enjoying the hog. Note to self – take room key out with me when I head out at night!
Favourite 10th anniversary memory: The virgin dance. What else?
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8. CHRIS ‘LAMBY’ LAMB
3rd Tour: It’s fair to say that Chris has taken to Chiang Mai like a duck to water, enjoying every aspect of the tour, and making friends very quickly. Our golfing ace, despite what Chief’s scorecards say, Chris went from zero to hero in 24 hours last year as he bowled a record breaking over, but then somehow secured a last ball victory with the bat to get us in to the Cup for an early departure from on field proceedings.. Many of us shared Lamby’s joy at Hawthorn winning the Grand Final to help save our eardrums from those fair weather supporters of the red and the white.
Favourite 10th anniversary memory: Putting poor old Coylie over the fence to win the game.
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AMY SHAW
11th Tour: Amy almost made 2014 but just didn’t quite get here in the end. She’s back with a vengeance this year to celebrate our 10th anniversary and teach the ladies a thing or two about partying. I’m told she’s doing tremendously well back home and enjoys a drink or two. She’s got some good teachers for sure! Amazing to think that her first trip to the tournament dates back to 1995 when she was just 4 years old. Great to have you back Amy – we are thinking of having a boat race to help you relive old times.
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GAVIN ‘SHAWRY’ SHAW
15th Tour: The 3rd of 4 who have completed all tours, the boss will once again be out in the middle with the rest of the umpires when not calmly relaxing at the bar with the Yarrambat crew. The master of a quiet drink (and I think he invented the saying “Just one more?”), he’ll no doubt be looking to entertain us musically at some point in time. I hope he is starting to slow down with age but fear that is just a fantasy of mine (and Marty and Curly of the Dingbats). A great bloke I owe so much to, although I’m sure he’ll recoup it at the fines meeting.
Favourite 10th anniversary memory: Returning Lazarus like at the bar, just half an hour after putting his shoulder out and then playing one armed pool that evening!.
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JULIE LAMB
7th Tour: I’m delighted that Julie is heading to Chiang Mai again this year as she makes me laugh endlessly. The diplomatic corps loss is Yarrambat’s gain as she enjoys the shopping and social routine as much as anyone, while coming to Russ’s salvation after a hectic few days away. Maybe a walking tour could be planned, as I know Julie loves such activities.
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KIM SHAW
15th Tour: The last of the awesome foursome to complete all 10 tours, as ever it will be fantastic to have Kim along to keep calm while many others fluster. She’ll no doubt stare down any person who dares think about taking her prized seat in the massage chairs at any time of day. She’ll also be on her health kick drinking only concoctions that contain fruit – will I have a mango, strawberry or banana daiquiri this time? Kim has made many friends since her first visit to Chiang Mai in 1995 and will be looking to celebrate the 10th anniversary with them in fine style. A bottle of Moet and some fine Cheese could be the order of the day at Finals time.
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KIRSTY LAMB
4th Tour: Kirsty is dropping in to Chiang Mai for a couple of days this year to give the boys a few tips. Kirsty is Captain of the Bats women Premier 1st team at home and plays for Vic Spirit. No doubt she’ll be looking to let her hair down in Chiang Mai and I’m sure she’ll have more stamina than her father when the drinking games start. Welcome back Kirsty
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MATTHEW HARVEY
6th Tour: The not so little Matthew will look as ever to use up any of our spare energy when wanting to play. A lover of cartoons on the team bus, and that Pharrell Williams song that finally left my sub-conscience around July time. Matthew always seems glad to see me and as he’s the only male member not to have fined me – YET, I put him down as a good ‘un. Looking forward to seeing Matty again now that he is another year older. Will he still have his own personal swimming pool and prance naked proudly? The time has come for all to see.
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MICHAEL BRAY
6th Tour: It will be great to see the cricket fanatic back in Chiang Mai after a gap of a few years. I’m sure Michael will be keen to offer his tactical opinion from time to time and give a pep talk or two as the occasion arises. Michael is a very busy man these days with his world travels, including a visit to Europe with Caroline in 2014 for some much deserved down time. I’m tipping he’ll start each day with one or two daiquiris before moving onto the Bloody Marys late morning and red wine mid afternoon. After that it is all down hill. A lover of wagon wheels – good to have you back Mad Dog.
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WILAILAK (NOI) HARVEY
11th Tour: Noi set the standards for her husband (and all else) last year with pre-season performances in Bangkok that almost any human being would struggle to match. We can see who wears the pants in this family – sorry Troy. Noi seems to have the terrible habit of posting photos on Facebook of her Thai food back home whenever I’m feeling hungry – which is about every other hour of the day. I’m sure she’ll be looking forward to trying out plenty of delicacies while back in Thailand but will soon be missing her staple diet of bangers and mash that she lives on at home in Thaicastle. A good sport who enjoys a joke. Will be looking forward to me entertaining young Matty and educating him in the ways of the world once again.
