TALENTED allrounder Finley Hurd created history this summer as Monmouth Cricket Club’s youngest centurion, reports IAN MORGAN.

The 11-year-old left-handed batter struck 100 not out from 62 balls for Monmouth U11s in a Gwent Youth Cup semi-final victory at Malpas.

Finley joins New Zealand one-day star Cole McConchie and former England A spinner James Boiling, who once dismissed Australian legend Ricky Ponting for a duck, in a list of leading modern Monmouth CC performances, in an in-depth booklet chronicling the best batting, bowling, fielding and team exploits of the past 40 years.

Chairman and secretary standing down

The 30-page document was put together for the club’s important AGM on Monday (9 November) at Monmouth’s Royal Oak (7.30pm), where both chairman Mike Maguire and secretary Dave Walters are standing down.

All those with an interest in the club’s future wellbeing, including past and present players, volunteers, coaches, and junior parents, are encouraged to attend.

The booklet records the achievements of over 100 influential Monmouth players, including first-team hat-tricks by Ed Barlow and Tej Saran, Jonathan Roberts’ back-to-back seven-wicket hauls (2009) and David Teague’s outstanding 2004 double as Marches Player of the Year and Division 1 Bowling Award winner.

Monmouth seamer Tej Saran (File)

Other achievements include Graham Hyde’s unbeaten 166 at Builth Wells (2005) – still Monmouth 2nds’ highest score - Mike Etheridge’s 118 not out at Blackwood 2nds in 1992, and Brian Howe’s 6-47 against Eastnor 2nds in 1994.

The extensive research, trawling old newspaper cuttings, club and league handbooks, scorebooks, newsletters and online statistics, brings the club’s past to life.

Listed alongside Finn in the junior section are James Taylor, who took 5-5 (2003), and Oliver Holdcroft, who made 113 not out for Monmouth U13s against Croesyceiliog (2024).

Former England A spinner’s 6-6

Ex-Surrey and Durham player Boiling, a history teacher at Haberdashers' Monmouth, snapped up 6-6 for Monmouth in a Marches 1 derby against Ross (2000).

And McConchie, who helped NZ to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final last March, recorded several centuries for Monmouth in 2010.

One achievement to stand the test of time belongs to Glenn Taylor, whose 8-30 against Blaina (1989), is the best first-team league bowling return, closely followed by Simon Owens, 8-38 against Burghill & Tillington (1996), Dave Wilding’s 8-63 against Llanarth (1984), and Robert Tucker’s 7-22 against Knighton (1995).

Paul Swingwood and Dan Head’s successes leading Monmouth to three straight Marches League and Cup doubles from 2003 are rightly etched into club history.

But some records are less cherished, such as the 1sts’ lowest league total of 28 against Whitchurch Heath (2022).

The 1sts’ 43 all out at home in June 1994 saw an extraordinarily rare feat – Luctonians' left-arm seamer Adrian Hope taking all 10 wickets for 19 runs.

But one bowling record set by life-member Idris Leonard, now 83, two decades ago still shines brightly – his tally of 58 league wickets in 2006, including a stunning 7-28 against Wormelow 2nds, remains top of Monmouth 2nds’ bowling charts.

Monmouth CC’s modern-day competitive records include:

Most 1sts league runs in a season: 886 – Adam Roberts (2016).

Highest competitive 1sts innings: 202 – Josh Grey v Machen (2015).

Highest cup innings: 164 not out – Rob Prewett v Woolhope (2003).

Best 1sts league bowling: 8-30 - Glenn Taylor v Blaina (1989).

Most 1sts league wickets in a season: 46 - Mark Temple (2007).

Most 1sts league fielding dismissals in a season: 31 - Dan Head (including 21 stumpings) (2007).

Highest 1sts league total: 417-3 v Penarth 3rds (2026).

The full list is available from Ian Morgan: [email protected]