IVYBRIDGE Cricket Club has celebrated the arrival of its new mower with a weather-affected weekend of events.

Following on from the club’s 40th anniversary celebrations last year, players, supporters and the committee have been in ’full fundraising mode’ to buy the new machine.

Having successfully raised the £14,500 needed, the club had planned a big weekend, with an official unveiling and naming of the machine on Sunday alongside a barbecue and fun family rounders. However the day’s activities were postponed, thanks to the heavy showers that were forecast and arrived on cue.

The fun run planned for Friday night did go ahead, participants young and old donning fancy dress and cricket whites to tackle the 3 kilometre run around Filham Park, where the club has its ground. Good fun was all by all, followed by the usual Friday evening training session for youngsters.

Treasurer Jon Sparkes said: ’The fun run was the culmination really of the fundraising that’s been going on since our 40th anniversary dinner last November. Some of the adults did the Plymouth Half Marathon, and this was an opportunity for the kids to get involved.

’It’s a relatively new ground, but we got an award last season from the league for having the best. We’re absolutely delighted we got the new mower, it’s a fantastic addition to the club’s ground maintenance equipment, and it will help us continue to have one of the best grounds in the county.

’Sunday’s activities have been postponed, and will be organised for later in the season.’