🦆 The Duck Pond

A grim procession at Sidcup Green this weekend as the Duck Club chalked up three quick additions to the ledger — all in the very same innings, numbers seven through nine marching out and back with barely time to adjust their gloves. The exclusive zero club welcomed its latest instalments in style. 🏏 Saturday — 1st XI vs Sidcup CC Jack Jenner (7) was stumped by Neil Bastin off Seetharam Krishnamurthy — his 3rd duck of the season and 8th for the club from 45 innings, 113th in the all-time list. A card-carrying member of the Retirement Duck club from a past farewell, Jack this week draws level on career ducks with Adam Jackson, who reached the same tally of 8 in 87 innings across 2001–2007. Tim Thirkell (8) followed, caught Thomas Beament bowled David Bastin, for a modest 1st of the season but a chastening 79th of an extraordinary career — 4th on the all-time list from 820 innings, and a proud holder of the Full House (a duck at every position, 1 to 11), plus places on the Ducks on the Road, Homebody Duck and Lone Duck top tens. Ducking runs deep in that family — father John tops the all-time charts on 90, siblings Nigel and Simon aren't far behind on 57 and 56. This week Tim draws level with Jim Hall on 79 career ducks, Hall having taken 500 innings to get there across 1967–2007. Carl Davis (9) completed the set, caught David Bastin bowled Seetharam Krishnamurthy, for his 5th duck of the season — which is also, handily, his 5th career duck from just 27 innings, 150th on the all-time list. Carl too holds the Retirement Duck honour from a past occasion. On this very day back in 1977, club great John Thirkell was doing much the same thing against West Kent Wanderers CC — some traditions never die 🍩. 🌱 Sunday A quieter affair. The ducks took the day off, or simply couldn't get a touch — no additions to report. 📋 Week in Summary Three ducks from two matches, all condensed into one unfortunate lower-order collapse at Sidcup. Positions 7, 8 and 9 falling in sequence is exactly the kind of consistency the Duck Club exists to celebrate — triumph through adversity, and no shortage of it. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Ray Dixon — 5 ducks / 16 innings (31.25%) — reigning Duck of the Year 2007, the crown to beat 2. Chris Newman — 5 ducks / 20 innings (25.0%) 3. Carl Davis — 5 ducks / 23 innings (21.74%) 4. Mark Christmas — 4 ducks / 29 innings (13.79%) 5. Ian Hollingworth — 3 ducks / 5 innings (60.0%) — the rate to fear 0️⃣ 🦆 Same time next week, same green squares — the Duck Club never sleeps. Get out there and give the bowlers something to celebrate 🏏

A quieter week by Linton's standards but the exclusive zero club still welcomed four new inductees across three fixtures. The art of not scoring continues apace. Saturday 15th — 2nd XI v Marden CC, Kent (h) - Christopher Thirkell, in at four, departed for nought, bowled Gareth Ward. His third duck of the season and 25th of an already storied career, tucking him in at 41st of 1337 in the all-time standings — a 2005 Duck of the Year and a proud member of the Full House nearly-man club, having managed ducks at 10 of the 11 positions. He now sits level on 25 with Rob Doick, who racked up the same tally across 213 innings from 1991 to 2007. With the Thirkell name good for well over 300 combined career ducks between John, Tim, Nigel, Simon and kin, quacking is clearly hereditary in this family. Sunday 16th — Sunday 1st XI v Anchorians CC (h) - Richard Piper, in at five, was bowled by D. Pask for his first duck of the season and 45th overall — 15th on the all-time list, a 2003 Duck of the Year, and a fixture of the Full House, Homebody and Lone Duck top tens. - Not to be outdone from the other end of the card, number eleven Jon Harris fell to Kennett for his second of the season and a frankly ridiculous 89th career duck, keeping him at number 2 of 1337 all time — behind only club royalty. Four separate Duck of the Year titles (1976, 1980, 1981, 1999), a Full House, and shared quacking honours with both Jim Hall and Trevor Back adorn his board. Both men share a parallel: on this very day back in 1962, Richard Ashby also made a duck against Staplehurst CC, en route to 28 career noughts of his own. Wednesday 19th — Midweek XI v Penshurst Park CC (a) - Chris Newman, at seven, was bowled by Ed Hill for his fifth duck of the season and 13th of his career, joining Rob Jackson, who reached the same tally between 2001 and 2006, on the honours board. Newman's season alone is shaping up nicely for all the wrong reasons — see below. Week in Summary Four ducks from three matches, and mercifully no king pairs to report this week. Special mention to the Anchorians fixture, which claimed both ends of the batting order in one afternoon — top five and bottom one, a proper pincer movement of failure. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🥇 - Ray Dixon — 5 ducks in 15 innings (33.33%) - Chris Newman — 5 ducks in 19 innings (26.32%) - Carl Davis — 4 ducks in 22 innings (18.18%) - Mark Christmas — 4 ducks in 27 innings (14.81%) - Ian Hollingworth — 3 ducks in 5 innings (60.0%, the club's most efficient failure) Plenty of season left for the standings to reshuffle. See you at the next fixture, where the exclusive zero club never closes its books. 🦆🍩0️⃣

Three fixtures out on the park this weekend as the season heads into its final furlong, and the ducks were, for once, remarkably shy. Just the one nought recorded all weekend — proof that even the exclusive zero club takes the odd Saturday off. What it lacked in numbers, though, it made up for in class. Saturday 8th September 2nd XI away at Staplehurst CC In at number two, Mike Elworthy fell to Brett McElligott, bowled for a duck. It's the 3rd of his season and the 46th of a genuinely epic Linton career now standing at 474 innings — good enough for 14th on the all-time list and a season-ticket holder's spot on the Tourist Duck top 10, the honours board reserved for those who specialise in blobbing away from home. Fittingly, on this very date in 1981, Richard Ashby — Linton stalwart from 1962 to 1995, and another card-carrying Tourist Duck member alongside a place in the Ducks in a Row club — was doing precisely the same thing against Paul CC. Some traditions really do span the decades. The weekend's other two matches were, disappointingly, entirely fowl-free — all batters got off the mark, which frankly feels like a wasted opportunity this late in the season. Week in Summary Just one duck from three matches — a quiet weekend by the club's usual standards of dubious distinction. Mike Elworthy carries the flag alone this time, but with the season drawing to a close there's still time for the pack to catch up. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Ray Dixon — 5 ducks / 14 innings (35.71%) - Chris Newman — 4 ducks / 17 innings (23.53%) - Carl Davis — 4 ducks / 21 innings (19.05%) - Mark Christmas — 4 ducks / 27 innings (14.81%) - Ian Hollingworth — 3 ducks / 5 innings (60.0%) 🏏 — that percentage takes some beating Ian Hollingworth remains the season's most efficient duck harvester by some distance, but with matches still to come, nobody's crown is safe. Get out there next weekend, LPCC — the art of not scoring waits for no one. 🦆0️⃣

