SIDMOUTH may have surrendered the Premier Division title to arch rivals Exmouth last season, but still had plenty to celebrate at their end-of-season dinner and awards evening.
The Devon T20 Cup was regained after a year in the custody of Bovey Tracey while the 2nd XI under Charlie Dibble pipped Exeter by a couple of points for the Premier Two title.
And the 1st XI didn’t have such a bad season as they were runners-up in the Premier Division and beaten finalists against Exmouth in the Devon Cup final.
The achievements were celebrated after a sell-out dinner in the Fortfield clubhouse for more than 60 members and friends.
Among the guests was Sean Preistley from Sidmouth CC’s main sponsor Brewin Dolphin.
Sidmouth chairman Mike Dibble was master of ceremonies. He enlisted the team captains as well as secretary Anthony Griffiths and other officials to hand out the cups.
Hard-hitting batsman and lively seam bowler Liam Lewis (pictured, left in blazer) had a night to remember with thee awards.
Lewis was the leading run getter in the Premier Division last season with 904, finishing second in the averages behind Marnus Labuschagne (730) of Plymouth, whose average of 60.83 was fractionally better by half a run.
Lewis won the James Harbud Cup for Sidmouth’s 1st XI batsman of the year and also took the trophy for the best score.
Sidmouth amassed 354 for six in their game against visiting Torquay with Lewis (140) and Peter Randerson both making tons. Their stand of 236 for the fourth wicket broke a Premier Division record that had stood since 1994.
Lewis also took 16 Premier Division wickets and that helped him win the Lloyd Baker Trophy for players’ player of the year.
Scott Barlow with 25 wickets was the 1st XI bowler of the year and winner of the Margaret Clark Cup.
Matt Hewer’s 706 runs at an average of 54.31 put him way ahead in the 2nd XI aggregates and earned him the George Maeer Cup as batsman of the year, just as it did in 2012 and 2011. Hewer is pictured, right.
Not for the first time Charlie Dibble won the bowler of the year award for the 2nd XI with 26 victims at 13.42 each.
Dibble (left) has won the award for the past two seasons and seven times in the last 10 years. It was presented to him by brother Mike.
The 3rd XI winners were batsman Harvey Sargent (542 runs at 38.71) and bowler Graham Munday (23 wickets at 361).
The Cicely Anderson Cup for playing clubman of the year went to Saj Patidar.
Patidar, now chairman of selectors, joined the club in 1991 at the same time as Miles Dalton and Anthony Griffiths. All three are still going strong.
Patidar was 1st XI captain for three years, signing off by winning the Devon Cup in 2000.
He dropped down to captain the 2nd XI for four years, handing that job on at the end of the 2011 season. He is pictured on the right presenting Harvey Sargent with his award.
The full list of winners was:
1st XI batsman (James Harbud Cup): Liam Lewis; 1st XI bowler (Margaret Clark Cup): Scott Barlow; 2nd XI batsman (Cyril Spencer Cup): Matt Hewer, 2nd XI bowler (George Maeer Cup): Charlie Dibble, 3rd XI batsman (Lloyd Baker Cup): Harvey Sargent; 3rd XI bowler (John Palmer Cup): Graham Munday (pictured, left); 1st XI highest league score: Liam Lewis (140 v Torquay), playing clubman (Cicely Anderson Cup): Saj Patidar; most-promising colt (Harold Naylor Cup) – Harvey Sargent; most-improved player (Greg Barwick Cup): Charlie Miles; services to cricket (Sadie Wood Cup): Colin Whitehall; players’ player (Lloyd Baker Trophy): Liam Lewis.