With "Sir William Hoste club" to Cambridgiea and back: Vis cricket in battle for Britain
A miracle living on the island of Vis - for years! Financed by themselves and have a little understood by those who should not worry and think budučnost island. But do not give, as all true sportsmen. Recently again, catering, visited England. Report - with a "Sir William Hoste club" to Cambridge and back again: The story of sporting triumph colorful troupe from the open sea of the Adriatic islands in England - 2009. noted journalist Dubrovnik list, and we the readers of our website in its entirety, as much today as well as when it was released.
To establish Vis Cricket Club transpired in the world to this island now has a brand new form of tourism - 'cricket tourism', mostly out of season when every kuna multiple valuable.
The news of invincibility Vis kriketaša in England, recognized you, sounds like an April Fools joke, unconvincing, and the mere mention of cricket in Croatia is a good template for a joke. About the performance of Jamaica or the Croatian in the Winter Olympics in bobsled, four-seater. Such news is rarely end up in the sports section, more interesting, or even in the column "Believe it or not '. It was recently one of the biggest problems faced by the surplus of Sir William Hoste Cricket Club. " Simply, the story of sporting triumph colorful troupe from the open sea of the Adriatic island of England is too strange to be just a sport, especially in a sport that was invented in England, and who are merely a few Croats have heard, unless they are avid bettors. Rules do not know anyone except a few dozen enthusiasts who are engaged in this sport like baseball, which also no one understands.But, gradually becoming used to the English to invent a sport only to be Croats won him mercilessly. That's about like a village in the Scottish hills, set up a polo club and come to Dubrovnik and the Wild beat the league. Well, such a case we just witnessed, which certainly deserves to be recorded.
After the game, all located in the St. Radegund pub and club legend Terry Kavanagh, where the walls are 'talking' countless sports stories
How it all began
At first, it will be unlikely, as does happen that to a senior game of cricket and even that can boast 200-year tradition and invincibility in England? However, excess tradition of cricket has a hole just a few years shorter than the tradition. In fact, cricket was brought to the island of Commodore William Hoste, Young Nelson as whispers from England. He has gotten famous last battle in the history of sailing ships, and against superior to Napoleon's fleet. Vis was then his foothold from which he destroyed the French fleet in the Adriatic Sea and sank or captured over 200 ships, to be praised in letters to his mother. The main battle took place at the dawn of 13th ožujka 1811th When the Italian-French fleet met with a significantly weaker Hoste fleet and a flag with the cry "Remember Nelson". Remember or remember Nelson, was a message of encouragement to the sailors, but also warning the French that Nelson, perhaps the most famous Englishman in history to beat feet, together with the Spanish Armada at the famous Battle of Trafalgar, and I poginuvši. Two powerful, eternal enemy is defeated in a single day and for all time. From then until recently Britain had undisputed ruler of the oceans. His body was brought home canned brandy in barrels.
In the Vis Channel, the French admiral made the fatal mistake požurivši'm with Infernal islands in the fatal encounter hosts a cannon volley. The battle lasted all day and Napoleon's fleet was totally broken. Young Nelson, to kill the boredom of his soldiers, he founded a cricket club. Vis then went through the whole economy flourishing, in just a few years grew to tens of thousands of people. The departure of the Englishmen, cricket has fallen into oblivion, and the Vis was somehow fell into the chimney corner, especially after the Second World War, when the entire island into a military base, it is forbidden for foreigners. So the people of Vis lost earnings benefits from tourism, but also preserved the island way of life, agriculture, fisheries, and even prevented mass concreting over which we have witnessed in other central islands.
Cricket tourism
Independence of Croatian, the open-sea pearl could be rediscovered in its original beauty.Having learned of this historical anecdote of the Leisure, a returnee from Australia, and a lover of cricket, Vis winemaker Niksa Roki decided together with her son Oliver, and with the help of many to restore the forgotten sport. On the island of Vis has several returnees from Australia, New Zealand, as well as a few Englishmen who have purchased the cottage, and some are permanent and settled, so that soon gathered a respectable team, and began working with youth-driven, improvised the court, friends from abroad have donated expensive equipment. News is the news in the world to Vis now has a brand new cricket tourism, mostly out of season when many times more valuable every kuna. Clubs from all over Europe, but also the entire Comonnweltha come on Vis. Regular opponents and sailors from warships of the Royal Navy who, it seems, used every opportunity to visit this island. Frequent guests and friends became members of the club St. Radegund, a local pub in Cambridge, which the islanders so thrilled that one of them, Steven Helsemere, wrote a book about the founding of the club, perhaps a template for a future Amarkord or Mediterraneo.
Adventure began early in the morning taking the ferry and drinking plum brandy from knitted demežane the checkered, which later became the trophy cup future duels. Already on the ferry your reporter to mush in a communication nightmare, because the Croatian and English, and spoke with a strong accent, so we were forced to ask the English translation of Vis, and vice versa.
