In pictures: Carter Jonas and COEL have a pitch perfect day at third annual charity cricket match
For the third year running, the Carter Jonas vs COEL charity cricket day took place at Fenner’s and it raised funds for four charities: LandAid, The Phoenix Trust, Tom’s Trust, and the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.
The first charity cricket day took place two years ago which attracted 500 people and raised £14,500.
Last year’s game saw 850 people in attendance and £28,000 was raised for charity.
This year the event was capped for ground capacity reasons at 1,000 people and sold out with many remaining on the waiting list.
Ex-England cricketers Monty Panesar and Devon Malcolm have been the guest speakers in previous years, while this year former England cricket official, broadcaster and former player Chris Broad took on the mantle.
The event started with welcome speeches from Colin Brown, head of planning and development at Carter Jonas, the estate agents and property consultancy, and Alistair Rumbelow, CEO at office and lab fit-out specialist COEL.
This was followed by a short talk from each of the charities starting with Jess Wilde, from Tom’s Trust, a charity dedicated to providing psychological support to children with brain tumours and their families, while Paul Morrish, chief executive at LandAid, spoke about their mission to end youth homelessness.
This was followed by Shelly Thake, chief executive at Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), talking about how the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital will be a world-leading cancer research institute dedicated to improving patient lives through discovery science.
The last to speak was Neil Cook, a trustee at The Phoenix Trust, a Milton-based charity which enhances the lives of people with learning disabilities or complex needs, through a meaningful experience of work.
The Phoenix Trust took an active role in the day, hosting a stall selling their handicrafts and in preparing and serving the cricket tea to the two cricket teams between innings.
Chris Broad entertained the crowd with stories of playing for England as well as speaking fondly of his memories at Fenner’s having scored his first century there in his early days as a county cricketer.
Before that, Chris, who is also the father of ex-England bowler Stuart Broad, who retired in 2023 after a hugely successful career, sat down with the Cambridge Independent for a chat.
Chris spoke of his love of the game and revealed that he had been listening to the start of the third Test between England and India on the way down to Fenner’s from his home in Nottinghamshire.
“I must admit, before the series started, I thought that India’s bowling attack was probably going to be too strong for England’s batting,” he said, “although I looked at the bowling attack for England and thought that was quite weak.
“And I think 1-1 [as it was in the Test series at the time] is a fair reflection, although India probably have won more sessions than England…
“England are going to have to fight tooth and nail to keep the Indians at bay – particularly with these sub-tropical conditions here, which are drying the pitches out and probably suiting India more than they’re suiting England at the moment.
“But England under Ben Stokes have got some spice and some grit and determination and they won’t give up easily I’m sure.
“It’ll be – it already has been – a terrific series and hopefully the next three will be equally as entertaining.”
A tall left-handed opening batsman, Chris played county cricket for Gloucestershire then Nottinghamshire.
He made his Test debut for England in 1984, in the second Test match against the West Indies at Lord’s, and last played for England in the second Test against Australia in 1989.
He also worked as an ICC (International Cricket Council) match referee for 20 years.
On how the sport has changed since the 80s, he said: “The game has speeded up; a typical day of Test cricket in the 80s would have been 220-230 for three wickets.
“If they don’t score 300 [nowadays] in the first day of a Test match, irrespective of the wickets that have fallen, then they’re disappointed.
“The game moves forward a lot quicker, and that’s why you’re getting more results.
“There were an awful lot of draws back in the 80s and early 90s, whereas now a draw is a very rare occurrence – and in this country probably only because of weather interventions.
“It’s a much more entertaining game but then for the prices that people have to pay, it needs to be an entertaining game, because you’re paying some extortionate amounts of money to watch a day’s Test cricket.
“But we keep selling out so as long as the game is being sold out, then they will keep charging those sort of prices.”
Looking back on his cricketing career, Chris says the high point was “undoubtedly the Australian tour of 86-87”, adding: “I couldn’t pick out a particular match because for me the whole tour was so enjoyable.
“And to go to Australia and beat the Australians in their own backyard is one of my highlights – and probably the only thing I have over my son!
“He played a part in beating the Australians in Australia in 2010-11, but he left the tour after two Test matches after getting injured.
“So I try and claim some kind of success over him in that respect.”
Alongside the cricket, an auction was also held, for a cricket bat donated by The Cambridge Building Society, signed by Chris Broad as well as for an over to be bowled by the ex-cricketer to a winning bidder.
Both lots raised significant amounts for the charities.
As per the previous years, the match got off to a thrilling start with the teams in brightly coloured kits as is familiar with the T20 format, this year all the players also wore bright green socks in support of men’s mental health 8:56 Foundation (856foundation.org.uk).
With Carter Jonas having won the first cricket match in 2023 and COEL having won last year, this year it was all to play for.
COEL won the toss and chose to bowl first. All players were battling against the heat as temperatures soared however, after a close battle Carter Jonas were declared the winners having reached 145 in their 20 overs and with COEL falling just short with 125 in their chase.
The organisers of the event had set an ambitious target of raising £40,000 and had already reached £33,000 through generous sponsorship and ticket sales before the cricket day took place and so they are hopeful of smashing this target.
They are still in the process of fundraising via a silent auction which closes at the end of today (Thursday, 17 July) and they invite all to view the lots they have on offer.
All proceeds from the auction go towards the fundraising for the event. The link can be found at carterjonas.co.uk/carter-jonas-coel-silent-auction.
Tom Korni, a local singer, contributed to the atmosphere on the day as he entertained the crowds throughout the proceedings.
Cantab Catering provided the food and hosted a real ale bar as well as a prosecco and Pimm’s bar, while BrewBoard brought their beer van.
Both Cantab and BrewBoard have given 10 per cent of their turnover to the fundraising.
After the cricket ended, many went on to attend a post-cricket party hosted by The Gonville Hotel, with all tickets sales to the party contributing to the fundraising tally.
The 38 sponsors who supported the event included:
Headline sponsors: Broadfield Law, Ascot Lloyd, First Intuition, The Gonville Hotel, Howes Percival, Hive Group, KMD Private Wealth Management, Mantle, Perspective Managing Wealth, Stantec, TSA Riley, Tees Law, and This is Fuller.
Main sponsors: Apex Site Solutions, Barnes Construction, Bul Interiors, NFU Mutual, CORE TP, Duct Systems, Green Building Design, Grovemere Property, gunnercooke, Hayfield Homes, Howard Group, KRB Installations, Mick George, The Senator Group, Architects Owers Warwick, The Good Plant Company, Saffery, TOM &Co, TOP ROAD, Black and White Fire Safety Ltd, Concilio, Excel Carpentry Contractors, Wedd Joinery, Clearflow Commissioning, and BCR Infinity Architects.
Workplace Risk Management provided the first aid sponsorship.
Carter Jonas and COEL reflected on the day: “We feel exceptionally lucky to have received so much support for our charity cricket day.
“The event has grown every year and so has the help we have received from the local business community.
“It is something both Carter Jonas and COEL are immensely proud of, and we are delighted to be raising money for four incredible charities whose outstanding work helps create positive change in different fields within our community.
“The event is only possible due to the commitment of many in helping us and of course the local community in buying tickets to attend and support the event.
“We would like to thank all who have contributed to the success of the day.”