SHENLEY CHURCH END
CRICKET CLUB

Held at Abbey Hill Golf Course, 33 people attended the evening which held the usual form of a 3 course meal, presentations of SCECC's awards for 2006 and the much awaited raffle, in which the elder statesman of the club donated prizes. Two of the club's Vice Presidents also attended with their families. Andy Tooley and Richard Steadman - and there was also a fitting tribute to retired wicketkeeper/batsman Mick Holman.

Club President Holman was presented with a framed momento commemorating his truly unbelievable career with Rickley Park and SCECC spanning an amazing 5 decades. Pipping the 8000 run mark in 2005, he fittingly hung up his spikes and gave a glowing speech, which deserved the standing ovation received.

Excellent batting form produced from Richard Fletcher over the course of the season saw the all-rounder claim victory in the Batting award - given for the highest average (44.00) - edging out closest rival Shaun Fox (42.29), while Fletcher was also presented with the Most Runs trophy (924) - his nearest rival Stuart Burke, exactly 300 runs behind.

Graham Teagle hoped to bag both the Bowling award and Most Wickets. He had to be content with the latter, gained by truly masterful overs of spin bowling. 46 wickets in total, including 25 on Saturdays, at an average of 11.41, just wasn't enough. New chairman Ian Peacock won the Bowling gong, 23 wickets at an average of 6.96 - this worked out at a wicket every two overs, helped by a cool hat-trick!

Teagle did gain the respect of the skippers, who nominated him for the Captains trophy, for his all round endeavours over the summer. A crease average of 15 and eight catches to boot matched his commitment to the cause.

The Clubman's Trophy was handed to Saturday captain Stuart Hardwick, voted by his peers at the AGM. It was a close call, but Hardwick's ethic with the pitch, on Saturdays as a leader and as an example all-rounder (322 runs at 23.00, 26 wickets at 13.77, ecomony 2.86!) deserved the award.

Lastly, a double award was given to joint winners of the Peter Bearman gong. Shaun Fox produced many an outstanding performance with the bat, scoring two centuries (133 and 114) against tough sides and athletic fielding displays! Anthony Brace will grant he's the less gifted in talent, but won his award on sheer hard work. His bowling, batting and superb fielding concentration coupled with commitment to the Sunday side meant he also picked up his first club award.

SCECC raised £125 from the raffle which included the season long 'bat board'. The first prize (bat) was won by VP Steadman who made a generous gesture and donated it to an up and coming junior in the club - Mike Camwell. He expects it to score heavily in 2007, Mike!

More thanks goes to Dave (Speilberg) Morley in his new role as 'Club Director of Media Events'. He took video and pictures of the evening, available online soon. Of course, who can forget the traditional end to the evening with the handouts of the season's statistics courtesy of Stuart Burke. These will be available online soon in a downloadable PDF format.