Memories
I am very grateful for this very timely contribution from David Parkin to follow on from today's earlier posting about the Top Yorkshire Bowlers 1946-2022 That produced the answer to the question 'Who has bowled the most matches for Yorkshire?'
Bob Hitchen was the very clear winner in that race and this follow-up article taken from the very first issue of Bowler's World in 1977 is a very timely reminder of how Bob's 1976 Yorkshire debut was regarded in bowling circles at that time.
Bob went on to fulfil many of the ambitious forecasts following his Yorkshire debut including:
3 Yorkshire Merits: 1984 (Won Huddersfield Champion of Champions that year), 1985 (Won BCGBA Champion of Champions that year) & 1994 (runner up 1995)
Autumn Waterloo: Runner up 1997 to Andy Cairns
Don't miss the Comments from a bowler in that debut match at the foot of this posting
Source: No.1 issue of Bowlers World 1977
Robert is also one of the most humble and modest players on the circuit. He's also the greenkeeper at Elland WMC which must rank as one of the finest in the area.
Robert Hitchen is certainly a top class bowler. I played for Wales in that match against Jeff Sykes in Yorkshire when Robert played my clubmate, Gwerydd Griffiths from Bangor City.
By coincidence, it was also Gwerydd’s debut county game.
Incredibly, even though Gwerydd beat Robert that day, he was dropped by Wales for their next game and was never selected to play for Wales again.