CliMAX-Fete
5th July 2014
The Vicarage, St James Church Chipping Campden
Despite overnight rain providing a treacherously slippery surface for early batters, our new incumbent fearlessly strode forth to be the first to try his hand at CliMAX-Fete on Saturday 5th July 2014 as the bells in the tower chimed twice. At least he had home advantage with the tournament held in his own picturesque garden in Chipping Campden. His first delivery was despatched out of his garden for a MAXimum. His parishioners could only admire the qualities on display; firstly leadership and then timing. With no prior knowledge of the game, he showed a surprisingly good grasp of tactics, easing his way into the innings before hitting out in an aggressive style. But nothing came of the aggression for ball after ball. His score just edged to 17, hovered there, until there were just two desperate deliveries left. Unflustered he kept his eye on the ball and smacked his second MAXimum out of the grounds. The score would only be meaningful if he could do the same again on his last scheduled delivery. And to the approval of the thousands gathered to watch him, he produced another one in the nick of time. One hundred added to the total he was to have posted a challenging total for those brave enough to follow. A boundary from his bonus ball, his total was 134.
From back of the field at last year’s CliMAX-Fete, Martin Bridgewater came forward to take up the challenge. He has been working with a sports psychologist through the winter and had a confident look about (or do I mean confused look?). Unbridled aggressiveness, is the only way to sum up Martin’s approach to CliMAX, and some would say life in general. He MAX’ed to get off the mark and had three MAXima and 121 runs from his first four deliveries. But then a wobble as there was an appeal for his wicket. The appeal was turned down and Martin breathed again. The experience seemed to unsettle him and there were no more successful slogs, just a few runs here and there. He should have been delighted to surpass last year’s total by 131, but 131 was not enough to overtake the early lead set by the Reverend Craig Bishop.
Keen Winchcombe junior cricketers Ben and Alex Markwick wanted to experience CliMAX next. Concentrating hard they took in all the advice that game inventor Peter Gregory could offer. Perhaps they would have been wise to go with instinct instead as neither finished up challenging the early pace makers of Bishop and Bridgewater. Younger brother Alex exceeded brother Ben for number of MAXima by two with a commendable four, but both were foolishly run out trying to grab an extra run from their last deliveries.
Keen Winchcombe junior cricketers Ben and Alex Markwick wanted to experience CliMAX next. Concentrating hard they took in all the advice that game inventor Peter Gregory could offer. Perhaps they would have been wise to go with instinct instead as neither finished up challenging the early pace makers of Bishop and Bridgewater. Younger brother Alex exceeded brother Ben for number of MAXima by two with a commendable four, but both were foolishly run out trying to grab an extra run from their last deliveries.
Another junior, Thomas Bartlett played next and he stuck out at every delivery but was not big enough to clear the ropes until his last shot which took his score into double figures, before ending with a single on his bonus ball. His total was only 15, but for a while this was the highest by a junior and he was on for a prize.
Next, the moment the crowd were waiting for - The Queen of CliMAX, Kerry Bridgewater, last year’s winner came to the middle. She looked in great shape from a winter of hard training. Strangely nothing much happened for the first three balls of the over, and then one whistled over the face painting, past the bouncy castle and out of the garden. Expectations were high, but The Queen could only disappoint her subjects. A two followed a four, but then an opportunity as the bowler served up an extra. Little risk for the big shot that followed it sailed out past the fruit and veg and landed somewhere in the distant churchyard. But no sequence followed and The Queen was not happy with her score of 29 (over 1000 less than in 2013).
Next, the moment the crowd were waiting for - The Queen of CliMAX, Kerry Bridgewater, last year’s winner came to the middle. She looked in great shape from a winter of hard training. Strangely nothing much happened for the first three balls of the over, and then one whistled over the face painting, past the bouncy castle and out of the garden. Expectations were high, but The Queen could only disappoint her subjects. A two followed a four, but then an opportunity as the bowler served up an extra. Little risk for the big shot that followed it sailed out past the fruit and veg and landed somewhere in the distant churchyard. But no sequence followed and The Queen was not happy with her score of 29 (over 1000 less than in 2013).
