The first overseas llama tour for decades was an overwhelming success with 18 very well dressed llamas descending on Gatwick airport early on the 22nd April.

To much surprise for the organisers (Rossco and Hooky) all llamas turned up largely in tour uniform and on time and with their cricket stuff ready for a 2 night, 4 game tour of the Coimbra region of Portugal.

Among the llama ranks were; 16 players from the lower league and friendly teams, 1 supporter (Brendan who joined from Lisbon) and 2 umpires (Al Gregson and Steve Vickery) who now rank as the world best dressed umpires and we wouldn’t be surprised if the fashion catches on in the Portuguese cricket league

Portugal is actively trying to grow its cricket set-up and the llamas were hosted by Coimbra knights which has a membership of circa 40 and the Lisbon Gamblers also travelled to Coimbra for a tri-tournament on the Saturday.

The ground itself is an ex football stadium buried in the valleys of Miranda do Corvo which our hosts are steadily trying to improve; both the quality of the astro, the outfield and the general facilities

On the pitch the only win from 4 games came in the less familiar format of 10-10 but the llamas were competitive in all games;

• a 20/20 under floodlights, rain and hail on the friday night
• a tri tournament on the Saturday where the llamas lost to the Gamblers, the Gamblers beat the Knights and the Llamas beat the Knights
• a 24 over a side game on the Sunday against the Knights

Our hosts were incredibly hospitable both at their ground but also organising an evening at one of their sponsors, Praxis brewery, where we were joined by a number of our hosts for an evening of food and drink followed by a romantic riverside drink for the touring party

The llamas who toured can hold their heads up high despite the lack of victories as we represented the club with aplomb

We hope to have left a little bit of llama spirit in both Coimbra and Lisbon as all teams and members off the pitch were treated to a llama squeeze. By the end of tour, the Coimbra Knights were celebrating llama wickets with a squeeze

Hopefully it won’t be decades until the next overseas tour .