BBH Mag Sport

News from local sports clubs. If you would like to publish your sports news in this magazine please contact the Editor by email: bbh.mag@gmail.com

With just two league games remaining the first team will finish hgher than the cub has ever finished in its 104 year history. Having already won more matches, scored more goals and won more points than we have ever done before we are still in with a great chance to win the Southern Combination League Premier Division if we win just one of our remaining two games at Midhurst or at AFC Vardeanians in Brighton. It's been a tremendous season regardless of where we finish and if we can cap it with promotion then we can look forward to visiting new grounds all over the South East next season in the Isthmian League but let's not count those chicken too soon we still have games to play..

The weather has had a major impact on the Under 23 League this season with so many games postponed as a result of waterlogged pitches that the League made an unusual decision to allow teams to withdraw from the league without completing their fixtures, three teams took up that offer while another team had already withdrawn from the league. Unfortunately by doing that it made league placings all a bit pontess with teams picking up 3 points for matches they didn't play, let's hope for better weather next season.

Our Under 18 side picked up two wins in recent weeks against Roffey and Loxwood. It's been a tough season for the team who are predominantly players eligible for the Under 16 team but the experience of playing in a strong league against opposition players that are older and bigger will give them a good grounding for the next two seasons. The Under 17s have one match remaining and if they win that will finish 3rd in the South Surrey Youth League Division 2.

The Junior Section should have finished their season by the end of April and they can then look forward to the Junior 5-a-sdie tournament over the Bank Holiday weekend 29th, 30th and 1st May. Lots of things going on at the club over that weekend as well as football we will have a BBQ, Bouncy Castle, Cake Stall, Bar, Assault Course, Ice Cream and on Saturday it's Party Night in the Club with DJ80, Auction, Raffle and BBQ, something for everyone so make a date in your diary and come along.

Our Club Room, "The Venue", at Broadbridge Heath Football Club is an ideal location to hold local events within the village, so if you've not visited us already, then come along and see what we can offer.

If you have a party or function enquiry, then please give Helen Kowalkowski our Community & Events Coordinator. a call or send her an email to discuss your plans in more detail Tel. 01403 283165 or email helenkowalkowski@outlook.com

To see what events are on at the Venue please visit our website at www.thevenuehorshamuk.com/whats-on

I’m writing this article with less than 2 weeks before our first league game of the season in the knowledge that we are around 5 weeks behind on preparing the cricket ground for this first game. March this year has been one of the worst in recent memory. We had so much rain, it has been impossible to get onto the square to start flattening it out. Still, there is a ray of hope with the forecast for the week beginning 17th April; so fingers crossed we will make it. By the time you read this article we will have found out.

The work we have been doing at the ground over the last couple of years has paid some dividends. Despite the amount of rain we had in March, the top common has remained mainly surface water free. We’ve had a lot of draining work done, which appears to be working. Some of you will have noticed the fencing that has been in place over the winter, which has now been removed, that was there to help the ground recover from the work we’ve had done. We can only thank you all for your patience whilst it has been in place.

2023 is the Club’s 125th year and we will be holding a number of events over the season to help us celebrate. This will culminate in an open invite to families of the village to come along and join in some fun events, which will include coaching games for the children. We had hoped to hold this in May; however, unfortunately we had a burst pipe in the winter, which flooded the pavilion, and it’s taking a long time to dry out. Until it has, we cannot replace the flooring and make good the damage done by the water, and therefore don’t feel we can hold the event yet. We will release further details over the summer, including confirming the actually date – at the moment, we are considering early September as the likely time.

As part of our 125th anniversary year we are also starting to discuss the possibility of relaunching our junior section; something the Club hasn’t had for many years. In the past we’ve had a very successful junior set up, with some of our former joiners going on to play for much bigger clubs. One former junior also went on to play for England! If you have children who might be interested in playing for the village, then we want to know about them so that we can work out what age group(s) we might want to consider starting with. Please email our Chairman at chairman@bbhcc.co.uk.

If there are any adults out there who are looking to restart their cricketing career or just want to have a go for the first time, then we are always looking for new players. If you are interested in joining the club, then again contact our Chairman at the email address or above, or contact him on 07740 101983

Finally, just to confirm our home fixtures for the start of the season:

29th April – 1st XI v Roffey CC 3rd XI

6th May – 2nd XI v Steyning CC 3rd XI

13th May – 1st XI v Littlehampton, Clapham & Patching 2nd XI

20th May – 2nd XI v Warnham CC

27th May – 1st XI v Crawley Eagles 3rd XI

28th May – 1st XI v Crawley Eagles 2nd XI (League T20 Cup)

This month Chris, one of our guide leaders was awarded for her 60 years of service with Girlguiding. The surprise evening began with Chris being sent to our shed to pack away and find items whilst unknown to her the guests arrived through the front door! Judy our County President who was presenting the award was running late but Judith (guide leader) managed to keep Chris busy in the shed for 20 minutes whist we waited! The guests included past (many are still involved in guiding) and present guides as well as members of her family and other adult members of the district. We discovered during the presentation that Chris has volunteered with 2nd Broadbridge Heath Guides for 55 years! Congratulation Chris.

For more information regarding volunteering or to register your daughter please visit girlguiding.org.uk Facebook page for the district: Girlguiding Clemsfold District.

Beaver Scouts have been learning good life skills this term. They have been working towards their Money Skills badge. They have been learning about budgets and how to save some of their pocket money. They also looked back into the history of money and the bartering system. Hopefully, they will remember some of these skills as they grow up. They also have been caving in indoor tunnels at Beacon Hill Colgate, our local campsite.

The Cub Scouts took part in axe throwing and fire lighting. Our leaders are teaching them a wide variety of different skills.

The Scout section has been busy planning their June camp at Colgate. Firstly is the planning for the 10km hike to get there. This will go towards their Expedition badge. They will have to pack their own kit and the required equipment for sleeping overnight. This will need to be carried by them to the campsite. One of the activities will be a favourite - axe throwing. Before sleep will be the singing of traditional Scout songs around the campfire. The next day, after having re-packed their kit and equipment, they will have to walk the 10km back to the hall (with their kit). They should sleep well when they get home.