The last of the juniors followed: Jasmin Dee. Jasmin could not have done worse. She was out on the first ball and then on the second, so the dot ball that followed seemed like a victory. But then she as out again and after four balls her score had not risen above zero. Yet Jasmin smiled and she wisely said, “I might as well attack now.” Perhaps she had felt the pressure lift, for the next shot connected and she clipped it passed the cakes and bottle stall for her first MAXimum. Now, it seemed she liked the thrill of that and produced an identical shot next opportunity. The pressure shifted to the bowler now and true to form he produced a wide, that gave her another chance at a kiloMAX sequence. She took the chance with open arms and that took her score to 1111. After careful consideration she adopted defensive tactics and produced a solid response to the last two balls to secure an incredible total of 1114.
Jasmin’s mother, Anita sensed good luck was with the family and so invested a little time and the family fortune to win the champagne on offer to the adult winner of CliMAX-Fete. Anita showed good style with a range of shots, but though three MAXima came they were not in sequence and so Anita had only 43 when her last delivery was to be bowled. Struck on the pads, bowler Peter appealed vociferously. Anxiously Anita awaited the umpire’s verdict. After a pause, ‘NOT OUT’ flashed on the big screen. Anita preserved her total of 43.
With minutes to go before the end of the tournament, The Queen came back. A scowl showed how unhappy she was that she was no longer top dog. Throwing caution to the wind she slogged across the line and was out first ball. Then she connected for her first MAXimum, but was only encouraged enough to lose her shape next ball which was straight and not advisable to miss. She MAX’ed on the 5th ball of the over and then was helped by tired bowler Peter, who conceded three consecutive extras producing 111 bonus runs for Kerry. Now she had two ball to start the tournament winning kiloMAX sequence. With CliMAX, the last batter can still win until the last scheduled delivery and so the excitement was peaking as Kerry tried once and then again to smash the ball out of Chipping Campden. When neither attempt worked, Jasmin was able to throw her arms in the air realizing that fame and fortune were hers, as the new champion of CliMAX-Fete 2014.
With minutes to go before the end of the tournament, The Queen came back. A scowl showed how unhappy she was that she was no longer top dog. Throwing caution to the wind she slogged across the line and was out first ball. Then she connected for her first MAXimum, but was only encouraged enough to lose her shape next ball which was straight and not advisable to miss. She MAX’ed on the 5th ball of the over and then was helped by tired bowler Peter, who conceded three consecutive extras producing 111 bonus runs for Kerry. Now she had two ball to start the tournament winning kiloMAX sequence. With CliMAX, the last batter can still win until the last scheduled delivery and so the excitement was peaking as Kerry tried once and then again to smash the ball out of Chipping Campden. When neither attempt worked, Jasmin was able to throw her arms in the air realizing that fame and fortune were hers, as the new champion of CliMAX-Fete 2014.
CliMAX-Fete
The Launch
21st September 2013
St James Church Chipping Campden
Ella takes early lead
First out of the blocks was Ella Gregory, featured on the CliMAX pages many times before. She used her 10 dice rolls to great effect, only once being shy of playing the Hitting Batting Tactics card and scoring a consecutive pair of MAXima to take her score beyond 100.
Tale of Thomas
The CliMAX-community were then delighted to be joined by their youngest ever recruit –Thomas. Thomas realised the best way to learn is to play and that play should involve experimentation. He first tried Hitting batting tactics and then Blocking and then a selection of each according to some secret formula he had devised. His aunty gave Thomas a special advantage by purchasing special batting abilities, that were on sale for the small fee of £1-00 per go. With this he came back from a shock start, when he was adjudged Leg Before Wicket on the first roll, to accumulate a commendable total of 111 which including the almost impossible MAXimum score when Blocking. Just how good is Thomas going to be when he has a few years CliMAX experience under his belt?
Psychologically scarred............
Martin Bridgewater was confident he could overhaul Ella’s score and started strongly with a MAXimum and followed it up with a MAX-pair on his third and fourth rolls. With two rolls to go he was in the lead on 134, but refuse to play the Blocking Batting Tactics card and paid the price being caught out of the bowling of CliMAX designer Peter L Gregory. His anguish turned to bitterness as he failed to capitalize on a careless ‘Extra’ from his last roll that gave him another chance . His cavalier Hitting tactics merely had him caught again and his final score of Zero was not one on which we shall dwell here, though Martin might be well to book with a Sports Psychologist to ensure that this experience does not scar him for ever.
Simon "The Gladiator" ?
