Fun in the sun with Cockspur Rum at the 28th Rumsey Pro Am!

Cockspur's sponsorship consultant Omar Khan gives an insight into the fun on and off the field as Cockspur Cup winners Horsham CC attend the annual Barbados Pro Am Festival

Cockspur Rum, associated with Barbados since 1884, will be entering the third year of their five-year sponsorship agreement with the England and Wales Cricket Board for the Cockspur Cup in 2006.

The 2005 Cockspur Cup featured 332 of England, Wales and Scotland's finest club sides, who competed for the right to play in the final at Lord's.

This year's winners Horsham CC not only took away the £6,000 first prize, but also, courtesy of Cockspur Rum, were invited to play in the annual Barbados Pro Am Festival in November.

The West Sussex club were joined by a number of playing hosts including Bill Athey, David Capel, Mark Ramprakash, Warren Hegg, Jason Gallian, Martyn Ball, Paul Franks, Steve Marsh, Alan Richardson, Dougie Brown and Ian Blackwell, Somerset's captain, who was summoned by the ECB to fly out to Pakistan as a replacement for the injured Ashley Giles for the ODI series.

As Cockspur's sponsorship consultant, I flew out to Barbados for the second week of the Pro Am with my wife Vicky and 16-week-old son Ben. This diary accounts a rather lively week on the Caribbean's cricket-mad island!

Saturday November 19

Early morning 10am flight out to Bridgetown becomes a stroll in the park as my wife and son choose to spend six of the seven hours asleep. As I am an awful flyer I manage to view Russell Crowe's boxing epic Cinderella Man and a cocktail of Little Britain and Alan Partridge’s Knowing me Knowing you - aha!

On arrival at Discovery Bay I am summoned to Fred Rumsey's room where I receive a hearty welcome, a glass of Cockspur naturally, as well as T-shirt and cap - the usual tour uniform!

Also manage to re-acquaint myself with some of last year's crew: Bill Athey and David Capel, the inseparable ‘Golden Oldies’ of the tour, plus Jason Gallian and his charming wife Charlotte. And Steve Marsh, the Professional Cricketers’ Association Events Director who I have played against for far too many years in Kent League battles.

We manage to meet up with Pauline Clarke, my Cockspur colleague, to have a quiet meal at Angry Annies - rice, peas, chicken washed down with a couple of Banks and a Cockspur Old Gold and ginger, just the ticket after a long day of travel.

Sunday November 20

Ben wakes up at 6am so we make the most of the early sunshine and occupy the pool before diving into our Bajan cooked breakfast.

Catch up with Mark Ramprakash, resplendent in his Arsenal top, and his father who has made the trip to Barbados from Guyana. Vicky is immediately star struck by Ramps' rather sultry looks!

Today we are sponsoring the Bridgetown team against a London team, sponsored by British Midland (does that sponsorship really make sense I ask myself?!); in a 35-over bash at the 3Ws ground by the University of Barbados. The game has been initiated by the PCA, the Barbados Cricket Association and Rumsey Travel as part of the PCA's Inter City themed matches.

The Bridgetown ‘cool’ XI stroll into the ground 10 minutes before the game without a care in the world managed by former West Indian pinch-hitter PhiloWallace - it is Sunday after all!

On a slow deck the London side struggle to secure any dominance against a well-drilled Bridgetown attack. Finishing on 142 for five the London team are indebted to the hard work of Ramprakash (68 not out - obviously an innings for watching Dad!) and Paul Franks, Nottinghamshire's all-rounder, who belts 32 not out in even time.

I manage to find Luke Marshall, the captain of Horsham, and his merry men being filmed by Matt Rumsey for a special video to promote the Pro Am and the Cockspur brand.

They are into day seven of a ‘rum/beerathon’ of epic proportions and proceed to spend most of the day abusing Chris Nash their team-mate, who has been invited to guest for the London side and Warwickshire and England/Scotland's all-rounder Dougie Brown!

With three balls remaining Bridgetown are coaxed home by West Indies Test player Ryan Hinds, eventually winning the game by a comfortable five wickets.

Pauline volunteers to baby sit for us as we embark on our first meal out together since the birth of baby Ben. We dine at the Lone Star, a gorgeous restaurant by the beach no more than 10 minutes away from our hotel.

Monday November 21

Our early morning alarm call also known as Ben Khan gets us up with the sparrows!!

We venture up the coast to Mullins Beach and brunch at Sugar Sugar - the beach is pretty quiet at 9.00 as you might imagine and we give Ben his first Caribbean dip in what is crystal clear water.

