The Hicks clan of Haverfordwest loves its cricket and other sports

Mark Hicks is 42 years of age but still loves playing cricket for Haverfordwest after previously playing a lot with Llandysul when he lived in that area, as well as being involved in a range of other sports.
It seems that sons Josh (14) and Curtis (9) are following firmly in dad’s footsteps since Josh plays football for Camrose, cricket at Haverfordwest, rugby for Ysgol y Preseli and is a keen athlete with Pembrokeshire Harriers, whilst Curtis is also a Camrose football player, plays cricket (at Burton) and has already proven himself as a good cross country runner who runs middle distance races for the Harriers. Add in mum Louise, who is a Herbrandston girl and keeps them all organised, and it is easy to see how busy the Hicks family are in sport!

West Wales Cricketing start

When Mark played for Llandysul CC they competed in the West Wales Conference and then competed in the South Wales League, with a top score of 63, and a claim to fame that he once grabbed five wickets in six balls, with four victims on the trot, then a dot ball and another wicket to make it a fast five!
When he moved to Pembrokeshire he played for Hook and Johnston before switching his allegiance to Haverfordwest and immediately settling in there as he helps to coach the juniors and is right-hand man to Richard Devonald in the fourth team, playing perhaps lower than he should but happy to help bring on the youngsters at The Racecourse. His best performances there have been a top score of 66 and a 5 for 12 haul, as well as the man of the match award in the inaugural Ken Morris Cup Final when he claimed six wickets over the two innings.

Cricket Club football skipper – and rugby forward

Mark is also captain of Haverfordwest Cricket Club’s second XI in football under the management of Tudor Walters.
“We play to win,” he says, “and we are always competitive but place an emphasis on enjoying ourselves – so we were delighted last season to win the Margaret Davies Cup for Sportsmanship, awarded by local referees, with a best-ever score.”
Mark plays at centre half and scored two goals, both from headers at corners, and says he will carry on playing for as long as he enjoys it. He previously played in the Cardiganshire League for clubs like Pencader, Llandysul, Gwili Rangers and Carmarthen Town.
Not content with that little lot, Mark also played rugby for Carmarthen Athletic as a second row forward, with a few broken noses. He played in a 2nds Final for Haverfordwest and also had an enjoyable spell with Llangwm alongside characters like Henry Thomas, Richard Scriven and Wayne English.

Josh plays well at Camrose

Josh would nominate football as his favourite sport, and like dad and brother he is an avid Leeds United fan as they travel as often as possible to Elland Road to watch them play. He has been with Camrose since he was seven having played at the Meads on a Sunday morning practice with George Barrah and enjoying it immensely, despite getting entangled in the net on one occasion when he tried his hand in goal.
Josh plays central midfield and scored 22 goals in their last campaign as they completed the league and cup double but lost to Johnstown in the semi-final of the West Wales Cup. He and his team-mates have won the league three seasons on the trot and have been unbeaten at home since mini-football; he has played for the county schools’ side so well run by Angie Nicholls and was a member of the Swansea City School of Excellence until they finished with the age group. It has all been great experience for Josh, who is now in the Haverfordwest Academy side and says that he would love to play for the Bluebirds first team when he is older!

Cricketing and sporting all-rounder

Josh is a cricketing all-rounder at Haverfordwest where he is already a fourth team regular alongside his father and has made his debut for the thirds. He has represented the county under coaches Mike Scourfield and Colin Murphy and has a best score of 50 in junior cricket before he had to retire, plus a good 40 not out and a 3 for 2 spell as other good performances.
He started out with Preseli Harriers after trying the 400 metres in school and winning on sports day. Then it was on to the county sports and a creditable third place at the first attempt. He is now training with Preseli Harriers and says it is a good way to keep fit for his other sports, which include playing at full back in the school rugby team which did well to reach the final 16 of the Welsh Cup before going out to a North Wales team.

Curtis claims goals galore

Curtis is also football mad as a striker with Camrose under 9s coached by Phil Jones, scoring 26 goals last season as he used his genuine pace to good effect. He started out at Camrose by watching Josh play and began at left back before switching up front shortly afterwards. They didn’t lose a match all season and won a tournament at Rosebush - and he also played in the County under 11s squad, again coached by Angie Nicholls, which reached the Welsh Finals in North Wales.

Cricket at Burton – and running in school

Unlike his father and brother, though, Curtis plays his cricket for Burton where Mark Griffiths is the coach and he joins his mates James Davies, Nicholas Jones and Daniel Llewellyn from Ysgol Glancleddau. His best wicket haul so far is 3 for 10 and at a time when players bat in pairs and are encouraged to stay at the crease rather than lose their wicket he is doing quite well, thank you very much! He is already playing for the club under 11s, good going when one considers he is only nine years old.
He took up athletics quite by chance as he took part in cross country at Ysgol Glancleddau and came an easy first before entering the county even which is run at Oakwood over 1,500 metres. He fell the first year yet still came a creditable second and made sure he stayed on his feet this year to win the race. He has since joined Preseli Harriers and achieved second and third places at Neath and Haverfordwest respectively against older opponents in the 800 metres.

And finally . . .

Mark has already run in a couple of half marathons at Cardiff and Llanelli Sospan but laughingly admits that ideas of running several full marathons receded when he was beaten in one race by Jimmy Saville! What is good to report, finally, is the fact that the Hicks family are a nice bunch who enjoy their sporting involvement for the fun of it and are focussed on achieving success, but not at any cost. Mark is a great example of this outlook for both Josh and Curtis, whilst Louise is always there in support. They really are involved in local sport and it is in good hands as long as there are nice people like them taking part on a regular basis!