The Westbury Shamrocks Cricket Club, with a history stretching back nearly a century, remains a community stronghold in the Meander Valley. As president Michael Claxton explains, the club was formed in the early 1930s and has evolved significantly over the years. “We amalgamated with St. Pat’s Old Collegians Cricket Club about 15 or 16 years ago,” Claxton notes. This merger led to the club adopting the name Westbury Shamrocks, a nod to St. Pat’s.
Today, the club is a vibrant organisation with teams across several grades, including A grade, second, third, and fourth grades, as well as an over 40s team and a women’s side. The club also runs a robust junior program. “We’ve got about 60 players in the senior grades alone, not counting the juniors,” Claxton says. The juniors, based both at Westbury and St. Pat’s, field 10 teams, ranging from under 12s and younger.
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The cricket season has already begun, although Westbury had a bye for the first round. Regular training sessions are held twice a week, with players gathering at St. Pat’s on Tuesdays and back at Westbury on Thursdays for training, selections, and a player’s tea. The club competes in the Cricket North league, with teams playing at grounds in Launceston, Riverside, and South Launceston. For A grade, the season also includes pre-Christmas matches in the Greater Northern competition, which involves travel to Sheffield, Wynyard, and Devonport.
I think a lot of people play cricket for friendship and the enjoyment of being around other people.
Success has been a hallmark of the Shamrocks, particularly in A grade. “Last year, we won three grand finals: the two-day, the one-day, and the T20,” Claxton proudly recounts. This triumph is part of a broader legacy of victories, with the A grade side securing eight premierships in the past 12 or 13 years. The strength of the club’s talent pipeline has been crucial to this success, with many players coming up through the juniors. “In last year’s premiership side, eight players had originally wanted to play third grade,” Claxton says, highlighting the opportunities for development within the club.
Looking ahead, the future remains bright for the Shamrocks, with several standout players representing the club in the Greater Northern Raiders, a team that competes in the Hobart competition. Among them are Jonathan Chapman, Michael Lukic, Joe Griff, and Riley Don, a newcomer to the club. “When finals come around, if the Raiders don’t make the finals in Hobart, those players will come back into our A grade side,” Claxton explains.
The club’s sense of camaraderie is one of its greatest strengths, fostering an environment that brings people together. “A lot of people play cricket for the friendship and the enjoyment of being around other people,” Claxton says. The club’s inclusive culture extends to its women’s side, which trains alongside the men’s team. “There’s probably six or seven ladies out there training now with the senior team,” he adds.
Sponsorship plays a crucial role in keeping the club afloat, particularly given the high costs associated with running a cricket team. “You don’t get many people to come and watch a game,” Claxton admits. “So fundraising and sponsorships are a major source of income.” The Cock and Bull Hotel and AFC K Forestry have been long-standing supporters, while new sponsors such as Spreyton Cider and Shores Contracting have joined in recent years. These partnerships are essential, covering the costs of cricket balls, umpires, and other expenses that run into the tens of thousands of dollars each year.
For anyone interested in joining the Shamrocks, the club welcomes players of all ages and abilities. “We train every Thursday at 5 p.m., and anyone wanting to have a game of cricket is welcome,” Claxton encourages. From the youngest juniors to over-40s, there’s a place for everyone at Westbury Shamrocks, where the spirit of country cricket remains strong.
