The ins and outs of Cup Match
Date Posted: Saturday, July 28, 2007Author: Bermuda Network News
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It's that time of year when everyone's thoughts turn to cricket. Bermuda Network News takes a look at some of the history and traditions of Cup Match.
So what if you don’t know the difference between an innings and an over or think third slip is something you do after one too many drinks on a Friday night. Cup Match is far more than just a cricket game; it’s a Bermuda institution. Whether watching at the ground, tuning into the ball-by-ball radio commentary or simply sporting team colours, for two days the whole island turns its attention to cricket.
History
Cricket has a long history in Bermuda, with the first recorded match taking place in 1844 between soldiers from the British army garrison and a team from the Royal Navy. The Bermuda Cricket Club was formed the following year and the game began to be played across the island.In 1872 Captain J Moresby of the Royal Navy introduced the forerunner of Cup Match – a picnic to mark the 40th anniversary of the abolition of slavery. One of the highlights was a friendly cricket match played between lodges from the east and west ends.
The event grew in popularity, attracting interest across the island but it remained an informal arrangement until 1902 when Somerset Cricket Club and St George’s Cricket Club began to play instead of the lodges. The teams raised funds to buy a silver cup and Cup Match was born.
It was soon proving so popular that fans were missing work in order to watch. This led to the introduction of a public holiday in 1947. Entitled Emancipation Day, it continued the tradition of remembering the end of slavery which had been started by Captain Moresby in the previous century. A second holiday, Somers Day, was added 1999 in honour of Admiral Sir George Somers who colonized Bermuda in 1609.
The sides take in turns to host the match; this year the honour falls to St George’s. The club is promising first-class facilities that will include an electronic scoreboard and custom-designed viewing plots that mean members of the public won’t have to construct their own viewing area.
St George’s currently hold the cup after defeating Somerset at their home ground last year. The roll of honour shows that the sides have been evenly matched over the years. Somerset has 35 wins and St George’s 33 and there have been 37 draws. Over the next few days rival fans will begin donning their team’s colours - red and navy for Somerset, pale blue and dark blue for St George’s – in preparation for the big event.
Crown and Anchor
Almost as much of a sporting occasion as the cricket itself is Crown and Anchor – a gambling game played with dice, which is only legal for the two-day Cup Match holiday. It was popular with the British Navy during the 19th century but has disappeared almost everywhere except Bermuda Bermuda and the Channel Islands where it is played on special occasions – Cup Match in Bermuda and at the Channel Islands’ three agricultural shows.
The game is played on a rectangular table, which is divided up into ten squares marked with six symbols – heart, diamond, spade, club, crown and anchor. Three dice are used in the game and are also marked with these symbols. Players win even money if one of their bets comes up, twice the stake for two and three times the stake for three.
For non-cricket fans, or those still bewildered by the complexities of the game, Cup Match offers a host of entertainment. The picnic atmosphere of the early days remains alive and well. Good food, great music and plenty of Dark ‘n Stormy are all part of the Cup Match tradition. Some people take the opportunity to camp in the park or on the beach, spend the day out in a boat or just hang out with friends and family.
For anyone looking for organized entertainment, Chewstick will be hosting its Second Annual Cup Match BeachFest at Horseshoe Bay on July 2. There will be volleyball and football tournaments, a free concert and a Somerset vs. St.George's tug of war.
Soca star Shurwayne Winchester will be heading the line up at a pre-Cup Match concert taking place at Snorkel Park on August 1. Open De Gate, which is organised by HOTT 107.5FM, will start at 9pm.
The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs has organized a series of events honouring Bermuda’s emancipation. These include a Cup Match Lunch at the BUEI tomorrow (SUN) honouring legendary cricketers and celebrating Cup Match’s links with Emancipation and a Service of Praise reflecting on the abolition of the slave trade. Both will take place on Sunday. Tuesday, July 31 will see a performance by United Dance Productions honouring Bermuda’s Emancipation and on Thursday, August 9 Dr Franklin W Knight, Professor of History at John’s Hopkins University, will give a lecture at the BUEI entitled Abolition of the British Slave Trade and the Context of Atlantic Slavery.
The details
Cup Match will take place at St George’s Cricket Club on August 2 and 3, starting at 10am. The gate fee is $10. Seniors with ID get in free.Buses will be running a public holiday schedule. Take Route 1, 3,10 or 11 to St George’s.Ferries on the Orange Route will be operating on the Monday to Friday schedule with the first run at 8.30am and the last at 5.20pm.