Five ducks in three matches this weekend as the 2007 season heads towards its final furlong — the exclusive zero club welcoming old faces back for fresh dishonours. Saturday 1st XI — away at Shipbourne CC Mark Christmas got the weekend's proceedings under way, lbw to Barry Hart for his 3rd duck of the season and 11th of a career now standing at 114 innings — good enough for 79th on the all-time list, and level pegging with Darren Styles, who reached the same tally in 182 innings across 1989-2007. Mark remains agonisingly one position shy of Full House membership, having now ducked in 10 of the 11 batting slots. Keep an eye on this one — there's more to come from him before the weekend's out. At number 11, Ian Hollingworth edged behind to Mark Agate off Edward Gelling's bowling, his 3rd of the season and 7th career duck from just 25 innings, ranking 124th overall. He joins Jack Jenner, who reached 7 in 44 innings between 2003 and 2007 before bowing out — quite literally — as a paid-up member of the Retirement Duck club. Saturday 2nd XI — home to Cobham CC, Kent Gareth Davies fell for a golden-adjacent nought, caught off Michael Boddy for his 2nd duck of the season and 9th of his career in 47 innings, sitting 100th all-time and drawing level with Craig Sands, who took a more leisurely 210 innings to reach the same landmark between 2002 and 2007. Sunday 1st XI — home to Cowdrey CC Ray Dixon set the pace early, bowled by Robert Hood for a 5th duck of the season — comfortably enough to be sitting on the Duck of the Year 2007 board as things stand. It's his 8th career duck in just 23 innings, 115th all-time, level with Adam Jackson's 8 in 87 innings. At a duck every three innings or so, Ray is making the art of not scoring look almost effortless. And there it was — Mark Christmas again, caught Lewis bowled Needham, completing a grim weekend pair: out cheaply on Saturday against Shipbourne and again on Sunday against Cowdrey. It's his 4th duck of the season and 12th of his career, and on this very day back in 1968 Paul Bowles was doing much the same against Bearsted CC on his way to a career haul of 54. Week in summary Five ducks, three matches, one weekend pair — Mark Christmas doing the double honours almost single-handedly. Elsewhere the club's stalwarts kept the tallies ticking over in the traditional fashion: quietly, repeatedly, and without much troubling the scoreboard. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Ray Dixon — 14 innings, 5 ducks, 35.71% - Chris Newman — 17 innings, 4 ducks, 23.53% - Carl Davis — 20 innings, 4 ducks, 20.00% - Mark Christmas — 25 innings, 4 ducks, 16.00% - Ian Hollingworth — 5 innings, 3 ducks, 60.00% Ray Dixon holds the whip hand for Duck of the Year, but Ian Hollingworth's fearsome 60% strike rate suggests nobody should get comfortable. Next fixture, same opportunity — the ducks await. 🦆🏏0️⃣

Three fixtures, four ducks, and the Yalding trip turning into something of a group outing for the zero club. Let's get into it. Saturday – 1st XI v Sheldwich CC (h) Matthew Carter went first ball at number 8, bowled by Jon Taylor — a proper golden duck 🍩 to open this week's account. It's his 3rd of the season and 16th of an increasingly distinguished career (93 innings, rank 64 of 1335), a paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club and a former Duck of the Year back in 2004. He now sits level on 16 with Clive Newman, who played from 1992 to 2007 across 355 innings — a tally, as it happens, that a certain Newman junior would be chasing just 24 hours later... Sunday – 2nd XI v Yalding CC (h) Yalding proved unusually hospitable to the Duck Club, with three names added to the sheet in the same innings. Christopher Thirkell fell lbw to John-Jacob Britz at first drop, his 2nd duck of the season and 24th of a career now standing at rank 44 of 1335 — a Duck of the Year winner in 2005 and forever propping up the Full House nearly-man board on 10 of 11 positions. Fittingly, on this very day in 1979 against Old Anchorians CC, his own relative Tim Thirkell — part of an extensive Thirkell duck dynasty and no stranger to this list on 78 career ducks — also trudged back for nought. Chris Newman followed at 7, lbw b Fergus Carty, his 4th duck of the season and 12th of his career (rank 76). His parent Clive Newman is a Duck Club stalwart in their own right on exactly 16 career ducks — the very number Matthew Carter drew level with earlier in the weekend. Chris shares that same 1979-vintage echo too, Tim Thirkell keeping company across the decades once again. And at number 11, Jon Harris duly obliged, bowled by John-Jacob Britz, for his 1st duck of the season but a mighty 88th of his career, anchoring him at number 2 on the all-time list, one place off top spot. Harris's honours board reads like a museum wing — Duck of the Year in 1976, 1980, 1981 and 1999, a Full House across every position, top-10 finishes in Homebody, Lone and Tourist Duck, and shared quacking honours with Allan Cooper, Jim Hall and Trevor Back. His parent Richard Harris isn't far behind on 36. And yes — on this day in 1979, Tim Thirkell was there too. Week in summary Four ducks from three matches, three of them landing in the very same Yalding innings — the visitors clearly fancied their chances against anything in a Linton Park shirt. One fixture kept its sheet spotless. Elsewhere, 1979 proved a popular vintage, with Tim Thirkell's Old Anchorians duck earning three separate mentions in one week alone. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🏆 - Ray Dixon – 4 ducks / 13 inn (30.77%) - Chris Newman – 4 ducks / 16 inn (25.0%) - Carl Davis – 4 ducks / 19 inn (21.05%) - Matthew Carter – 3 ducks / 9 inn (33.33%) - Kevin Presneill – 3 ducks / 13 inn (23.08%) Chris Newman's latest at Yalding keeps him locked in 2nd place — watch this space for the season's crown. That's the lot from 25–26 August. Next fixture, fresh victims — the zero club never sleeps. See you at the crease 🏏0️⃣