Next there was a sharp intake of breath from the crowd gathered round the CliMAX arena as Simon limped in clutching his thigh. This gladiator of gladiators appeared to have pulled a muscle just thinking about the Peak of Excitement he was about to experience! He tossed the extra £1 in the pot, like the Aunt of Thomas was quite prepared to pay for that star quality batting skill. Simon got off the mark with the expected MAXimum and continued to hit violently in his attempt to string a MAX-sequence together. But nothing seemed to go his way until his last opportunity when he cleared the ropes for a MAXimum that kept him in the game. His score at this point was 47, so he needed something special. He fired another MAXimum to take his score to 147 and then bowler Gregory gifted him an Extra which gave him a second bite at scoring a thousand. Now you don’t give the gladiator two chances and expect to get away with it. He lashed the next one out of the park (pew) and scored the first ever kiloMAX sequence in the history of CliMAX-Fete. With his score on 1148 , Simon played out the next ball safely, securing his score and leaping ahead on the leader board.
Such an imposing total from Simon seemed to put the punters off for a while, but eventually Beth the Brave was seen to step up to the plate. A considered approach to tactics and strong wrist on the red die and Beth had soon scored her first MAXimum, but we then had to wait until her penultimate roll for her next. As she rolled for what might have been the last time a Peak of Excitement was clearly growing. Beth MAX’ed again, taking her score to 130 and the chance of a 1000 if she could but do it again on the deserved extra roll. Alas it was not to be. A nice shot for four runs concluded her innings and the final total on 134.
Come forth Kerry
Now Kerry Bridgewater had been quietly taking all this in. She saw the way husband Martin had messed up, though did no pass adverse comment. She saw how Simon the Gladiator had used his tactics to score more than 1000, but realised the close of play was soon upon them as the light began to fade. “It is now or never.” she thought as she fumbled deep in her purse for the last £2 that would give her, not just a chance, but the good chance of a star batter. She started with a flurry of attack, but only scored two boundaries (fours) and then decided to take the pressure off her star batter. This time she did not ask for attack, and found her timing perfect as her stroke sailed away for her first MAXimum. Once again bowler Peter L Gregory felt the pressure of being hit out of the ground and conceded an Extra. Unlikely to be out following an Extra Kerry threw caution to the wind and went back to her former aggressive mode. An enormous MAX followed and her score shot to 119. Kerry hit out again and yet another MAXimum was achieved. The second kiloMAX sequence of the afternoon was witnessed and Kerry had rapidly closed in on The Gladiator. More Kerry caution followed, but not the required runs and as her last roll beckoned Kerry still found herself 26 behind Simon. Hitting out for glory our Queen of CliMAX achieved the necessary MAXimum to keep her hopes alive for another roll. Yet she was still behind. Nothing short of a MAXimum would be good enough and what circumstance demand, The Queen delivers……another MAXimum followed and the excitement was reaching a new peak for The Queen and all her subjects. She had shot in front with this worth 100 and her score was now 1232. Poor Peter could not cope with the thrill and served up another Extra! Unlikely to be out (run out only allowed following an Extra), Queen Kerry could block to tie up first place or look for a place in history with another glorious MAXimum. Plenty of advice was ringing in her ears as Peter ran in to roll the last dice.... A nudge and a single and the innings was closed. The Queen of CliMAX, Kerry Bridgewater had scored 1234.
Ella Gregory was quite unhappy not to be in the lead anymore and tried twice more to prove that CliMAX experience, youthful enthusiasm, being the inventor’s daughter and The CliMAX-Kid’s sister was quite enough to ensure victory in CliMAX-Fete. But her attempts were to no avail. After this there was time for just one more player; Ellie Taylor, recently coached in cricket skills by England ladies cricketers Lydia Greenway and Beth Morgan (see CliMAX-NEWS), Ellie was sure to show a straight bat though perhaps not the muscularity to power to a score of more than 1000. In fact Ellie survived a vociferous appeal following a stylish MAXimum over the North Chapel, but was unable to string together the necessary high scores to take the lead.
Kerry crowned Queen of CliMAX
So as the bell in the tower struck, CliMAX-Fete came to an end and Kerry, The Queen of CliMAX was crowned victorious. Her subjects, Simon and Martin in particular, could be seen grovelling at her feet as she sampled her aptly named prize “Celebrations”.