Let’s have a proper…. bat?

Posted in Cricket, Little Urn.

We love people who do things properly, especially if it’s something that’s still made the right way with real skill, genuine pride, tonnes of TLC, and in Britain too.

Well, cutting corners and skimping on quality just isn’t cricket, is it?

Talking of which, you may have heard that we're getting loads more involved in the world of balls, bails, bats and (most importantly) teas this year. In addition to serving proper brews to tea-loving spectators and players at games up and down the country, we’re running a Facebook competition to win a hand built, 100% British 'Rolls Royce'. Well, okay, not an ACTUAL Rolls Royce, more the 'Rolls Royce' of cricket bats. We’ll explain…

Our friends at Barrington Sports, who organise the fun and games at our ‘Proper Days At The Cricket’, introduced us to Salix – a company in Kent that has been making cricket bats, by hand, since they began. We instantly took a shine to them.

One shake of master bat-maker Andy Kember’s hand and you instantly know that he is a real craftsman and a gentleman. You don’t have to love cricket to appreciate what he does either. Ask Andy what it takes to make a good bat and he’ll tell you “It’s labour intensive, time-consuming and hard work, but a real product”.

Anyway, you’ll see exactly what Andy means if you win our Facebook competition. Click here to enter (before 9am on September 17, 2012) and you could win the ultimate Bat-making Experience. If you win, you’ll get to go down to Salix in Kent and have master bat-maker Andy create a cricket bat to your very own personal specifications right there in front of your eyes. He’ll take into account your weight, height and any personal requirements to make and custom fit a bat that is unique to you.

Mention this to any keen cricketer and they’ll go weak at the knees. (It really is that good a prize.)

Andy and the Salix team also appreciate what we do here - they say they're Kent’s biggest Yorkshire Tea fans. He and his wife Vicky only drink Yorkshire Tea, and one of their most prized possessions is a Yorkshire Tea caddy, which is coveted by all who visit (and therefore guarded closely!).

Come to think of it, you don’t have to win the prize to see Andy in action. On May 27, Andy will be making a special appearance at one of our ‘Proper Days At The Cricket’ at the National Trust's stunning Sheffield Park in East Sussex. Little Urn and the Brew Crew will be handing out free Yorkshire Tea during the Armadillos Cricket Day. Barringtons sports will be organising the fun and games which we’d love you to join in with, whilst Andy will make a cricket bat live on the day using traditional tools and techniques.

Do try to make one of our ‘Proper Days At The Cricket’ – they’re great fun and there’s a full schedule on our Facebook page. If you can’t catch one, there’s bound to be a local club competing in the Yorkshire Tea Village Cup that would really appreciate your support. It’s a great way to while away a Sunday afternoon, too. Click here for a list of all the Yorkshire Tea Village Cup fixtures.

So if you want a slice of Great British properness, why not enter our Facebook competition now and give yourself a chance of winning our Bat-making Experience. Off you pop.

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