OFFENHAM Cricket Club celebrated a successful 2016 season at their awards night at The Bridge Inn at Offenham Ferry at the weekend.
There were plenty of achievements to savour from both the senior and junior sections, including Richard Herborn who picked up the prestigious 40-over Batsman of the Year award for the first time, while T20 captain James Turner led his side to an impressive 86 per cent win ratio and won the T20 Batsman of the Year award with an excellent average of 47.
Offenham’s youth policy of coaching and training more than 130 juniors over the past decade through the club’s various league sides and events is now paying dividends in the senior side as the top three bowlers in the 40-over format of the game all came through the Offenham system.
It was leg spinner Craig Witheford who picked up the main award as he saw off competition from Jay Jennings and Ben Herborn.
In the popular T20 midweek games, William Smith proved his U15 status is no barrier to taking senior wickets as his bowling average of just five won the T20 Bowler of the Year award and helped Offenham to win an impressive six out of seven games in 2016.
The coveted Players’ Player of the Year award went to a man who travelled from the Kerala region of India in 2012 to work in the local area and is now returning to his home town.
The popular Manojlal Muthuswami arrived at Offenham CC without having played cricket with a hard ball and went on to pick up two five-wicket hauls as well as win the Bowler of the Year award. Manojlal hopes to return to Offenham in 2018.
The president’s speech is always a highlight of the awards dinner and this year was no exception.
President of the club, Colonel Tony Ward OBE, delivered a speech of humour and insight based on the topic of leadership.
He congratulated club captain Dave Walker on his efforts at the helm over the past four years as Dave steps down from the role with a win ratio of 60 per cent for 2016.
Tony then spoke of the qualities of new captain Jay Jennings, who has risen through the junior section of the club to reach the position where he can now tell his father, vice-captain and wicketkeeper Pete Jennings what to do on the pitch.
The president rounded off his speech by presenting an Australian Test Match tie to Gordon Smith in recognition of his contribution to the club over the past decade as head junior coach, honorary secretary, welfare officer and trustee.
The evening closed with the vice-captain and outgoing captain awarding the Champagne Moment accolade to Jay Jennings for his four-wicket haul in the final game of the season.
Offenham CC is very much a family-based club which has seen four pairs of fathers and sons play in the senior side this season. It is always on the lookout for new senior and junior players and more details are available from Andy Belcher on 01386 49240 or by visiting offenham.play-cricket.com.
Saturday, November 26 sees the return of the popular quiz night at Offenham Village Hall, hosted by the cricket club. The bar opens at 7pm with the first question being posed at 7.30pm.
The cost is £5 per head and teams of up to six should register by contacting Debbie or Andrew Harrison on 01386 442844 or 07933 212680, or email [email protected].