VETERAN Chagford bowler Mike Wreford recently celebrated the ninth hat-trick of his career ? at the ripe old age of 72. The seam bowler achieved the feat in a game against touring Shropshire side Knocking and Kinnerley. His first victim was caught, then Mike followed up to claim a leg before wicket dismissal of the second batsman and clean bowled the third. However, Mike narrowly missed out on the record for the oldest player to have recorded a hat-trick. The record is 72 years and 128 days, while Mike was 72 years and 107 days when he achieved the feat! Mike began his career playing for the then star-studded Okehampton side in 1949. The team was under the able captaincy of the late David Tucker, a stalwart of cricket in the Okehampton area for many years. Mike recalled the outstanding batsman at the time was Kenneth Randall-Johnson, who was asked to captain Somerset but had to turn down the offer due to business reasons. Mike said he no longer played league cricket for Chagford, but did turn out for midweek games against touring sides. Chagford have been able to attract a number of touring sides to play at their ground, not just from all over this country but even from as far afield as South Africa and Australia.