Two fixtures out on the park this weekend and, remarkably, only one member of the Linton faithful cared to make the trudge back to the pavilion without troubling the scorer. Quality over quantity, evidently. 🏏 2nd XI v Headcorn CC Battling away at number six, Simon Thirkell fell caught Jordan Vine bowled Peter West to register the solitary duck of the round. Nothing dramatic in the manner of it, but plenty in the maths behind it — this is Simon's 2nd duck of the 2007 campaign and his 56th for the club in 242 innings, a tally that keeps him lodged at a lofty 8th of 1,335 in the all-time standings. Simon arrives already garlanded. He's a three-time Duck of the Year champion (1983, 2001 and 2006), sits proudly among the "50 Before a 50" set having reached his half-century of noughts on a high score of just 48, and appears on both the Ducks on the Road and Tourist Duck top tens — the honours board equivalent of a well-stamped passport, mostly stamped in disappointment. His 2006 season also earns him a Runaway Duck citation — a whole summer without so much as troubling the scoreboard. Reputation, it turns out, is not always a good thing. It should also be noted that ducking is something of a Thirkell family trade. Kin John (90 career ducks), Tim (78) and Nigel (57) are all fully paid-up members of the zero club in their own right, with Christopher, Daniel, Tom and Stuart rounding out a dynasty that could field its own team of noughts. Simon didn't need the company today, but he'd certainly have it. Fittingly, on this very date back in 2004, Rob Jackson also strolled back for nought, against Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC — a small act of calendar solidarity across the years. 📋 Week in Summary One duck from two matches is a quiet return by Linton's usual standards — the other fixture got through entirely unscathed, batsmen apparently on their best behaviour. Make the most of the peace, because the Duck Club rarely stays quiet for long. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Ray Dixon — 4 ducks in 12 innings (33.3%) - Carl Davis — 4 ducks in 19 innings (21.1%) - Kevin Presneill — 3 ducks in 12 innings (25.0%) - Thomas Beeney — 3 ducks in 12 innings (25.0%) - Chris Newman — 3 ducks in 15 innings (20.0%) Ray Dixon holds top spot for now, but with a chasing pack this tightly packed, next weekend's fixtures are sure to shuffle the order. Get out there, get your padding on, and give the selectors — and the Duck Club scorers — something to talk about. 🍩0️⃣🏏

A famously slim week for the exclusive zero club — just the one nought recorded from two fixtures — but what it lacked in volume it made up for in pedigree. 🏏 Saturday 11th August — 2nd XI v Hadlow CC (home) Mike Elworthy, coming in at five, departed for a well-worn "c Unsure b Tony Wright" — proof that even the scorebook wasn't entirely sure how it happened, only that it did. It's Mike's 2nd duck of the 2007 season and his 45th for the club overall, a tally that plants him a lofty 14th of 1335 in the all-time standings and keeps his season ticket to the Tourist Duck top 10 firmly punched. In 471 innings of service, this is very much a case of the art of not scoring practised at the highest level — consistency of a very particular kind. Spookily, on this very day back in 2001, Daniel Thirkell — a Duck Club stalwart of the 1993–2006 vintage who finished on 21 career ducks and sits 53rd of 1335, himself a fellow Tourist Duck top 10 alumnus — was also dismissed for nought against Shipbourne CC. Some anniversaries mark weddings and birthdays. This one marks a shared gift for getting out for nothing, six years and a change of opposition apart. 📅 Week in Summary Two matches, one duck — a rare week of restraint from the LPCC top order, and Mike Elworthy stood alone in carrying the torch of ignominy. No pairs, no family affairs, no king ducks to report this time round. Whether that's discipline or simply everyone else deciding to bat properly for once remains, as ever, a matter for the selectors. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Ray Dixon — 4 ducks in 12 innings (33.33%) - Carl Davis — 4 ducks in 19 innings (21.05%) - Kevin Presneill — 3 ducks in 11 innings (27.27%) - Thomas Beeney — 3 ducks in 12 innings (25.0%) - Trevor Back — 3 ducks in 14 innings (21.43%) Ray Dixon holds the reins for now, with Carl Davis breathing down his neck on the same tally from a longer stint at the crease. Plenty of season left for the standings to be shuffled. That's the lot for this period — thin pickings for the Duck Club scribes, but the season marches on. Next fixture, someone's luck runs out. It always does. 🦆🏏0️⃣

Seven fixtures, five ducks, and the honours board creaks open once more. Here's who paid their subscription to the exclusive zero club this week. Saturday 4th August 1st XI away at Meopham CC 🏏 Craig Sands was held by Mark Burton off Clive Cole, his 2nd duck of the season and 9th of an illustrious career spanning 208 innings — good enough for 98th on the all-time list of 1335. On this very day back in 2001, Ron McCormick was doing much the same against Headcorn CC, on his way to a final career tally of 4 before bowing out on a duck himself. Kevin Presneill followed, bowled by Alex Fisher for his 3rd of the season and 11th career quack. He now sits shoulder to shoulder with Chris Newman, who reached the same total in a rather brisker 59 innings between 2002 and 2007 — efficiency Kevin may wish to study. 2nd XI at home to Bearsted CC Trevor Back, a fixture of no fewer than three separate top tens — Ducks on the Road, Homebody Duck and Lone Duck — added a 3rd of the season to his colossal career haul, now standing at 63 and 6th in the entire club's history. Bowled by Tim Lush, he keeps Ron McCormick's 2001 vintage company on the date. Simon Thirkell, bowled by Robin Cross, brought up only his 1st duck of the season but his 55th overall — a man who already owns "50 Before a 50" (59 ducks against a top score of a mere 48, a genuinely heroic imbalance) and three Duck of the Year titles to his name, 1983, 2001 and 2006, the last of those a full "Runaway Duck" season without troubling the scorers at all. Ducking evidently runs in the family — brothers Tim (78) and Nigel (57) are deep into their own tallies, with father John sitting on 90. Like Craig and Trevor, Simon joins Ron McCormick's 2001 company on this date. 0️⃣ Sunday 5th August 2nd XI away at Downham & Bellingham CC Tom Murphy survived a couple of deliveries before being caught by Chris Mendham off Keith McCann, his 2nd duck of the season and 4th of his career. He now draws level with Carl Davis, who reached the same tally in 23 innings between 1994 and 2007 before bowing out, fittingly, on a duck of his own. The Week in Summary Five ducks from seven matches — a modest harvest, but a spread one, taking in three different grounds and both ends of the experience spectrum, from Craig Sands' relatively tender 208 innings to Trevor Back's monumental 578. No pairs, no king pairs and no family affairs this week — the ducks kept themselves strictly to themselves. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - Ray Dixon — 4 ducks in 12 innings (33.33%) - Carl Davis — 4 ducks in 19 innings (21.05%) - Kevin Presneill — 3 ducks in 10 innings (30.0%) - Thomas Beeney — 3 ducks in 12 innings (25.0%) - Trevor Back — 3 ducks in 12 innings (25.0%) Ray Dixon holds a slender lead, but Kevin Presneill's fresh nought this week keeps him within striking distance. The season isn't done yet — get down to the ground next weekend and see whose name goes up in lights, or rather, in noughts. 🦆

