Laurie 'Fox' Carrick

Homers & St. Michael's 1950s-1970s

Outstanding and fearless right-hand opening batsman who shone at the highest level for Horsham Cricket Association.

Quietly spoken Carrick put a high value on his wicket, becoming a prolific run-scorer and many-time association batting- average trophy winner, and produced moments of brilliance as a first-slip fieldsman. He let his results do the talking. He also bowled off-breaks.

A student of the game, Carrick later applied his in-depth knowledge of cricket to umpiring.

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Barry 'Badger' Ballantine

Rupanyup 1970s-2000s

Reserve wicket-keeper Ballantine has been a stand-out cricketer as an opening batsman and wicket-keeper at the highest level in Wimmera and representative cricket.

He has scored more than 30 centuries and is among players responsible for setting a high benchmark in standard.

He played with Victorian Country teams against New Zealand and Sri Lanka and was a consistent representative in Horsham country-week campaigns.

A prolific run-scorer, he ranks as perhaps the most technically correct right-handed batsman in Horsham cricket for the past two decades. 

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Geoff 'Cruncher' Hinch

Blackheath 1940s-1950s

'Cruncher' Hinch was one of the most gifted sportsmen to have played cricket in the Horsham Association. He was a magnificent timer of the ball and a recognised power hitter. The great right hander with the steady smile and abundance of ability was a 'Keith Miller' of the bush.

A permanent member of the association's representative team during his cricket career, batting up the order and often destroying opposition bowling attacks with a dashing sporting arrogance.

For his club Blackheath he scored more than 8000 runs including 19 centuries at an average of 40.5. He was also a useful right-arm medium-pace bowler in his youth. He enjoyed life on and off the field and was another Horsham district player who could have played at a much higher level had he pursued the game in Melbourne.

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Rob 'Jock' Jakobi Snr

Quantong, Dimboola, Blackheath 1960s-70s

Jock was a technically sound opening batsmen and opposition players remember him as one of the most difficult players to remove from the crease. Not a powerful hitter but blessed with great timing and placement and an understanding of batting partners meant he consistently accumulated runs. An impeccably dressed right-hander, he helped compile many outstanding partnerships in Horsham cricket. He regularly opened at Melbourne country week and in representative shield matches and provided the foundation for many winning scores.

An Important member of every team he played in, Jakobi was also a reliable fieldsman and a handy fill-in bowler. He was also a steadying influence on those around him in tight situations.

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Paul 'Moon' Morgan

Rupanyup 1980s-2010s

The baby of the team but one of the leading all-rounders. An imposing middle-order batsman and team-of-the-century selectors' unanimous choice as an opening bowling partner for Rex Mackenzie.

Morgan has been the association's leading contemporary cricketer and a habit of bludgeoning the best opposition attacks from the middle order has been a trademark. In an inter-association Lehmann-Fairbairn Shield final against West Wimmera at Horsham City Oval, a one-day game, he hit a century in boundaries as he eclipsed a 150-run mark.

Morgan's ability to move the ball with his accurate right-arm medium-pacers and his outstanding ability as a fieldsman make him the perfect all-rounder. A mountain of association awards is testament to his ability and performance.

Morgan has stayed loyal to Rupanyup despite an ability to succeed at a higher level. He was a stalwart of country week competition, particularly at Bendigo where with his father Ian and brothers Craig and Glenn established a huge reputation.

He remains one of the best cricketers in the competition.

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Maurie Huf

Blackheath, Jung, Laharum, Presbyterians 1940s-60s

One of the most technically correct right-handed batsman of his era, Huf was a premier player in a golden era of Horsham cricket.

A clean striker of the ball, his timing and placement in the top order often steered his teams into commanding positions.

Huf and Jung legend Don Rush ran brilliantly when batting together in representative matches and in 1960-61 he top-scored for a country eleven against a visiting West Indies team.

Huf spent time with clubs Blackheath, Jung, Laharum and Presbyterians and had a positive influence on each club. Former team-mates said he could have easily played at a higher standard had he stayed in Melbourne.

At Blackheath in his first season as a youngster in the 1948-49 season, he made 230 runs. Huf returned to Horsham after a time away from the region and in 1958-59 made 643 runs at an average of 80, including an unbeaten 93 in a losing grand final.

Huf’s Horsham cricket was cut shod when he moved to Queensland but he continued playing until he was 50.

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Alan 'Jock' McRae

Jung 1950s-1980s

A member of a great Horsham district cricketing family, McRae spent nearly 40 years playing as an all-rounder at the highest regional level. He also represented Country Victoria, tapping into a talent to bat, bowl and wicket keep and field at the highest standard.

McRae was also blessed with outstanding tactical ability which made him a formidable opponent.

McRae had a compact right-hand batting style and used timing instead of power to score many career runs. He started bowling as a right-arm off-spinner but soon developed into a crafty medium-pacer, capable of swinging the ball both ways.

Despite being fiercely competitive, McRae always acknowledged good play from opponents and was a perfect team player.

No Horsham shield or country week team was complete without McRae and for many years he was an integral part of Horsham Association representative teams, forming a deadly opening bowling partnership with Rex Mackenzie from Dimboola.

A great of the game, McRae kept playing B Grade after he left the top ranks.

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Bob Sleep

Blackheath, Jung, Horsham City 1950s-70s

Sleep also comes from one of the Horsham Districts leading cricket families, his father and brothers have been great contributors to the game in the region.

Sleeps career also included a stint in the West Wimmera Association and many would remember him as arguably the best all-rounder from the Blackheath club.

Sleep’s record speaks for itself. He made 6,600 runs, took a staggering 960 wickets and held more than 70 catches for Blackheath. His record included four hat-tricks and four 9 wicket hauls.

