Awards Night Review

Saturday saw the end of League, (still September friendlies to play), celebrations at HQ.

Jo served up a fantastic curry for everyone and with stomachs lined for what was to be consumed later, the Captains and Drew gave their reviews of the season before President Finch handed out the awards.

First up the Bob Willis Cup for the most improved player at any level in the Club went to Patrick O’Neill, a clear winner having shown tremendous growth with the ball the and in the field…and with the bat too he as good as quadrupled his average from last year, and in the Trust League helped set a record last wicket stand in the first game, then beat it later in the season. Nominations from the players also came in for James Corbishley, Alastair Curran, Roddy Kelso and Will Thomson.

Patrick O’Neill

Corbs missed out there, but he will have his name engraved with Ian Hopton’s for the best performance in a match; their all-time Club record 5th wicket stand of 157, (unbroken), to take us to victory at Addiscombe emerged as a late winner despite votes coming in during the week for Andrew Klimcke’s incredible last over heroics to win the Over 40s T20 match against Weybridge, (http://www.stokecc.co.uk/2018/06/15/over-40s-beat-weybridge-on-last-ball-with-27-off-the-final-over/) This was the award that received the highest number of different nominations, and it was nice to see suggestions for 2nd XI performances despite a difficult year.

James Corbishley and Ian Hopton

The Spirit of Cricket Cup captures the person – or for a second year running persons as the award is shared again – who go about things the right way. Two of the most committed people shared it; Will Frost played every 1st XI match, never missed a practice session or the chance to have fun on and off the field; play-anywhere-man Will Thomson was equally committed to the 1st XI, 2nd XI, Sunday XI and Trust League causes and contributed in so many other ways off the field.

Will Frost
Will Thomson v Oxshott 2017

The Vice Presidents’ shield looks at overall contribution to the Club, either over a number of years, or for a standout contribution that makes a huge impact on the Club in any season. When looking at the longer-term contributors, having played for the majority of the last ten seasons that has seen our rise through the divisions, the latter half of them with responsibilities for coaching and pitch preparation & maintenance, Ian Hopton joins a list of names who over the years we simply couldn’t have done without.

Jo Drew Hoppy Jordan and Moeen

The Australia Cup for the best overall contribution to the 2nd XI saw ten different people receive votes. Patrick O’Neill was in the running again, as were Roddy Kelso and Duncan Elder; but by sheer weight of 3-vote allocations; Jase Earl gets to hold the cup for another year; although second place had only one fewer person vote for them.

League Dinner 2017 Jase Pub

It was a similar story for the England Cup for the best overall contribution to the 1st XI. Shawn Dyson polled over 40% but was one of nine players who received votes. There was a lot of love for Will Frost and Ian Hopton…and the variety of nominations saw James O’Gorman and Tim Handel receive votes too.

Shawn Dyson

So that left, (for awards to be handed out on Saturday), the Player of the Year. Currently with most runs and wickets, although we have friendlies left to play, Shawn won this one by a landslide – Robbie Blackburn was the only other player to receive a nomination in his first year back with us. We can’t do justice to Shawn’s contribution in this piece to capture his time with us so far. Hopefully he’ll be back next year and we can all congratulate him and thank him in person.

On Sunday the Surrey Trust League Player of the Year award was handed out. In a difficult year that saw us drop down to a Development League yet we seemed to come up against a lot of 1st XIs, and our own availability not being as good as anticipated pre-season, it would be easy to write this season off; but out of the wreckage one individual showed a heart if a lion, kept running in on unresponsive pitches…and was also victim of a lot of unresponsive fielding too. In years to come Ben Townsend may not look at his 2018 stats with too much affection, but we know we have a player who in less bat-dominated seasons such as this one and better fielders to take catches for him he will be leading our attacks for many years to come.

ben-t-and-jack-t-v-worcester-park-august-2016

Nominations were also received for the Derek Wellman Cup for the best player in the Colts’ section. This will be handed out at the Colts’ Awards night this coming Friday where we hope to see as many seniors as possible come along to support that event.

So for the record here are the results for your enjoyment. If you have a low percentage here, remember there were a lot of people who didn’t receive any votes at all…and everyone starts on zero again next year.

England Cup for the best overall contribution to the 1st XI
Shawn Dyson 41%
Will Frost 21%
Ian Hopton 15%
James Trower 9%
Will Gudgeon 5%
James O’Gorman 4%
Robbie Blackburn 3%
Will Thomson 1%
Tim Handel 1%

For Player of the Year Robbie Blackburn received one nomination, Shawn the rest.

Australia Cup for the best overall contribution to the 2nd XI
Jase Earl 30%
Roddy Kelso 21%
Duncan Elder 14%
Patrick O’Neill 12%
Andy Page 7%
Will Thomson 5%
Andy Berry 5%
Alex Clinton 2%
Max Subba Row 2%
Ben Townsend 2%

Bob Willis Cup for the Most Improved Player
Patrick O’Neill 40%
Alastair Curran 13%
James Corbishley 13%
Roddy Kelso 13%
Max Subba Row 13%
Will Thomson 8%

Hugh Dharmasena Spirit of Cricket Cup
Will Thomson 35%
Will Frost 35%
Jase Earl 6%
Duncan Elder 6%
Mike Enslin 6%
Chris Finch 6%
Ian Hopton 6%

Performance of the Season
25% – James Corbishley & Ian Hopton (Partnership) v Addiscombe – http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3302782
15% – Robbie Blackburn (Match Double) v Cheam – http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3302762
15% – Andrew Klimcke’s last over v Weybridge O40s – http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3686819
10% – Andy Berry v Sanderstead – http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3303293
10% – Roddy Kelso v Trinity Midwhitgiftians – http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3303321
5% – Shawn Dyson (Individual) v Epsom – http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3302798
5% – Shawn Dyson & Ian Hopton (Partnership) v Epsom – http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3302798
5% – Jase Earl v Egham – http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3303303
5% – Max Subba Row v Staines & Laleham – http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3302792
5% – James Trower v Streatham & Marlborough – http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3302761

Congrats to all this year’s winners join this list : http://www.stokecc.co.uk/honours-board/

Thanks to all who voted and supported last Saturday; notably former Club Captains Paul Worsfold and Logie Logendran; to Stephen Finch; to Kane Fullalove and others who ran the post-presentation activities – also well done to those who took on the yard!