Three fixtures, seven ducks, and the exclusive zero club opened its books to six willing new entries this week. Something in the August air clearly encouraged the art of not scoring. 🏏 1st XI v Milstead CC (Sat, home) - Carl Davis departed for nought at seven, bowled by Elliott Buckner — his 4th duck of the season and 4th for the career, 167th of 1334 all time. A Retirement Duck club veteran from a past farewell, he now sits level on career ducks with Ollie Howarth, who managed the same tally 2004–2007. - Michael Beeney followed at nine, caught behind off the same bowler for his 3rd of the season and a weighty 26th career duck, 38th all time from 197 innings. A Diamond Duck laureate from 2002, Michael keeps distinguished company — son Thomas was busy at Mersham the same day. On this date in 2001, Simon Thirkell also made a duck against Milstead CC. 🏏 2nd XI v Mersham Sports CC (Sat, away) - Ray Dixon fell for his 4th duck of the season, caught at three — the honours board already has him down for Duck of the Year 2007. He stands on 7 career ducks from 19 innings, 128th all time, level in spirit with 2001's Simon Thirkell, who ducked on this same date. - Gareth Davies, bowled at seven, opened his season's account with an 8th career duck from 45 innings, 111th all time, joining Adam Jackson, who reached the same total 2001–2007. - Thomas Beeney was bowled for his 3rd of the season, a 7th career duck, 129th all time. A Debutante Duck club member from his first innings and a Ducks on the Road top-10 fixture, he shares this week's dismissals with father Michael — and the date with 2001's Simon Thirkell. - Dave Todd rounded things off with his 1st duck of the season, a 19th for the career from 227 innings, 55th all time — proper Linton furniture, and another name for the 2001 Milstead on-this-day file. 🏏 Midweek XI v Ipswich Greyhounds CC - Kent Tour XI (Wed, home) - Chris Newman was trapped lbw for his 3rd duck of the season, an 11th career duck from 56 innings, 82nd all time, level with Darren Styles, who reached the same mark 1989–2007. A chip off the old block too — kin Clive Newman carries 16 career ducks of his own. 📋 Week in Summary Seven ducks from three matches, with the Beeney and Thirkell names doing heavy lifting on the honours front. No golden ducks, no pairs, no family doubles this week — just steady, dependable failure up and down the order. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Ray Dixon — 10 inns, 4 ducks (40.0%) - Carl Davis — 16 inns, 4 ducks (25.0%) - Thomas Beeney — 11 inns, 3 ducks (27.27%) - Chris Newman — 12 inns, 3 ducks (25.0%) - Michael Beeney — 13 inns, 3 ducks (23.08%) Fixtures roll on, and with them the promise of fresh entrants to the zero club. Bring your bat, give the scorers something to write home about — or don't, and give us something else entirely. 🦆🍩

A quiet one this week at Linton Park, and if you were hoping for fresh additions to the exclusive zero club, I'm sorry to report the ducks gave us the slip entirely. One match played, and — almost unbelievably — not a single soul departed for nought. Bats were troubled, technique was questioned, but this time everyone found their way off the mark. Even the umpires looked faintly disappointed. Rest assured, this is very much the exception rather than the rule. The art of not scoring is alive and well elsewhere in the club's history, and normal service will surely resume before long. Consider this week a rare ceasefire in an otherwise proud tradition of triumph through adversity. 0️⃣ Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🥇 Even with a blank week on the board, the race for 2007 Duck of the Year is well and truly alive: 1. Ray Dixon — 3 ducks from 9 innings (33.3%) 2. Carl Davis — 3 ducks from 14 innings (21.4%) 3. Ian Hollingworth — 2 ducks from 3 innings (a startling 66.7% strike rate — some would call that consistency of a very particular kind) 4. Matthew Carter — 2 ducks from 7 innings (28.6%) 5. Stewart Morrison — 2 ducks from 7 innings (28.6%) Ray Dixon leads the pack for now, but with Ian Hollingworth's frankly alarming duck rate lurking in third, this contest is far from settled. Two ducks apiece for Carter and Morrison keeps them breathing down each other's necks too — expect that tussle to run all season. 🏏 Looking ahead A blank week doesn't happen twice in a row if the cricketing gods have any sense of humour, and they usually do. Next fixture, someone's going to nick one behind, get pinned in front, or simply misjudge a quick single — and the honours board awaits. We'll be watching every scorecard closely. Until then — bats up, heads down, and may your ducks stay firmly in their pond. 🦆🍩

