History of Ross County Cricket Club
Ross-shire County cricket club was founded in June 1879. During that year and the next, matches were played against Beauly, Fort George, Northern Counties and others. However there are no records of the side functioning after the 1880 Season. Cricket continued to be played at Strathpeffer, though in great measure the game seems to have been organised for the many cricketing visitors who spent the summer in the spa village.
On Wednesday , 11th June 1902, Dingwall C.C and StrathpefferC.C. agreed to amalgamate under the name of Ross County cricket cluband to play at the Castle Leod ground. That first season's matches were played against Tain, St Duthus, Clachnacuddin, Nairn County and Northern Counties
The club enjoyed the help of a professional from 1903 until 1904. T. Armstrong from Nottingham engaged by the club for seasons 1903 and 1904. In 1905 Leonard Toebatt from Uxbridge, Middlessex replaced Armstrong. Tobatt was a fine bowler and on July 29th 1905 he took 8 wickets for 10 runs in a match against Clachnacuddin. A further professional was engaged in 1910 and remained with the club until 1914.
Tobatts figures were not surpassed until eighty years later when George Mundell returned impressive figures of 10 wickets for 67 runs against RAF Kinloss.
Lieutenant Leggat had the distinction of scoring of scoring the first century at Castle Leod in 1906, playing for the channel fleet he scored 111.
The dismissal of the team for 0 against Elgin marks the low point in the club's history. The highest score ever recorded by a Ross County side was 304 against the Cameron Highlanders XI, from Inverness. However this was surpassed on the 14th May 2000, when 343 for 4 was amassed against Dunlop CC in the National village cup competition. In a record breaking match there was an opening stand of 199 between Glenn Whiting, who contributed 81 and Graham Watson, who batted throughout the innings and remained unbeaten on 196, this eclipsed the club's previous highest innings from Dr Kaye of 154 in a match against the Cameron Highlanders.
Not to be outdone, Ross County 2nd XI rattled up 329 for 5 at Castle Leod on 20th May 2000 against Nairn County, which included 146 from George Mundell.
The highest individual score in a Senior league match is 186 not out, by Graham Watson, against Forres St Lawrence on 30th August 2003, when together with Jonathan Crabtree(121) the pair set a league record for an opening partnership of, 310. The former had previously rewritten the North of Scotland Association history books, during the 1996 season, when he hit 955 runs breaking his own league record, this included an unbeaten 100 and a match winning first wicket stand of 177 with Jeff Collins Watson proceeded to surpass this again in 1998 when he scored 1,067 runs including five centuries, another league record.
Honours
The clubs first major honour came in 1981 when they won the senior K.O. Cup which was followed by the Senior League title in 1985, K.O. Cup again in 1987 and August 2000, when Highlands' total of 164 for 9 was overtaken by Ross County's 165 for 3. After finishing Runners Up in 1987 and 1989 the senior league title was again secured in 1990. The title of Scottish village cup was gained in June 2000. St Boswells scored 192 for 9 off 40 overs, Ross County replied with 193 for 6 with fine contributions from Graham Watson of 73 and Jonathan Crabtree 47 not out. This success was repeated in 2001, Kintore posted 166 for 8 but Ross County responded with 168 for 4, including a match winning knock form Glen Whiting.
After success in the 2000 K.O.Cup hopes were high of securing a League and Cup double, but in a tight finish to the league campaign, County had to settle for runners up spot behind Buckie The inaugural Shadow League title was secured in the Club's Centenery year 2002.
The reserve side, formed in 1989 gained success the following year by winning the K.O. Cup, buoyed by this success they joined the reserve league in 1991 and won the league title in 1994. The title was secured again in 1995 and both the Reserve League title and the K.O.Cup title were secured in 1998. The runners up spot was also achieved in 1993, 1999, 2001 and 2003, with the league title secured in 2000. The previous double success was repeated in 2002 when both the league and cup titles were lifted which helped celebrate the Club's centenary year.
.......to be continued.
