Anyone for cricket?

Saturday 17th was the day of the Great Match between the Royal Household Cricket Club and Château Giscours Cricket Team at Windsor. Played on the lovely ground below the castle walls, alongside the Long Walk.

And the Heavens opened!

It was while Anne Linder was sorting out stuff for our Bordeaux Voyage and the completely separate Planting of Windsor Vineyard that she discovered that:

a) Bordeaux has long had a good and successful Cricket Club, (unsurprisingly in view of the number of ex-pats there in the Wine Trade) and
b) Windsor Castle has a good team which was looking for an overseas fixture.

So she sorted it. As she does.

Windsor Castle C C



The rain looked to spoil her show. But failed. Our initial dampness steamed gently away during the drinks in the lovely pavilion conservatory. More cricket pavilions should consider adding a glasshouse to beat our bloody weather, though breakages could be a problem, I suppose.

And she thought to provide a marquee. So with the rain hammering down, the teams and spectators were all able to enjoyed a lovely lunch with Laurent Breban's Provence rosé bringing artificial sun, the Dampt brothers’ Chablis representing Burgundy and Château Giscours triumphing – at the table at least – for Bordeaux. All enjoyed by The Prince’s Trust people for whom the other guests raised nearly £5,000. Thanks to all who bid in the silent auction.

At three the rain had stopped, a coin tossed and the covers removed. Giscours went in and a South African chap was soon whacking the ball all over Her Majesty's back garden.

The rain held off, mostly. And the final overs were bathed in a golden glow. Which was mostly sunshine. But it’s impressive how well some people can play cricket after wining and dining so well. W.G. Grace would certainly have been impressed.

The result was a win for the Royal Household … just. The return match at Giscours at the end of September will be interesting. If anyone’s interested in attending, contact Anne for details. She’ll sort it. As she does. anne.linder@directwines.com