A modest week for the exclusive zero club — just three ducks laid across four fixtures — but modest is not the same as empty, and the Midweek boys made sure the honours board kept ticking over. 🏏 Saturday 14 July — 2nd XI away at Rumwood CC Matthew Carter fell caught and bowled by Lee Marsh, his 2nd duck of the season and 15th of a career now stretching to 91 innings, good enough for 67th on the all-time list. Matthew is already a paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club from his very first innings, and was crowned Duck of the Year back in 2004 — a man who has made a proper study of the art of not scoring. On this day in 1956, A Hughes (1956–1987) also strolled back for nought, against A. Trembeths, so the calendar clearly had form for it. 🌙 Wednesday 18 July — Midweek XI at home to Lord Cornwallis XI A double helping from the same innings, as the Midweek XI contributed the week's other two ducks. Chris Newman was trapped lbw by T. Coleman for his 2nd duck of the season, his 10th in 54 career innings, sliding him to 90th on the all-time list. He joins Kevin Presneill (2001–2007), who also settled on exactly 10 career ducks, from 95 innings. A chip off the old block too — relative Clive Newman carries 16 career ducks of his own, so the family clearly knows the way to the pavilion. Not to be outdone, Carl Davis edged Coleman through to Jefferson for his 3rd duck of the season and, remarkably, his 3rd duck full stop — a career built almost entirely on nought across just 17 innings, now 198th on the all-time list. Carl already sits on the Retirement Duck board from a past farewell, though this latest effort suggests he's very much still turning out. He draws level on career ducks with Daniel McCarthy (2006–2007, 19 innings). 📊 Week in Summary Three ducks from four matches, with the Midweek XI doing the week's heavy lifting while the weekend sides largely kept their nerve. Carl Davis's hat-trick of noughts this season vaults him straight into 2nd in the season standings, breathing down Ray Dixon's neck. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Ray Dixon — 3 ducks, 9 innings, 33.33% - Carl Davis — 3 ducks, 13 innings, 23.08% - Ian Hollingworth — 2 ducks, 3 innings, 66.67% - Matthew Carter — 2 ducks, 7 innings, 28.57% - Stewart Morrison — 2 ducks, 7 innings, 28.57% Ian Hollingworth remains the one to fear on strike rate — two ducks from just three trips to the crease is triumph through adversity of the highest order. Onwards to the next fixture, where the zero club always keeps a seat warm for new arrivals. Bring your bats, gentlemen — though apparently that's rather beside the point 🦆🏏🍩0️⃣

A quiet week for the parish records. Five matches played across the club and only one soul answered the call of the exclusive zero club. Consistency, it seems, was in short supply everywhere except the Duck Club itself. 🏏 2nd XI v Meopham CC (home), Saturday 7th July Kevin Presneill, batting at four, departed for the most economical of contributions — bowled Micky Oliver, no runs to show for his troubles. It's duck number two of the season for Kevin, and his tenth in senior colours from 95 innings, lodging him at a very respectable 92nd of 1334 in the all-time ledger. A place of dubious distinction indeed. Kevin now sits shoulder to shoulder with Mark Christmas, who plied his trade for Linton between 2002 and 2007 and reached the very same tally of 10 — albeit needing 106 innings to get there, and famously one position shy of completing the Full House. Two very different routes to the identical destination, which is rather the whole point of the Duck Club. 📊 Week in Summary One duck from five fixtures is a lean return by Linton standards — the art of not scoring taking a rare weekend off elsewhere on the circuit. No pairs, no family affairs, no king ducks to report. Just Kevin, quietly and efficiently adding to the pile. Sometimes triumph through adversity is a one-man show. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Ray Dixon — 3 ducks in 9 innings (33.33%) - Ian Hollingworth — 2 ducks in 3 innings (66.67%) 🍩 - Stewart Morrison — 2 ducks in 6 innings (33.33%) - Jack Jenner — 2 ducks in 7 innings (28.57%) - Kevin Presneill — 2 ducks in 8 innings (25.0%) Ian Hollingworth's strike rate remains the one to fear this season — two ducks from a mere three trips to the crease is a percentage most bowlers would sell their grandmother for. Kevin's Saturday effort keeps him firmly lodged in the top five, breathing down the necks of the leaders. 📅 Looking Ahead A rare week of restraint from the Duck Club faithful — but with the season's business far from concluded and Ray Dixon setting the pace, normal service will surely resume. Pads on, guard taken, fingers crossed for a golden one to spice things up. We watch. We wait. We celebrate. 0️⃣🦆

Two fixtures out on the park this weekend and the harvest was famously lean — just the one duck to log in the club's ledger. Quality over quantity, as the exclusive zero club likes to say. 🏏 1st XI — Sheldwich CC (away) Rob Doick walked out at number two and walked back rather sooner than planned, bowled by Jon Taylor for a duck — his 1st of the 2007 season and the 25th of an already storied LPCC career. That's good enough for 43rd on the all-time list of 1,334 names who have mastered the art of not scoring, and it draws Rob level on 25 with club legend Michael Beeney, who compiled his own quarter-century across 1995–2007 in 192 innings. Beeney's own honours board makes handsome reading — a Diamond Duck from 2002 (out without facing a ball), a spell as one half of Only Two Quacks with Ian Brattle, and a Retirement Duck to close the account. Rob now keeps that sort of company, whether he asked for it or not. Elsewhere on the day, LPCC's second fixture proved entirely fowl-free — eleven players in and eleven players off the mark, a rare and faintly disappointing vegan affair for the Duck Club faithful. 📋 Week in Summary One duck from two matches is a quiet week by Linton's usual standards — but a duck is a duck, and Rob's entry keeps the season's tally ticking over nicely. The race for Duck of the Year remains wide open, and with Ray Dixon setting the early pace, there's every incentive for the chasing pack to start finding some soft dismissals of their own. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Ray Dixon — 3 ducks / 7 innings (42.9%) - Ian Hollingworth — 2 ducks / 3 innings (66.7%) - Stewart Morrison — 2 ducks / 5 innings (40.0%) - Jack Jenner — 2 ducks / 6 innings (33.3%) - Trevor Back — 2 ducks / 6 innings (33.3%) 🍩 Looking Ahead A modest week, but the season is young and the wickets are patient. Next weekend's fixtures offer fresh opportunity for anyone hoping to join Rob, Ray, or the ever-reliable Ian Hollingworth in the game's most dubious distinction. Pads on, guard taken, first ball incoming — the Duck Club never sleeps. 0️⃣🦆