Most are feared by the English unpredictable times, and this was a wonderful time that drew many tourists, students and citizens of Cambridge to the street, especially on the promenade along the river where you can rent a boat and rowing. They also have some "pjataške" Neretva trupice boats similar to the long sticks pushes from the bottom so that the Word is true of scrimmage. Someone fall into the river causing a real crowd cheering at the nearby pubs. The city is full of superb landscaped park through which freely roam the cows and sheep. The atmosphere is cosmopolitan thanks to the 20,000 students from around the world.
The celebrated University, one of the most famous in the world, this year celebrating 800 years of existence and would require a special story. The main means of transport are numerous bicycles and, of course, double-decker buses. All building work in the old style of brick and has no recoil in style, even the modern building material that does not interpolate sting the eyes. The houses are tiny, in the ranks with landscaped gardens front and behind, and only the expensive cars parked in front of the chamber that we are not in a slum.
So do people of Vis
Special story is 'Jesus Collage' where there is more grass tennis courts, but in Croatia, if they are to us any, about the cricket field to say nothing. People of Vis he could not nadiviti and immediately lay down the perfect pokošenoj grass with no weeds. Cricket is at first glance, snobbish, and even how to totally obscure sport. All are in the same white shirts so you do not even know anyone who plays against, because they applauded and teammates and opponents, and the same act and the audience. These are mostly family and friends, who then spread blankets on the lawn and have fun with food from the woven baskets, just trailing along the way what is happening on the pitch. So this is their trip, miracles, read the book, women are sunbathing, a children frantically rushing around. On the playground was the family of the original founders of the Vis Cricket Club Sir William Hoste, proud of his famous ancestor, and the respect accorded to him people of Vis indicated. The game lasts several hours and only slightly at the end of the tension rises when he sees who wins and sometimes they do not even know it, but at some tables, calculate who won.
On the English are not even see a fan grill, while the people of Vis however, more effort, especially in the cheering. Punches leather ball on willow bat echo of the old university buildings with a sound, "a bit, DOJ to him." Englishmen interested in translations, so they joined the cheering in Croatian. They long excess "little" sounds like "Palermo" which of course caused laughter of ours, who accepted a new cry.
Being a snob, a great thing
If anything is more interesting is happening, someone screams: "pointless claping" (unnecessary clapping), we all gladly accepted. It seems that winning is not so important, except when they play India and Pakistan, as are most sporting events in general. In the pauses to drink local beer from the keg, though this is called a recess break for tea, and half are abundant brunch. Beer is on the ground and hide in the shade of the surrounding bushes. Then we became a lot clearer why the people of Vis so wholeheartedly endorsed this sport. After the game, all located in the St. Radegund pub and club legend Terry Kavanagh, where the walls tell the stories of countless sports, rowing regatta of Fame, and even a cricket ball, which was blessed by Pope John Paul II on his pilgrimage to New Zealand. Only now are See how much you love these people have for the sport and tradition, love is more important than winning. Completely understandable, but it can not diminish the enjoyment of a double victory, in fact on the ground invincibility Britain. Englishmen we've created, who is next ... In front of the pub are elected The best and worst players who naiskap need to drink a pint of beer, with many ironic comments and snipes. The atmosphere is so casual that no one first impression of snobbery is not bothered. Finally, be a snob, actually a good thing, of course, if you yourself can afford it .
The rules of cricket
Cricket really has no rules, but laws, which are owned by the Marylebone Cricket Club in London, which brought him back in 1788th and has the exclusive right to make changes, which throughout history that has only happened a few times and only in the details. What rebels neobaviještenog viewers are identical jerseys, but the point is simple: two batters with bats play against all opponents that are trying to throw out the demolition wickets (3 wooden stick behind the batter) with a leather ball, which the player defending the bat made of willow wood (it was attempted introduction of aluminum bats that are still remembers the incident as a heavy metal). If a batsman bat Defense wicket, the ball rebounded opposing catchers try to catch it before bouncing off the floor, which also filters out batters. While trying to get the ball catchers, two batters running alternate sites, collecting points, making sure they arrive before the ball. If traps the ball back before the batsman changes the place, tearing down the wicket which throws the opponent's bat. When you cut out all the batters, replaced by the role of team. Defended a ball can fly through the air field, which is scored with 6 points (which is risky because it is easy to catch a high ball) or roll away from the field before the traps that catch will be scored with 4 points. Most often the ball just refused on the defensive, and if anyone did not immediately ran to the range to the opposite wicket, which brings one point. It is brief enough that it can follow the matches, but of course there are lots of tactics and warfare. The ball must be thrown straight arm over her head and throwing a ball or a fast or a rotation (spin) is trying to fool batters. How to sew handmade leather ball, the stitches help in the rotation, so the ball is even constant rubbing of clothing to make a seamless part of a more smooth, which accelerated the flight.
Text and photos by Zvonimir Claw + Dubrovnik list
Thanks to the sharp eye and a little less starker camera (imagine the disaster that is the opposite!) John Pauletić Roki (it is, that has something to do with what Robert Pauletić bringing great stories from Brazil, the Himalayas!), And we bring a couple of photos from recent performances Vis kriketaša in Cambridge. Enjoy!
