On Saturday 21st June, Royal Brussels Cricket Club held a 6-a-side tournament in memory of their old team mate Chris Stone, The event was called Stoney’s Big Bash and involved 6 teams playing a round robin of 5 over matches before entering the knock out stages. It was a beautiful day – a scorching 30 degrees, and ran from 10am to around 7pm.
Chris Stone played 1st team cricket for the club in the 1990s and early 2000s, a fast bowling all-rounder from Tasmania with a competitive spirit and big sense of humour. He sadly passed away in 2023 after suffering a brain tumour leaving his wife, Sofie Wilmes ex-Prime Minister of Belgium and 4 children. The Club decided to preserve his memory by by playing a tournament and hope to make it an annual event. This time invitations were sent to ex-players around the world and we were amazed how many came – from as far as Boston, Cape Town, Perth and Manila, as well as around Europe.
Sophie Wilmes came with family and friends to watch and present. The Minister for Sport, Madame Jacqueline Galant also came to find out about cricket since it is a new sport in Wallonia and FWBC members came to welcome her. The Local Commune Sports representative Madame Virginie Poncelet also came to support the club.
Many had not played for a long time but were eager to to dust off the cobwebs and take to the field. The teams were mixed with old and young with National team players made to bat left handed. There followed some great cricket with sixes flying into the driving range, a couple of special catches and some fine bowling.
In the end it was the Nick’s Warrane Warriors and Brighton’s Boorloo Bolts who made it to the final after 2 nail-biting semi-finals. The Bolts went into bat and Brighton started smashing, it looked like it was all over, but a gap in the middle order left meant they finished on 79 after 5, just a faint whiff of a chance for the Warriors. Brighton then opened up the bowling but Ollie and Afzal were sending the ball into the deep rough – the faster it came, the faster it went. It came down to the last ball with the Warriors needing 2 to win, they did it and the celebrations continued.
Sophie made a great speech, reminding her grown up children of the times they spent at the club watching Chris play as young children. Fingers Noonan read out a letter from Chris’ Mum who was unable to make it. After the medals were presented we all sat down to a magnificent curry from the Malik family. By then, some were feeling tired but a few found their reserves and it was midnight before we closed the club.
A big thanks to all those who came, you made it a really special day to be remembered a long time. Until we meet again!
