- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
Prize guys – and girl – at Cornwood’s awards evening. Left to right are: Andrew Bees, Phil Bees, Robin Dart, Pete Warren,
Paul Skeemer, Keith Weaver, Lynne Whitfield, Nick Goodliffe, James Horgan
AROUND 90 members and guests attended the Cornwood Cricket Club dinner and dance at the Elfordleigh Hotel.
The speeches and presentation of awards followed the dinner and chairman Graham Baskerville was first up to address the audience.
As is customary, he thanked all those that had given their time and effort to the club during the season. Graham said that under the circumstances, the 1st XI had finished a creditable seventh in the A Division.
Some on-field problems coupled with the loss of overseas player, Aizaz Cheema, after seven games, for the best possible reason, (a call up to the Pakistan Test squad), meant that the other players, including a number of young players, had to stand up and be counted and they did just that.
The 2nd XI avoided relegation from the Premier Division by the skin of their teeth, but that scenario had looked impossible after 11 games, without a win and 40 points clear at the bottom of the table.
Six consecutive wins followed and eight points were achieved in the last game to send opponents, Hatherleigh, down by one point. The 3rd XI and 4th XI also had creditable seasons, with the latter narrowly missing out on promotion from the E Division 2nd XI West.
Speeches followed from the 4th XI captain, Leigh Smith, 2nd XI skipper, Dave Tall and Craig Harris, who took over as 1st XI captain just before the half-way point in the season. Unfortunately 3rd XI captain, Graham Jones, was unable to attend the dinner.
Each captain finished by handing out the player of the year trophies for their team.
Keith Weaver was the fourth team recipient, following his 304 runs at an average of 30.40 with a top score 57. In the absence of Jones, main sponsor, Nick Abbott presented the 3rd team award to Phil Bees, who now has won 1st XI, 2nd XI and 3rd XI awards.
Bees scored 448 runs, including the only 2011 Cornwood league century of 110 not out against Thorverton 2nd XI.
The winner of the 2nd XI award was 15 year old, Matthew Skeemer, with Tall presenting the trophy to Matt’s dad, Paul, in the youngster’s absence.
The 2nd XI captain had been fulsome of his praise for young Skeemer, who made a very nervous start to the season.
Each week he went away and learnt from his experiences and came back better the following week.
Skeemer finished the season with 29 wickets at an average under 20 and also chipped in with 187 runs, with a top score of 45. His efforts for Devon have led to Matt’s selection for the prestigious tour to South Africa in February.
Harris presented the 1st XI Player of the Year to Andrew Bees leading to the first father-and-son combination appearing on the trophy. Bees took 32 A Division wickets at an average of 11.88, with a best of 7 for 31 against Shobrooke Park.
The Captains’ Trophy was also won by young Skeemer, whilst the Team of the Year Trophy was won by the Under 15 Dels team, who had done the league and cup double in the Palladium League and also reached the final of the Devon Cup before losing to Sidmouth.
Coach James Horgan collected the award and Robin Dart collected the Plymouth and District League Cup after the team had defeated Roborough in the final.
Ladies’ captain, Hannah Parsons, gave an entertaining speech, describing the ladies continuing improvement in their second full season, before handing the Players’ Player trophy to Lynne Whitfield and the Most Improved Player’s Trophy to Amy Gibson, but collected by mum, Emma.
The final trophy of the evening, widely considered to be the most important award, was that of Clubperson of the Year. Chairman Baskerville presented this year’s award to Pete Warren, the club’s bar manager, who had worked tirelessly throughout the season.
This meant another family connection on a trophy, as Pete followed in the footsteps of wife, Wendy, already a twice winner of the coveted award.