Four matches out on the county's finest squares this week, and Duck Club can confirm the nets were mostly quiet — bar one glorious, top-to-tail collapse at Bearsted CC that did all the work for everybody else combined. 🏏 1st XI v Bearsted CC (home, 16 June) Three ducks in the same innings, ladies and gentlemen. A proper cull. - Stewart Morrison, in at two, c Neil Jefferies b Jason Preston-Reeves. His 2nd of the season and a frankly aristocratic 41st for the club, hoisting him to 18th of 1,334 in the all-time table — rarefied air. Stewart is a paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club (his very first Linton innings, long ago, was also a blob), a Duck of the Year champion back in 2000, and lurks uncomfortably in both the Full House nearly-man reel and the Lone Duck top 10. It's hereditary too — brother Phillip Morrison carries 2 career ducks of his own. On this very day in 1970, Cliff Anscombe (1957–1975, 25 ducks) was doing exactly the same thing against Ozonair. - James Piper, at four, done by the same wicketkeeper — c Neil Jefferies b Greg Laurenson. His 2nd of the summer and 6th for the club, 140th of 1,334 all-time. Proper duck pedigree here too: sibling Richard Piper sits on 44 career ducks and family man Brian Piper on 23 — the Pipers clearly take turns. Cliff Anscombe, again, 1970, same date, same fate. - Ian Hollingworth rounded off the tail at 11, bowled Stephen Horrocks, his 2nd of the year taking him to 6 for the club and a share of 139th all-time. Cliff Anscombe was a busy man on 16 June 1970, and keeps Ian company from beyond the archive too. 📅 Week in Summary Three ducks, all in the one innings, all in the one match — Bearsted CC clearly agreeing with nobody's batting this week. The other three fixtures passed off, disappointingly, fowl-free. Efficient work from the collectors while it lasted. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Ray Dixon — 3 ducks/7 inns (42.86%) - Ian Hollingworth — 2 ducks/3 inns (66.67%) - Stewart Morrison — 2 ducks/5 inns (40.0%) - Trevor Back — 2 ducks/5 inns (40.0%) - Jack Jenner — 2 ducks/6 inns (33.33%) Ian Hollingworth's strike rate is doing some serious damage up there — one more and he may want to sit down quietly. Next fixture awaits, and the exclusive zero club never sleeps. Bring your bats, gentlemen — or don't bother. 🦆🍩0️⃣

Four fixtures, five ducks, and the exclusive zero club gained a modest but distinguished intake this week. Saturday 9th June 2nd XI at home to Rusthall CC saw Trevor Back caught behind for nought — c Richard Stout b Ben Gamble — his 2nd of the season and a positively veteran 62nd of a career now sitting at rank 6 of 1334 all time. Trevor remains a fixture of the Ducks on the Road, Homebody Duck and Lone Duck top tens, and on this very day back in 1992 a young Matt Large was doing exactly the same thing against Hollingbourne CC, en route to 63. Sunday 10th June The Sunday 1s entertained the Knockers and lost two to the same over of misery, both bowled by G Millar. Mike Elworthy departed for his 1st duck of the season, his 44th career, drawing level on that tally with the great Richard Piper — 1990 to 2007, 349 innings, Duck of the Year 2003 and a Full House man to boot. Moments later Thomas Beeney followed him back, his 2nd of the season and 6th of a career already 23 innings deep — a paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club from his very first knock, long before this one. He now sits level on 6 with Ray Dixon, the reigning Duck of the Year. Tuesday 12th June — Twenty20 v West Farleigh CC The evening slog produced a tidy little double: Ian Brattle at nine and Michael Beeney at ten, both bowled by Adam Voller within moments of each other. Fittingly, the pair jointly hold the "Only Two Quacks" honour between them — evidently a partnership built for this. Ian's was his 49th career duck and 1st of the season, keeping him deep in Ducks in a Row territory as a card-carrying member of the 50 Before a 50 club. Michael's was his 2nd of the season and 25th of his career, level with Brian Relf, Cliff Anscombe and Dave Charlton across three different Linton eras. Both, appropriately, echo the same historic date — 1999, Stewart Morrison, away at Horsmonden. A nice footnote: Thomas and Michael Beeney both found their way onto the sheet this week — a parent and child, two days and two grounds apart — keeping the family name busy in the Duck Club, even if not quite together enough for the official honours. Week in summary Five ducks from four matches, two of them arriving in tidy pairs — Elworthy and Beeney at the Knockers, Brattle and Beeney at West Farleigh. Nobody troubled the golden duck this week — everybody at least survived a ball before the inevitable arrived. Consistency, as ever, of a very particular kind. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Ray Dixon — 3 ducks, 7 innings (42.9%) 2. Trevor Back — 2 ducks, 5 innings (40.0%) 3. Jack Jenner — 2 ducks, 6 innings (33.3%) 4. Carl Davis — 2 ducks, 7 innings (28.6%) 5. Michael Beeney — 2 ducks, 7 innings (28.6%) The season race remains wide open. Next fixture will no doubt bring fresh additions to the honours board — see you at the crease. 🦆🏏0️⃣

A dozen ducks hatched across five fixtures this week — a vintage haul for the exclusive zero club. 1st XI v Meopham CC (Sat, home) - Paul Gibson departed early, bowled N Richardson — his 1st of the season, 28th career (33rd all-time), a Platinum Duck laureate from 1991. On this day in 2001, Christopher Thirkell also quacked, v Staplehurst CC. - Kevin Presneill (lbw, Unsure), Carl Davis (b Powney) and Michael Beeney (b N Richardson) all shared a spiritual ancestor: on this day in 1995, Paul Gibson — yes, that Paul Gibson — also ducked, against Rumwood CC. Presneill moves to 9 career (102nd all-time); Davis bags his 2nd in five innings this term (2 career, brisk work); Beeney reaches 24 career ducks (43rd all-time), Diamond Duck royalty since 2002, and father to another name further down this report. - Mark Christmas (b Powney) opened his account for the week — 1st of the season, 9th career, a Full House nearly-man — with worse to come on Tuesday. 2nd XI v West Farleigh CC (Sat, away) - Graham Walker, lbw Wyn Barnardo, took his 1st of the season, 2nd career — another disciple of Paul Gibson's 1995 vintage. Sunday 2nd XI v Lord Raglan (away) - Ryan Boyns (c Kember b Hutchinson), his 1st of the season and 2nd career, kin to Alan Boyns (21 career ducks). On this day in 1967, Alan Cridland quacked v Tovil Nomads CC. - Ray Dixon (c&b Hutchinson) piled on a 3rd of the season, 6th career, joining Boyns in the 1967 club — and stretching his lead as reigning Duck of the Year. - Ron McCormick (b Hicken) reached 4 career ducks, level with Ollie Howarth (2004–2007, 19 innings). - Thomas Beeney (b R Knowler), 1st of the season, 5th career, level with Ian Hollingworth (2004–2007, 22 innings) and a Ducks on the Road regular. His father Michael also failed to score this week — sadly a different match, so no shared ceremony. Sunday NVKC v High Halstow CC (away) - Chris Newman (b Tom Hanman) reached 9 career ducks — kin to fellow member Clive Newman (16) — and completes the 1967 trio alongside Boyns and Dixon. Twenty20 v East Sutton CC (away, Tue) - Mark Christmas completed a grim pair for the week, caught Worsfold bowled Charlton — 2nd of the season, 10th career, still propping up the Full House nearly-man board. On this day in 1993, Chris Tymms also ducked, v Rumwood CC. A tidy dozen overall, headlined by Christmas's pair and Dixon's hat-trick — the early pace-setter for Duck of the Year 2007. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Ray Dixon — 5 inns, 3 ducks (60%) 2. Carl Davis — 5 inns, 2 ducks (40%) 3. Jack Jenner — 5 inns, 2 ducks (40%) 4. Mark Christmas — 11 inns, 2 ducks (18%) 5. Christopher Thirkell — 1 inn, 1 duck (100%) 🍩 Bring on next weekend — the ducks never rest, and neither should your bat.

