The Cocklespit Cricket Challenge  as experienced by Linda Castle 25th March 2006

The Cocklespit Cricket Challenge is a game of cricket, played on Cocklespit......a spit of cockles in the beautiful waters of the Spencer Gulf.   Two rival yacht clubs, Whyalla Yacht Club and The Royal Port Pirie Yacht Clubs agreed to the challenge but only on the condition that the match would be played on neutral ground. Cocklespit was chosen for its location. A fair distance from both clubs, it is a natural spit of cockles subject to normal tidal movements of the area. For this reason the day chosen is one where there is maximum exposure of the spit at low tide. It was calculated that lower than 1.7m was required and so this year the event was held on 25th March 2006 and what a day it was. Sometimes also called "The Gulf War", this day of fun is really something to be seen. There are rules such as each side must have a minimum of 3 juniors, 3 over 60's and 3 females. It all sounds very fair doesn't it but how far would you go to play cricket? Would you trek by water from Whyalla or Port Pirie to Cocklespit? Well, that's the only way to get there unless of course you fancy landing by helicopter! Once there, you need to buy a Cocklespit Landing Pass, (gold coin donation). It was a well organized event, this year run by the Royal Port Pirie Yacht Club with a bbq lunch and drinks on sale, portable toilets in situ and various rescue craft able to ferry those from larger boats to the spit. Preparation of the "pitch" was done with an official cockle laden leveller. A bounce test was done and moisture of the pitch was monitored. Wind meters (tall blue flags) were positioned either side of the bbq shelter and scoring was all very official, sometimes even needing the decision of the 3rd umpire. It was possible to get a 4 or 6 if you hit the ball into the water, clearing 'the grandstand'. Spectators were treated to a spectacular day. The prized trophy is an old vegemite jar full of cockles from Cocklespit mounted on an old piece of wood which was once a toilet door. This is only the 3rd time the trophy has been awarded. The first was in 1996, when The Royal Port Pirie Yacht Club won it. The second was in 2005 when it was a draw and this year which was won by Whyalla Yacht Club with one wicket and one over to go. At the end of the game, packing up was done so quickly as the tide was on the return. The pitch would be gone and so were we. In just 10minutes all was packed and cocklespit was returned to her natural beauty once again. The beautiful Spencer Gulf waters would soon hide this hallowed ground. I was privileged to act as a runner for one of the Whyalla cricketers and what fun it was. You just haven't played cricket until you've played at Cocklespit. So when does it all happen again? One day when the tides are right Cocklespit cricket will be brought to life again - only to be covered once more by water when the tide returns. Check either club for more information.  I have more photos I can email you if you would like to see more. Just email me via Nortons mailbox on my home page located below. Linda Castle

TONALA RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK AND SAILING SITE