50 years ago: Spectators at Kingsway, Bishop Auckland, watch in horror as professional Norman Owen, playing in his own benefit match, lofts a huge six on to the football pitch where it strikes a child. The child turned out to be his two-year-old son John Owen who happily was none the worse for the experience.

Bishop Auckland CC professionals have a habit of hitting the ball hard and New Zealand Test player, Lance Cairns, regularly thumped the ball out of the ground in the 1980s, but there were no report of any serious damage.

However, in July 1995, professional Ricky Waldren smashed a drive straight on to the head of umpire George Simpson who was standing at the bowlers end. The ball cannoned off Simpson's head and sailed high to the boundary where it was caught by an opposing fielder. Waldren returned to the pavilion and Simpson went to hospital.

35 years ago

Eighteen-year-old Eileen Horan from Shildon qualifies for the shot putt final in the women's amateur athletics championships at Crystal Palace. Seventeen-year-old Ann Routledge, a Darlington High School pupil, returns 12.4secs in the 100m, while Darlington Harrier Sue Smith improves her own personal best in the 800m finishing in 2:13.5secs.

A row erupts when Jim Blenkinsopp, the secretary of Durham FA, bans a newly-formed football club in Shildon. Mr Blenkinsopp had asked officials of the Greyhound Inn Football Club to 'shop' Northern League players and players from other affiliated clubs who play in friendly games on a Sunday. Representatives from the Greyhound club said that they had no such players signed on so Mr Blenkinsopp ordered them out of his office saying: "The club is under suspension. I am not."

20 years ago

Brancepeth CC batsman, Gill, with 81 runs and Aspinall, with 84, put on a record breaking opening stand of 145 runs against King James CC in the Mid Durham Senior League division one.

5 years ago

Martin Ball takes all ten Middlesbrough CC wickets as Marton CC celebrate a seven-wicket win to stay top of the Darlington Building Society NYSD division one.