A quiet weekend on the Linton Park poultry front, I'm sorry to report. Two fixtures took to the field this Saturday and, remarkably, not a single duck was laid. Eleven-plus batsmen apiece got off the mark, umpires were denied their finger-raising moment of glory, and the exclusive zero club gained precisely no new members. Whether this represents an outbreak of good form or simply a conspiracy of players declining to entertain us, the Duck Club cannot say — only that the art of not scoring was, for once, not practised anywhere on our grounds. Even Jack Jenner and Ray Dixon, who between them have made rather a habit of the nought this season, were kept quiet. A rare weekend of restraint from the current pace-setters. Do not, however, mistake this for a trend. The season is young, the ducks are merely resting, and 2007 has already shown its teeth. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 🥇 Jack Jenner — 4 innings, 2 ducks (50%) 🥇 Ray Dixon — 4 innings, 2 ducks (50%) 🥉 Christopher Thirkell — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) - Ian Hollingworth — 2 innings, 1 duck (50%) - Matthew Carter — 2 innings, 1 duck (50%) Christopher Thirkell's flawless 100% strike rate remains the standard nobody wants to meet, while Jack and Ray sit locked together at the top of the table, eyeing each other nervously. Fear not, members — normal service will resume soon enough. Next weekend brings fresh fixtures and, with them, fresh opportunities for triumph through adversity. The ducks are out there. They're just having a lie-in. 🍩0️⃣🏏

Five fixtures. Five results. And not so much as a whisper from the exclusive zero club. For once, Linton Park's finest all found their way off the mark, leaving the Duck Club's scouts stood empty-handed at the boundary rope, clipboards poised and entirely unused. A rare weekend where the art of not scoring was, apparently, beneath everybody's dignity. Not a single golden duck, not a pair, not so much as a nervous single-ball dismissal to report. The ducks, it seems, took the weekend off to migrate elsewhere — perhaps sensing the honours board was getting a little too easy to join. Do not mistake this for good news. A quiet week for the Duck Club is merely a coiled spring. Somewhere out there, a top edge is being saved up for next weekend, and the club's early pacesetters will not enjoy the company for long. 0️⃣ Duck Hunting Season leaderboard — 2007 so far: - Jack Jenner — 4 innings, 2 ducks, 50% - Ray Dixon — 4 innings, 2 ducks, 50% - Christopher Thirkell — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% 🍩 - Carl Davis — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% - Ian Hollingworth — 2 innings, 1 duck, 50% Jenner and Dixon share the early lead at a robust 50% strike rate for nought, though Christopher Thirkell's flawless 100% record from a single innings deserves a nod of its own — full marks for consistency, if nothing else. Rest assured, normal service will resume soon enough. The next round of fixtures awaits, and with them, surely, a fresh crop of candidates ready to strap on the pads and stroll back again for a fat zero. 🏏🦆 Until then — keep your eyes on the scorebook, and your bats, ideally, off it.

A quiet weekend in the exclusive zero club. Two matches on the go, and the poultry count came in at a modest one — but a duck's a duck, and the honours board doesn't discriminate on volume. 2nd XI Milstead CC away brought the weekend's lone casualty. Carl Davis, sent in at number nine, departed for nought — c Neil Burnop b J Warren. His 1st duck of the season, and his 1st career duck too, arriving from 5 innings in — a debut into the zero column that lands him 401st of 1331 in the all-time standings. Carl already carries a seat on the Retirement Duck honours board, that most solemn of standing distinctions reserved for a past farewell innings — no comment on today's fixtures, purely a historical credential, and we fully expect to see him again next week. On the parallel front, Carl draws level on exactly one career duck with - Howard, whose entire Linton career amounted to a single innings back in 2006 — enough to bag Debutante Duck and One and Done membership in one glorious, economical stroke. Carl has taken the considerably scenic route to the same number, needing five innings to Howard's one. Efficiency, it seems, is relative. Week in Summary Two matches, one duck — the ducks mostly evaded capture this week, content to let Carl Davis carry the flag alone. A gentle reminder that the season is young and the honours board has plenty of blank space left to fill. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard 1. Jack Jenner — 2 ducks from 3 innings (66.67%) 1. Ray Dixon — 2 ducks from 3 innings (66.67%) 3. Carl Davis — 1 duck from 1 innings (100%) 3. Christopher Thirkell — 1 duck from 1 innings (100%) 3. Ollie Howarth — 1 duck from 1 innings (100%) Jenner and Dixon share the early pace at two apiece, but with three players sat on a flawless 100% duck rate, there's no shortage of competition for the season's top honours. 🥇🍩 Roll on next weekend — the middle order awaits its next volunteer. 🏏0️⃣