I manage to pop into Bridgetown for a Beach Party that is being hosted by Rumsey Travel. We manage to film most of the boys endorsing the brand and the Pro Am. We also hear that Ian Blackwell, Somerset's skipper out here on the Pro Am for the first time has been called by David Graveney to replace Ashley Giles on tour.

Matt Rumsey and his camera crew manage to film some great shots with all of the pros taking on the locals in a game of beach cricket. They also unleash the Cockspur Rooster as the sun sets in stunning fashion.

My client David Smith arrives from England - he is over here for the last rights of the Tour as well as a number of presentations to the Cockspur board. Later that evening we eat with David's Bajan counterpart Andrew Straun, Pauline, Vicky and Ben who is a child from heaven - he has hardly whinged the whole trip so far.

Tuesday November 22

The Pro Am has been affected by rain in the first week but we appear to have bought the sun with us from a snow-swept UK. I venture up to support the Cockspur XI skippered by Nottinghamshire and England’s' Jason Gallian. Jason's side are taking on Bill Athey's team in another 35 over game - believe you me 35 overs is enough in the Bajan sun.

On my second bottle of Banks beer Jason tells me that I am playing - within the next half an hour I am in attempting to repair our team's innings on a “bunsen burner.” Three down for not many with our gallant skipper already in the pavilion.

Athey's off spin seems rather tempting and I decide if it up there I am going to whack it. At the other end I manage to dispatch Luke Marshall for a six and a one bounce four. Unfortunately an inside edge on to my pad forces our West Indian umpire to end my brief stay at the crease.

Field at gully over hearing Messrs Marsh, Hegg and Gallian identifying their top quicks of all time - the names of Sylvester Clarke, Wayne Daniel, Courtney Walsh understandably figure quite highly.

We manage to lose to Athey's men in convincing style; later host a drinks reception for Horsham and our guests over here from Uxbridge CC and Forfarshire CC at Cocomos bar come restaurant.

Wednesday November 23

Vicky and Ben are returning to England today so we decide to pop over to Sandy Lane for lunch and drinks - as one does!! It really is a stunning place and we are joined by David and Pauline. The Sandy Lane Club Sandwich is the order of the day for me, with a most fantastic chocolate ice cream dish. The waistline is continuing to expand in a healthy fashion!

David drives us down to the airport to say goodbye to Vicky and Ben - we will rendez vous Saturday midday later that week

On departure David and myself drive down to real old Bridgetown where we run into Fred Rumsey and two members of the Uxbridge CC party. Manage to quaff a few beers and listen to Fred re-account some of his tails as a former England fast bowler.

We return to the Lone Star tonight where we invite our hosts Fred and Colleen Rumsey for dinner as well as their son Matt for a stunning meal at a stunning location and we then make our way to Harbour Lights for a bit of a boogie and a bit of night life.

Thursday November 24

Day two of cricket for me and I am off to the home of the great Frank Worrell - Empire Cricket Club. Gallian tells me to open the batting with Craig Gallagher from Horsham who hits it to all parts of the ground.

The wicket is an absolute road and I harbour wishes of a big score after hitting Dougie Brown for four through the covers. Brown, a fellow college old-boy from Borough Road, immediately sends me down a bouncer that I greet with a smile.

Chris Nash's brother Mark draws me down the wicket with a slow left arm pie and I am stumped by the PCA's Chairman Martyn Ball performing admirably behind the sticks.

Our score of 260 plus never seems to be enough as Dougie Brown's side cruise home - Martyn Ball's 70 odd score in the soaring heat helps his side ensure another defeat for Gallian's Cockspur XI.

Thursday night is presentation night as the 28th Rumsey Pro Am comes to an end. Messrs Warren and Sir Fred give out prizes to deserving winners of the competition, the Barbados Select XI.

Karaoke follows coordinated by Steve Marsh - I manage to sing an awful rendition of Mac the Knife with Dougie Brown, Jason Gallian and Philippa Rumsey.

As the evening closes, I manage to jump into a mini bus with Horsham CC and we are off across the island to the famous Ship Inn. More Rum and beer on the agenda as we watch Brian Lara score 200 against the Aussies - what a player that man is!!

Friday November 25

A complete write off day as I try to sleep before we make the trip to the airport. Sit next to Ramps on the plane en route to London Gatwick. Manage to have a chat about England, Surrey his ambitions and general state of play. Ramps is a very determined bloke and passionate about the great game!

Bid adieu to folk at the airport - Messrs Marsh, Capel, Athey, Horsham et al - and make my way back to my family in Oxshott, Surrey. Back to earth with a bump as the cold snap of winter hits us hard at Gatwick

Roll on next year for Rumsey Pro Am 29 and more fun in the sun with Cockspur Rum!