Over 75 National Cricket Championship 2025

The First National Over 75 Cricket Championship was held in Albury / Wodonga at the end of November.

During the three previous years there had been annual over 75 games between Victoria and New South Wales held at Albury/Wodonga but due to other commitments we had been unable to attend. We therefore looked forward to going to this carnival.

We left home on Saturday 22 November and returned home on Saturday 29 November.

The Meet and Greet was held on Sunday 23 November in the Stanley Room at the Commercial Club. Groups of players then met for dinner at the club or at other locations.

Teams in First Division were ACT Devils,  NSW Blues, Queensland and Victoria Blue.

Teams in Second Division were ACT Murrumbidgee, NSW Kangaroos, NSW Waratahs, South Australia, Victoria Grey and Victoria Silver. 

The matches were held on the Monday and Tuesday for the two divisions of the over 75 teams. Victoria and New South Wales also had an over 80s team which played on Monday with a rest day on Tuesday.

The Wednesday was a rest day for the over 75 teams while the over 80s played their second match.

The Carnival Dinner was held at the Commercial Club on the Wednesday evening. 

On Thursday the over 75s played their third match. 

The winners of the carnival was decided on the games won and by percentage.

The Victoria Blue team won Division One.

Another Victorian team also won Division Two.

In the over 80s games both Victoria and New South Wales won matches but Victoria was declared the winner.

Consequently it was a very good carnival for Victoria.  

Robin was a member of the Victoria Blue team in Division One.

As well as playing cricket there was opportunity to meet up with friends and also enjoy the sights of Albury making this an enjoyable cricketing holiday. 

Over 75 National Cricket Championship 2025 - Game One

Game One in the First Division was held Kelly Park Cricket in Wodonga on the Monday with Queensland playing the Victoria Blue team.

When we arrived at the ground there was a coffee cart waiting for customers.

Victoria fielded first.

At the end of the Queensland innings the score was 7 wickets for 109 runs.

After lunch Victoria Blue batted and won the match.

First game to Victoria.

Over 75 National Championship 2025 - Game Two

 The second match played by Victoria Blue against the ACT was at Kiewa in Victoria on the Tuesday.

This was an impressive cricket ground surrounded by countryside.

Memorial gates at the ground.

Across the road is the General Store.

Cattle graze in nearby paddocks.

Magnificent mountain in the background.

Victoria batted first.

The ground at Kiewa is definitely in a rural setting so I enjoyed going for a walk.

The score at the end of the game - a good win for Victoria.

After the game the players relaxed in the clubrooms.

Over 75 National Cricket Championship 2025 - Game Three

On Thursday 27 November, New South Wales Blues played Victoria Blues in the Division One game at Lavington, a suburb of Albury.

This is a most impressive sports ground with copious seating in the stands.

Both teams had a  practise session before the game.

New South Wales batted first.

Each team had its group of supporters.

Les Quarrell with Robin before the game.

Julie and Anne ready to support Victoria.

Victoria won match and the championship.

Albury and surrounds

 There is also the Murray River to explore.

  

Walking beside the banks of the river provides many views of this important river.

Always time to check what is happening in the world.

One of the information boards about Hume & Hovell who explored the area in 1824.

View of the park by the river.

Information board about a levee bank system.

Birds on the river bank.

Exploring the park.

Yarck

 On our excursions to Albury/Wodonga and sometimes beyond we normally stop at Yarck for a break. 

Bucks Country Bakehouse is a good place for a hot drink and perhaps something to eat.

Buck greets visitors near the entrance.

Yarck is also a good location to explore a little before continuing the journey.

 

 Views of nearby mountains. 

The Yarck Recreation Reserve is located off a side street.

Playground equipment for young children.

Over 70s National Cricket Championships - Albury Wodonga - Trip to Albury

The 8th National Over 70s Cricket Championships were held at Albury Wodonga from 19 November to 25 November 2019. However this was the third stand alone Over 70s National Cricket Championships. Earlier championships had been held in conjunction with the Over 60s National Cricket Championships.

We decided to travel to Albury a couple of days before the carnival so we had time to explore the Albury and Wodonga area, so we left on the Sunday morning travelling via Healesville along the back road joining the main highway to Wodonga near  Euroa. We stopped at Swanpool and purchased sandwiches for lunch.

We then had a walk down the street of this small community before continuing our journey.

The Swanpool and District Memorial Hall, with cinema, was on the other side of the road.

This tree, a lima stringybark, was fenced off and had a sign providing information about its significance.

Click image to enlarge to read sign

We passed a memorial cairn with a plaque stating that the explorers, Hume and Hovell, had been in the area in November and again in December 1824.

Click image to enlarge to read sign

We passed a property with advertising signs for Pest Control and Rabbit Control.

Our car was  parked the car near this fence portraying scenes of Swanpool's past.

We then travelled to the Mercure Hotel in Olive Street, Albury where we were staying during the carnival.

View from our bedroom window.

After we had unpacked we went for a walk to familiarise ourselves with the area before having dinner at The Bended Elbow in Dean Street. Robin had barramundi while I had chicken parmigiana.