Seven ducks shepherded into the exclusive zero club this weekend across three fixtures, with Bidborough CC proving an especially fertile hunting ground for the visiting Linton bowlers to feast on. Read on. 🏏 Saturday 5th — Staplehurst CC (1st XI, away) James Piper departed in the cruellest fashion — b R Clarke first ball, a fully-fledged golden duck. His 5th career nought (150th of 1331 all-time) keeps it in the family, with sibling Richard Piper (44 career ducks) and parent Brian Piper (23) both seasoned club members. On this very day in 1974, Paul Bowles also walked back for nought, en route to a mighty 54 career ducks. Stewart Morrison followed, lbw b R Clarke, his 1st of the season and 40th career duck — 20th on the all-time list, drawing level with David Castle (1982–2007, 706 innings). A former Duck of the Year (2000) and paid-up Debutante Duck alumnus, Stewart also props up the Full House and Lone Duck top-10 boards, with brother Phillip Morrison (2 ducks) for company. 🏏 Saturday 5th — Bidborough CC (2nd XI, home) A proper collapse at home saw four Linton batsmen return scoreless. Christopher Thirkell, run out opening the innings, moves to 23 career ducks (45th all-time) — level with Brian Piper. The Thirkell name is practically its own duck dynasty, with relatives John (90), Tim (78), Nigel (57), parent Simon (54) and Daniel (21) all carrying career noughts of their own. Trevor Back, bowled by H Blamey, brings up his 61st career duck — a formidable 6th on the all-time leaderboard, and a fixture on the Ducks on the Road, Homebody Duck and Lone Duck top-10s. Like Piper, he shares this day in 1974 with Paul Bowles. Andrew Redden then ran through the lower order with a brace. Ray Dixon fell for his 2nd duck of the week, up to 5 career noughts and stretching his lead as this season's Duck of the Year — also keeping company with Paul Bowles from 1974. Jack Jenner followed suit for his own 2nd of the week, up to 7 career ducks (124th all-time), pulling level with Gareth Davies. 🌱 Sunday 6th — Selsdon CC (Friendly XI, home) Ollie Howarth supplied the weekend's lone Sunday duck, bowled by Lance Low-a-Chee for his 1st of the season — his 4th career nought joins him with Thomas Beeney on the same tally. 📊 Week in Summary Seven ducks, three matches, one golden duck, and Andrew Redden doing his best duck-hunter impression with a brace at Bidborough. The 2nd XI's middle-to-lower order will be having words with the selectors this week. 🏆 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Jack Jenner — 2 innings, 2 ducks (100%) 2. Ray Dixon — 3 innings, 2 ducks (67%) 3. Christopher Thirkell — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) 4. Ian Hollingworth — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) 5. Matthew Carter — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) Jenner and Dixon have vaulted straight to the top of the pile courtesy of their twin blanks at Bidborough. Can anyone catch them before the season gets fully underway? The nets await, the bowlers are sharpening up — same time next week, ducks. 🦆

Season 2007 gets under way and the exclusive zero club wastes no time recruiting new members. Two fixtures, one glorious harvest at The Mote CC, and Laurence Waters doing more damage with the ball than anyone bargained for. 🏏 Saturday 28th — 1st XI v The Mote CC (home) First blood to Craig Sands, undone at first drop for the addition of nothing, caught by Jason Dunk off the bowling of Ruwan Galappaththi. It's Craig's 8th career duck from 185 innings, moving him to 104th of 1331 in the all-time table — and it plants him level on 8 with Adam Jackson, who racked up the same tally in a rather brisker 83 innings between 2001 and 2006. Consistency, of a very particular kind. Down the order, Laurence Waters got busy. Jack Jenner departed for nought at number 8, bowled — his 6th career duck in just 35 innings, hoisting him to 138th of 1331. Jack is, incidentally, a paid-up member of the Retirement Duck club from a past farewell — no danger of that ominous honour applying this week, he'll be back. Ian Hollingworth followed him back to the pavilion at number 9, lbw to the same Laurence Waters — a second scalp in the innings for the bowler, and Ian's 5th career duck from a lean 21 innings, good enough (or bad enough) for 148th of 1331. Both Jack and Ian share their calendar-day parallel: on this very day back in 1956, R Vincent also strolled back for nought, against West Farleigh CC, on his way to a tidy 3 career ducks and a spot on the Debutante Duck board for good measure. 🌤️ Sunday 29th A quieter affair — the second fixture of the weekend kept its sheet spotless, no additions to report. Even the Duck Club needs a rest day. 📊 Week in Summary Three ducks from two matches, all concentrated in the one 1st XI innings at The Mote — a proper cluster, and two of the three courtesy of the same bowler. Laurence Waters will want danger money. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard - Ian Hollingworth — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) - Jack Jenner — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) - Matthew Carter — 1 innings, 1 duck (100%) - Ray Dixon — 2 innings, 1 duck (50%) - Tom Murphy — 2 innings, 1 duck (50%) Early doors yet, but the season's duck rate is off to a flyer. Roll on next weekend — the middle order won't defend itself, and the Duck Club committee remains, as ever, open for new business. 🦆0️⃣

The 2007 season has barely drawn breath and already the Duck Club has its first intake. Two matches, three ducks, and the exclusive zero club is back in business. 🏏 Saturday – 1st XI v Headcorn CC (h) Tom Murphy went first, trapped in front for nought by Rob Mansell at number six. It's Tom's 1st duck of the young season and his 3rd for the club from 13 innings, lodging him at 240th in the all-time list — level company with Daniel McCarthy, who reached the same tally in 18 innings during his brief but productive 2006 stint. Down at number nine, Matthew Carter edged Peter Westrop's gloves off James Hopkins for his own 1st of the season, moving to 14 career ducks from 85 innings and 69th on the all-time charts. Matthew arrives as a fully paid-up member of the Debutante Duck club, having ducked on his very first innings for the side, and was crowned Duck of the Year back in 2004 — pedigree of the very particular kind this club celebrates. Fittingly, on this exact day in 2002, Adam Pooley — he of 26 career ducks and a Retirement Duck of his own — also fell for nought against Clarion CC. The calendar, it seems, has a memory. 🌱 Sunday – 1st XI v Wilmington CC (h) No rest for the Sunday side either. Ray Dixon departed at first drop, caught behind by Kevin Saunders off Gavin Nicholson, for his 1st duck of 2007 and 4th of his career from just 10 innings — a striking rate of return that puts him 179th on the all-time list. Ray now carries the freshly-minted Duck of the Year 2007 tag, a title very much live and up for grabs this season, and sits shoulder to shoulder with Ian Hollingworth, who required 20 innings to reach the same career total between 2004 and 2006. Early doors, but Ray has served notice. 📊 Week in Summary Three ducks from two matches to open the campaign — a modest but promising harvest. Fittingly, all three victims are debutants to this season's tally, each starting life at a poultry 100% duck rate. The Duck of the Year race is already underway, and Ray Dixon has grabbed an early foothold. 🥇 Duck Hunting Season Leaderboard 1. Matthew Carter — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% 2. Ray Dixon — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% 3. Tom Murphy — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% A three-way tie at the summit — early days, but the standings will not stay this tidy for long. 🍩 Roll on the next fixture. The season is young, the bowlers are keen, and somewhere out there another name is waiting to join the honours board. We watch. We wait. We celebrate.