Itinerary

The Australian Wattlesprigs X1, 2009 Itinerary

Friday JUNE 26
Meet and greet night,Tullamarine.
Dinner and drinks and a bit of shut eye before the early flight the next day.

Saturday JUNE 27
Up at sparrow’s fart – bus transfer to Tullamarine airport leaving at 5.15am
Check in, a bit of breaky, and leave for Seoul on Korean Air at 8.40am.
Arrive Seoul at 6.45pm ( 11 hour flight)
Transfer to airport hotel, free night, your choice of a bite to eat, a few drinks, or forty winks.

Sunday JUNE 28
Breakfast at hotel, and transfer to Seoul airport 9.30am
Check in, relax, and depart for Heathrow 1.15pm
Arrive Heathrow airport London 4.55pm ( 11 hr flight)
Transfer by coach to Holiday Inn, Maidenhead ( 30 mins from airport)
Free night, your choice, maybe try some English ales, have a bite to eat, get to know your fellow tourists, or maybe you are just plain tired – no problems go and get some sleep.

Monday JUNE 29
Breakfast at hotel, and short trip to Windsor Castle for a look around the Queens quarters, beware of Corgi’s.
Continue on to Stonehenge for a look at the famous rocks and a cuppa, and then journey on to Taunton Premier Inn, Somerset, for the first leg of the tour.
Tonight is the tour squad welcome to the UK dinner, a few laughs, food, beverages, introduce squad members, and you will be given a complete overview of what to expect from us, and what we expect from you, not to serious, just some nuts and bolts so everyone understands some tour requirements.
Taunton is the home of apple cider!

Tuesday JUNE 30
Game 1 VS Taunton Deane CC – local team
For non cricketers – this is a great chance to look around the beautiful township of Taunton, which is full of waterside restaurants, and boutique shops.

Wednesday JULY 1
Game 2 VS Bridgetown CC – voted England’s most prettiest ground. A must see for all tourists.

Thursday JULY 2
Game 3 VS Sidmouth CC – a seaside resort at the home of Devonshire teas in of course Devon.
If you hit the ball into the ocean it is worth 12 runs – but beware of sharks when you go and get it.
For non cricketers – Sidmouth is an amazing town for shops, seaside eateries, and the best greasy fish and chips and mushy peas in England.

Friday JULY 3
Game 4 VS Braunton CC
If you are not playing, but love beer tents, big crowds, model T Ford brewery trucks, special home made Wattlesprigs ale, and maybe another streaker, sponsors St Austells brewery always put on a great show, and Braunton CC are always competitive. Chris Rodgers (Aust.) was their pro last time!

Saturday JULY 4
Depart Taunton for Cardiff, Wales for the second leg of the tour.
Stop at historical Bath for lunch, and tour the famous Roman baths.
Arrive at St Mellons, Cardiff, staying at the Best Western Hotel, St Mellons.
Free night, maybe go and have a look at Cardiff night life.
Possible golf afternoon

Sunday JULY 5
Game 5 VS St Fagan’s CC, Cardiff.
For non cricketers, this gives you the chance to explore the beautiful city of Cardiff, Wales.

Monday JULY 6
Game 6 VS Lisvane’ CC, St. Mellon’s, Wales.
A great day trip, and a chance to sing a few songs on the way back to the hotel.

Tuesday JULY 7
Game 7 VS Barmy Army X1 @ St. Fagan’s
If ever we want to win a game this is the one. Not because it’s all about winning, but because they have more songs, and are better singers than us, and the next day at the Ashes cricket you will cop it.

Wednesday JULY 8
Transfer from hotel to Swalec Stadium Cardiff to watch day 1 of the first Ashes test, Australia VS England
OZZIE OZZIE OZZIE OI OI OI.
Australia V England
1st Ashes Test, Day 1, The Ashes, live!

Thursday JULY 9
Depart Cardiff for Temple Grafton, a quaint village in Shakespeare territory, Stratford Upon Avon, near Birmingham.
This will be the start of ‘SHAKESPEARE CRICKET WEEK’.
Very elegant country style accommodation at the Blue Boar, Temple Grafton, and the Red Stag nearby – GOOGLE IT.
Tour squad team dinner tonight at the Stag and Fancy Dress night. Shakespeare has eaten in restaurant, a la carte, oh but don’t order the pheasant, and beware of hotel ghost.
Fancy dress night.
You may like to bring something from home for this night, or purchase some ‘clobber’ from ‘oxfam’ while in the UK!
Ideas: Richie Benaud, Elvis or even Watermelon man!!!!

Friday JULY 10
Game 8 VS Claverdon CC
Traditional rivals, on and off the field, great supper in local hotel after game, and ‘around the barrel races’ are an absolute laugh.

Saturday JULY 11
FREE DAY
Sleep in, go for a game of golf, have a look at Shakespeare’s house in Stratford. It’s your day.

Sunday JULY 12
Game 9 VS Temple Grafton CC ( local team)
Today is lady’s day.
For the lady tourists, you will be treated like royalty at the game, in your own special tent, which will be chockers full of club sandwiches, champagne, and you will be waited on by a lovely English gentleman.

Monday JULY 13
Game 10 VS Tamworth CC
No we are not flying back to Australia for a country music festival! This is Tamworth near Birmingham.
A good day trip, and maybe a bit of bus karaoke on the way home.

