CHAIRMAN Ben Hosford looked back on another enjoyable year when Timsbury Cricket Club held its annual presentation night at the clubroom.
He called it a challenging season but said that there remained a great atmosphere around the club. The youth section was progressing well and had held a vibrant presentation night . The regeneration of the patio under the leadership of club captain Jesse Bishop had proved an even greater success than had been anticipated and Hosford said it was encouraging to see so many villagers coming to support the team. The re-launch of the Sunday team had been a pleasant development.
The club’s under 19s had done well in their Friday night encounters and Josh Barlass, who captained the side, looked back on some very encouraging results.
Third team captain Chris Rawlings said that there had been a definite improvement this year and stressed the team had been competitive in most games. The atmosphere in the side was a very happy one and nine players had made their senior debuts. He said that a number of fathers had appeared with their sons and felt that this was what third team cricket was all about. The outstanding achievement for the thirds came in the final game of the season against Whitchurch when Rawlings and Steve Ford enjoyed a record breaking partnership of 196.
The second team endured a difficult season in Division 6 of the Bristol and District League and suffered relegation . Dan Hill said that availability remained a problem but he was pleased to see the development of the young players in the squad. Despite a lack of good results the spirit in the team remained buoyant. Tom Parfitt was rewarded for some outstanding bowling returns by being named the second team player of the year.
First team captain Jesse Bishop said that some may say it was a season to forget but he would rather see it as a season to remember after the side who had looked destined for relegation going into the second half of the campaign strung five straight wins together to escape the drop.
He felt it showed the character of the team who so badly wanted to win.The performance of Mark Sage with a century and undefeated 98 had proved pivotal and the opening partnerships between himself and Gary Pearcy, who notched up a maiden century and was voted first team player of the year, had been central to the improved results. He praised the increasing all-round influence of Freddie Hosford who had also organised the Sunday fixtures while Martin Richards had been leading wicket taker with 22 victims.
Awards, Youth section: Most improved Junior (Eddie Strong Trophy) Milo Sage; Best performance by a Junior (Graham Bryant Trophy) Ollie Barlass; Outstanding teenager (S G Taylor Memorial Cup) Oscar Humphries; Biggest six by a junior (Steve Nowell Cup) Liam Hosford; Best young all-rounder (Jer Thompson Memorial Trophy) Liam Hosford.
Senior section: Fastest 50 (John Newth Cup) Freddie Hosford; Best individual performance (S G Taylor Cup) Mark Sage; First team Player of the Year (Sage Family Trophy) Gary Pearcy; Second team Player of the Year (Malcolm Tucker Cup) Tom Parfitt; Third team Player of the Year (Colin Weaver Cup) Matt Ball; Clubperson of the Year Paul Cracknell;Junior Clubperson of the Year (Roger and Eve Bird Cup) Freddie Hosford.