By Lyndsay Fenner

Lindfield Cricket Club’s women’s and girls’ softball cricket team - nicknamed ‘The Pens’ (after the female swan, rather than the popular writing implement) - is going from strength to strength… and is always on the lookout for new members.

Formed post-Covid by our now esteemed coach (and longstanding LCC member), Bob Hopkins, the f irst tentative foray into women’s softball cricket by the club was a one-off festival on the common organised in conjunction with the county.

Following this festival, a regular squad gradually grew through a succession of summer training sessions on the common and for the first time, the team entered the Winter Indoor League in 2021/22. Which was a lot of fun, even if we didn’t come close to bringing home any silverware.

In the summer of 2022, we played our first outdoor league season (grouped with Ansty, Edenbridge and Crawley Eagles), winning three games and with Shelley Mussett (batting) and Katie Wishlade (bowling) both finishing in the top ten performers for the season.

In 2023, we were in a league with Burgess Hill, Southwater and new entrants Haywards Heath. Again, great fun in all the games and we finished mid-table having beaten Haywards Heath (twice), Ansty and Southwater. Max Hinley and Helen Tuddenham joined Shelley in the top ten batters, whilst Max and Helen both made the top ten bowlers.

We also brought home our first trophy at the inaugural Haywards Heath Festival - a gloriously fun, sunny day (with top quality BBQ to boot). A tense deciding game was against our regular nemesis, Burgess Hill, an incredibly close match which ended up coming down to the last few balls - thankfully bowled with absolute nerves of steel by the incredible Izzy Redd.

We also had a successful winter season just gone - winning the indoor league with Burgess Hill, Ansty and Haywards Heath. Max, Shelley and Helen dominated the batting top ten and also all made the top ten bowlers.

For those not familiar with the softball cricket format (and most of us weren’t when we joined) - it’s a 16-over game with a team of eight players. There’s a real mix of experience and ages on the team - our youngest player was 12 and our oldest… well, you should never ask a lady her age, after all.

You absolutely don’t need to have played cricket before, the vast majority of the current team hadn’t and the coaching from the club is great. At winter nets, we train alongside the established men’s teams and the coaches are incredibly generous with their time and expertise. There’s also a strong social side, and plenty of opportunity to be more involved with the club if you want to - coaching at AllStars, for example, or writing copy for Lindfield Life!

If you think it sounds like it might be up your street, please drop Bob a line - bobvivienne.hopkins@btopenworld.com - and come and have a go!