HE is that loveable character who has a big following of fans at one-day matches at the Hampshire Rose Bowl.

Harry Hawk - the county side's mascot - has been getting the crowd into fine voice for the Lord's final against Warwickshire on September 3.

Yesterday, Harry bravely wandered into the Warwickshire camp on the start of a four-day championship game at the Rose Bowl, which is seen as the curtain-raiser to the C&G Lord's final.

Harry is still waiting to see whether he will be getting a ticket to join more than 4,500 Hampshire fans who on Saturday will be hitting the cup trail to Lord's.

The club is awaiting clearance for their feathered mascot from officials at the famous cricket ground. However, one of Hampshire's most famous stars Robin Smith will definitely be there. The former England Test player has the distinction of gracing the Lord's pitch in all of Hampshire's three previous finals. Twice he was man of the match.

The 1988 Benson & Hedges victory against Derbyshire has particularly fond memories for the ace batsman. For ten days later Robin made his Test debut against the West Indies.

He is looking forward to being a spectator at Satur-day's showpiece final and spoke of the real buzz that was now going around the Rose Bowl.

Robin said: "All the members, players and supporters are thoroughly looking forward to this. We have waited 13 years for this."

He will taking his family to Lord's, for what he says is always a real family occasion. Robin spoke of how it was every cricketer's dream to play at Lord's.

He said: "Lord's is steeped in history. It is the greatest ground in the world to play and every player around the world would agree with that."

He has sound advice for those players who are taking to the field for the first time in a Lord's final.

He said: "They should go out there and enjoy the occasion and the atmosphere."

Robin believes that if Hampshire stick to the game they have played throughout the C&G tournament they will be victorious.

He also revealed that he believed a lucky charm helped to bring him sweet success in the 1988 final.

He said: "I had a four leafed clover on my bat and I have had that every time I have gone out to bat for Hampshire and England."