Devon Cricket Board - Jeewan top of the run charts in B Division

Jeewan top of the run charts in B Division

Andy Johnson shows off his clubman of the year trophy flanked by (left to right) club president John Scott, chairman Des Soloman and 1st XI skipper Gareth Andrews
THERE were no surprises at Ivybridge’s awards evening with the 1st XI bating award going in his absence to Sri Lankan Jeewan De Silva.
De Silva was the leading run scorer in the B Division with 642, averaging 69.
The 1st XI bowling award went to Ivybridge colts product Pete Abraham, who took a personal best 26 wickets in the season.
The 2nd XI celebrated promotion from C Division and the awards had some familiar names who were at the heart of that success.
Club chairman Des Solomon is still showing everyone how to score runs at the age of 50, having scored 333 runs at 55 to secure the batting award.
Paul Veale, for so long a first XI regular, finished leading wicket-taker in the division with 33 wickets at just below nine runs each.
The Sunday XI player of the year went to Tom Hall, another Ivybridge youngster, who having had his season disrupted by being away at university finished leading wicket taker for the Sunday XI with 12.
Hall played a couple of useful tail-end knocks and put in some useful performances for the 2nd XI later in the season.
The most-improved player award went to Adam Huxtable, who cemented a place in the first XI thanks to some powerful middle-order hitting.
Huxtable finished second in the 1st XI batting averages. He also skippered the clubs P&D side.
Young wicketkeeper George Thompson won the Chris Forward Young Player of the Year trophy. He is pictured (right) with the trophy
Thompson’s excellent wicket-keeping for the first XI had an influence on a number of games during the season.
HIs key achievement was assisting in seven dismissals in the home win over eventual champions Tavistock, including four stumpings.
An excellent running catch, taken at backward square-leg against Axminster, was also a particularly fine piece of wicket-keeping.
Thompson also managed to score his maiden career ton in a Sunday friendly against Abbotskerswell.
The clubman award could have gone to a number of dedicated volunteers, but the 2014 winner was Andy Johnson.
The club’s Under-11 sides had unprecedented success in 2014, completing a league and cup double in the Palladium League B Division and reaching the A Division cup final.
Johnson, with the assistance of Martin Templar, played a key part in their success as their coach and manager and has developed a strong squad with a large number going on to West Devon representation.
Johnson coached and managed both Under-11 sides as well as helping, where possible, on the ground, where his knowledge from his day job as a greenkeeper is invaluable in terms of continuing to improve the ground at Filham Park.
He still manages to find the time to play for the first XI and is always the last one in the bar!
“The word legend is sometimes overused – but not where ‘Johnners’ is concerned,” said Ivybridge secretary John Sparkes.
The evening was staged in the club’s pavilion at Filham Park.

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