FORMER New Zealand cricket ace Jeremy Coney shared stories from his career at Ledbury Cricket Club’s 175th Anniversary celebration dinner.

Coney, who now works as a commentator for Sky TV and Test Match Special, played 52 Test matches and 88 One Day Internationals for the Kiwis, captaining them in 15 Tests and 25 ODIs.

He is also one of New Zealand’s most successful batsmen, making 16 fifties and only lost one Test as captain.

Nearly 180 people packed into Alexandra Park for Friday’s dinner, which also saw an England cricket shirt being auctioned.

The club also enjoyed a golf day at the Grove Golf Centre, despite the wet conditions.

Charlie Griffiths won with 44 Stableford points, while runnerup was Steve Evans with 36 and Steve Large finishing third with 34 points. Former player Gerald Morris came fourth, while Phil Caffull, who also used to play for Ledbury, won the nearest-the-pin competition. Mike Arlott carried off the junior prize and the longest drive.

The Chairman’s v President’s game fell victim to the weather, so the club decided to take in some Friends Provident Twenty20 action at Bristol between Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, which was won by the hosts.

The Past v Present game also had to be postponed, as did the pig roast, but it is hoped that it can be rescheduled for early August.