Despite his lack of height, sleep boasted a whippy action and was a quick bowler in his younger days. Later he developed an array of deceptive deliveries, ranging from medium-pace to spin. He could bowl in long spells when the shine was off the ball and was also a capable right-hand batsman.

At association level, Sleep played with distinction, captaining Ballarat Country Week and Lehmann-Fairbairn inter-association teams with success. He went to 11 country weeks.

Sleep was first mentioned in the History of Blackheath Cricket Club in seasons 1946-47 when he captured 30 wickets as youngster in B Grade.

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David Hopper

Ex-servicemen, Horsham, Horsham City, Homers 1960s-2010s

A member of one of the dynasties of Horsham cricket, Hopper has been a passionate player and lover of the game. He played with Ex-servicemen with his father Cec in his youth and went on to play in several A Grade premierships.

A wicket-taking right-arm leg-spinner and left-hand batsman, he often saved his best for big occasions such as finals. A versatile player, he also toyed with medium-pace and wicket-keeping.

Hopper's contribution with bat and ball and in the field in Horsham teams at country week and shield games is immeasurable. He captained one successful Melbourne country week team and played in several successful campaigns under Don Rush, his brother Barry and wicket-keeper Dennis Wade.

He has played in almost 30 Melbourne country weeks and only his brother Barry has represented Horsham on more occasions.

Hopper scored an unbeaten century for Homers in Horsham's top level when in his 50s.

Hopper is another name for cricket in Wimmera with David Hopper's brother Barry, sons Ashley, Chris and Simon and nephews Tim and Glenn Hopper and Mark Ainsworth all key players in the competition.

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Rex 'Wrecker' Mackenzie

Dimboola 1960s-70s

Mackenzie qualifies as one of Australian country cricket's greatest right-arm fast bowlers. He was certainly the most feared bowler of his time in the region and reduced a visiting English team to tatters during a tour game on a dull day in Hamilton in 1965.

Mackenzie stunned the Englishmen with his pace and took two quick wickets. The visitors appealed against the light after he had bowled four overs and bargained to continue only if he was removed from the attack.

An agitated, chanting crowd insisted Mackenzie resume.

He did and swiftly dismissed Peter Parfett before claiming Fred Titmus for a duck, He finished the game with 4-44 off eight over s.

The Englishmen later rated Mackenzie as the fastest bowler they had faced on the tour.

Several of Mackenzie's best performances were at Hamilton.

He represented Horsham association at Melbourne country week and in Wimmera shield competitions and helped Horsham remain a top force in country cricket during his prime.

His 17 wickets in a grand final against Horsham at Horsham City Oval remain unmatched.

Former players also remember him as a better-than-average middle-order batsman who sometimes opened. He was also an outstanding outfielder with a powerful arm.

The Mackenzie combination with wicket-keeper Barry 'Screamer' Wells drew crowds to matches at Horsham City Oval and patrons were happy to pay at the gate to see them in action.

Few people of his era doubt Mackenzie could have played at a higher level had he chosen to go to Melbourne.

The paceman left an enduring image etched in the minds of his contemporaries - of sparks flying from his steel toecap as it dragged on concrete pitch aprons during his delivery stride.

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Don Rush (Captain)

Jung 1950s-80s

Don Rush would have little trouble captaining such a fine array of talent. Close to the perfect country cricketer, Rush was blessed with natural talent.

A right-hand batsman and right-arm off-spinner, he made more than 10,000 runs and took about 1200 wickets. He was a prodigious spinner of the ball, a dashing and punishing batsman, a brilliant fieldsman and boasted great belief in the ability of himself and team-mates.

Rush's contribution to the association in representative games, often as captain, is outstanding. He played against several touring teams for Country Victoria with success and his captaincy record at Jung, where he chalked up several premierships and grand finals, remains unmatched. He took the association's representative team from relatively low grades at Melbourne Country Week, to a provincial, or top grade, grand final.

Umpires and ground staff at Melbourne grounds still remember his natural talent and talk of him in glowing terms, comparing him with some of the stars from Melbourne district ranks.

Rush featured in Ken Piesse's Bradmans of the Bush and he has also been included in a Greatest Australian Country Cricket Team. Rush's influence on Horsham cricketers was enormous. Friends and former team-mates cherish him.

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Cec Hopper (Vice Captain)

Ex-Servicemen 1940s-60s

Perhaps the most naturally gifted cricketer to play in the Wimmera. Melbourne clubs attempted to lure Hopper to the city from the age of 14.

He played and captained a Country Colts team on several occasions, playing with and against five players who went on to become Australian Test cricketers.

Many cricket authorities believe Hopper might have filled a vacancy left by Australian 'keeper Bert Oldfield. But he never left country Victoria, having an outstanding career in Ballarat and Horsham associations.

Hopper was a talented right-hand batsman and an outstanding wicket-keeper who kept up to the stumps to quick bowlers. He represented Country Victoria in Ballarat against an English team in 1946-47 and scored three centuries in one country week while in his prime.

He scored 39 centuries in Horsham cricket and newspaper clippings reflect an outstanding cricketing career.

After the Second World War, Hopper became half of legendary Horsham combinations that featured consistently in scorebooks. One was Caught Hopper Bowled Kerr, the other was Stumped Hopper Bowled Windsor.

Hopper represented Horsham association at representative country weeks and Wimmera Shield games with distinction, ruling his environment with smiles and handshakes. He also had an ability to impart his knowledge of the game to young opponents as well as team-mates.

He, with Ivan Morrison and Kevin Critchley, also helped launch junior cricket in Horsham.

Hopper was still a fine 'keeper and batsman into his 50s, a father, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and grandfather to an extensive cricketing family.

His selection as vice-captain reflects his cricket knowledge and ability.

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