CHULMLEIGH Cricket Club held its AGM and Awards Evening at the Old Court House. After the business, a large audience reflected on another happy and successful season with nine senior games won, six drawn and just five defeats.

Star batsman was 18-years-old Tris Lincoln-Gordon, who made 394 runs at an average of 44 with an accomplished maiden century and three half-centuries; he was our Best Batsman and was also voted Players' Player of the season.

His older brother Lewis Lincoln-Gordon made a brutal maiden century scoring 122 out of 140 runs while he was at the crease and won the Ian Jury Trophy for Outstanding Performance of the Year.

Newcomer Kevin Yarnley was a solid addition to the batting and awarded the Captain's Cup.

Experienced hands Greg Spence, Brian Darch, Rodney Davies and Dave Gidney all made good contributions.

Danny Parcell won the Bowler's Cup with 25 wickets and Jack Woodman (20 wickets) also bowled improved significantly over the season. Other key wicket-takers were Alan Jacobs (20 wickets, including two destructive match-winning spells) and Andy Wren.

Brian Darch missed just one game all season and took the Tate Cup and Alan Jacobs was fielder of the year.

The Under 13 team won four and lost four of their games, with notable individual performances by Luke Woodman, Fenton Davies, Tom Gidney and (in the field), Nick Trott.

Several represented us at District level and Fenton Davies became our first-ever County player and won our Young Player of the Year award. Dom Stapleton was our Under 13 player of the year.

The Under 11 team is from a squad of 24 players from seven different Primary schools in the Chulmleigh area, the result of our taking cricket into these schools. Eighty per cent of these children had never played cricket before.

It was tough going against some stronger teams but after one or two close shaves, the team managed a maiden win in July and had a lot of fun.

Olly Dallyn was our Under 11 Player of the Year and Tom Gidney was voted Player's Player.

A Primary schools Kwik Cricket tournament at the ground in July was won by a Chulmleigh team.

Four of our young lady players, Bea Auty, Niamh Rees-Doherty, Holly Moser and Lauren Bowden represented us at District and County level and are part of the new Tarka Ladies side. They won our Ladies Cup. Our own Ladies side started practising and played their first game in September.

Off the field, we have been awarded Clubmark status in recognition of being a well-run club which maintains high standards in youth cricket. We are working on a major project in 2009-10 which will, we hope, result in our having an artificial strip and outdoor practice facilities at the ground. The future is looking bright.

If anyone would like to get involved with the club in any way, please contact Dave Gidney on 01363 84739 or [email protected]">[email protected] . Alternatively take a look at our website to see what we are about: http://www.chulmleighcricketclub.co.uk/home">http://www.chulmleighcricketclub.co.uk/home .

DG