Organizers: ‘We’re well prepared for Cup Match’

St George’s Cricket Club is ahead of schedule in getting ready in time for this year’s Cup Match Classic with three weeks to go.

Club members are currently finishing up painting and small details for the big game.

Neil Paynter, president of the club is confident everything will be ready for the 10am start on August 1.

He has been working hard for the past three months along with Carlos Greaves, Chair of Buildings and Grounds and members.

“The preparations are going great. I think it’s the furthest in a long time that we’re ahead of schedule.

“I’m very pleased with how things are going.”

Asked what exactly needed to be done, Mr Paynter said: “Mainly to get it ready, this year it was cosmetic like painting.

“We had no real major renovations. This year was more cosmetic in reference to the infrastructure of the club.

“Carlos Greaves has led this. I’m in charge but he¹s implemented what’s going on.”

Mr Greaves said he has given members various projects to help with the overall completion of the club.

“They come out and support us. They allot time and we provide them with the tools. We’re asking them to come out because there is a lot of work to do.

Volunteer

“If anyone wants to put their hand up and volunteer, come out.”

Mr Paynter said members of Somerset Cricket Club have also come to the east to help out.

Asked how long it takes to get ready for Cup Match, Mr Paynter said: “I would said we have been going for two months now, steady for two months.

“It really takes an all about six months with the organizing of how we’re going to run things. Its like a six month process. In the beginning it’s not as intense, just formulating ideas and what we want to do. The last three months of the six months is really digging in and getting it done.”

For the past couple weeks, the club has been having work rallies to get all the work completed.

“The turn out has been okay. The last three weeks really have been excellent with a tremendous support from the members.

“The Department of Corrections has assisted. We have some guys from the Prison Farm on work release.

“That’s traditionally done in St George’s and Somerset before Cup Match. It’s been happening for many years.

“We haven’t had as many as before but the ones we have had have done an excellent job.”

Mr Paynter said from now until July 31, they will be putting things back

in place and the only major thing to do is the scaffolding, which is sold out every year. We will work right up until Cup Match. We stop on the Wednesday night. We usually leave late in the night or early in the morning.

“I have left here sometimes at 6am and come back at 8am.”

He continued: “I feel good about the preparations and I’m also feeling good about my team.

“I just hope that the public will be about out for those two days and really enjoy themselves.

Work rallies will be held on Saturdays from 9am to 4pm leading up to CupMatch.