Tuesday JULY 14
Travel to Darlington, Nth Yorkshire, in the North of England.
Staying at the beautiful The Croft, Best Western hotel.
Compulsorary dinner Raffles Bistro 7pm.
Meet and greet tour squad dinner with the locals.

Wednesday JULY 15

Double header
Game 11 VS Ingleton CC ( Day game)
Game 12 VS Raby Castle CC ( twilight game) 20/20
Raby castle is an incredible medieval structure and the cricket ground sits right along side it, beware of Oak trees at square leg and roaming deer.
Raby castle will be open for tours during the day.

Thursday JULY 16
Drive to Manchester – staying at the Jury’s Inn. Free night.
Explore the night life of Manchester.

Friday JULY 17
Game 13 Rawtenstall CC
Big crowds at this game
Funky Miller spent a couple of seasons playing for this club!
For the non cricketers the coach will be leaving for Liverpool today for an optional Beatles tour along ‘the long and winding road.’
After the match will be followed by a Curry / Race Night. One not to be missed! Possibly the fixture of the tour! Check out their proud history http://www.rawtenstallcc.co.uk/ Welcome lunch 12 o'clock. Game at 1pm.

Saturday JULY 18
After breakfast, and before we depart for Stamford, the coach will be taking you to Manchester United football stadium and museum for a guided tour.
‘Get an autograph from Rooney, and run down the tunnel onto the pitch, with the crowd screaming in the background.
Drive to Stamford, Lincolnshire
Accommodation at the Garden house hotel
FREE NIGHT

Sunday JULY 19
Game 14 VS Stamford town CC
For the non cricketers, Stamford is a beautiful city to explore.
Visit Burleigh house, an amazing building, picked out by Hitler as a possible home for one of his Generals. Bad luck you lost!
Traditional ‘Hog Night’ at the cricket club – or pig on the spit as us Aussies like to call it.

Monday JULY 20
Travel to Long Melford, Suffolk, via a quick stop in Cambridge for an early lunch.
Accommodation at the George and Dragon and the Crown hotels.
Tour squad BBQ, supplied by the George and Dragon hotel.

Game 15
20 / 20 Twilight, Long Melford CC, 4pm start.

Tuesday JULY 21
Game 16 VS Worlington CC
Back to the George for beers and cheers
Announcement of test team for best performed touring members. (Committee to select)

Wednesday JULY 22
Travel back to Shepperton London
Lunch on the way at the Cricketers hotel, Clavering, traditional roast.
This hotel is owned by Trevor Oliver, father of Jamie, PUKKA.
Accommodation at the Holiday Inn, Shepperton, London
Free night

Thursday JULY 23
Game 17 VS Teddington CC, London
This ground is owned by the Her Majesty, and we have already sent her an invite.
Free night

Friday JULY 24
Final game and traditional test match VS Shepperton, London, for the Ashes.
The Ashes urn sits in the clubhouse.
We haven’t one this game since 1986, and it’s time to bring the Ashes home to it’s rightful home, in Australia.
Game 18 ‘The Test Match’, Shepperton CC

Tour Awards presented: Graham Gemmill medal, Todd Duns feilding award.

Saturday JULY 25
Free day.
Lords tour, London sightseeing, maybe a quick trip to Paris to see Moulin Rouge, as we don’t fly out till late the next day. The Tour De France finishes on this day in Paris!!!!
Your choice.

Sunday JULY 26
Transfer from hotel to Heathrow airport at 5pm for check in, and depart for Seoul at 9.30pm

Monday JULY 27
Arrive Seoul 4.20pm – changeover
Depart for Melbourne at 7.15pm
Arrive Melbourne airport at 7.10am on Tuesday July 28th
Tears, goodbyes, a great tour had by all.

THE TOURERS

Simon Godfrey
Mark Wells
Gary Duns
Brian Burke
Noel Duns
Sandra Dinsdale
Ian Dinsdale
Peter Jacobsen
Neil Thewlis
Deborah Thewlis
Anton Noble
Rick Jones
Adrian Betts
Adam Thewlis
MichaelWhiting
Beverly Whiting
Jordan Whiting
Mark Moffat
Matthew Edwards
Ian Thewlis
Kevin Thewlis
Pauline Thewlis
Michael Cleary
Gregory Morgan
Gary Ennals
Gregory Thompson
Maryanne Thompson
Matthew Thompson
Andrew Thompson
David Brooks
Stephen Gemmill
Ranjie Oliver
Geoff Cameron
Cliff Cameron
Paul Hyde
Glenn Whelan
David Whelan
Archie Ellis
Keith Doyle
Travis Noy
Chris Brooks
Greg Thompson (Adel)
Robert Comerford
Campbell Smith
Greg Duns
David Parker
Adam Jackson

Introducing Cricket playing manager Kevin Thewlis.

Kevin Thewlis is our tour cricket playing manager. 'Kevvy' has had alot of experience in cricket management over many years in Cobram, Melbourne and Bendigo with local and representative teams. He loves the game like all of us and it is our 'plus' to have Kevvy cricket managing the Wattlesprigs. Kevvy also makes the journey with his lovely wife Pauline.









Is that a Thame's Carp or Darwin Barra?