On Saturday 27 th October the club held its own awards evening at Cogenhoe United Football Club. The evening got underway with a superb Cottage Pie supper provided by Tracey Hockaday before the presentations began .
Chairman Roy Quennell kicked off the evening by thanking the clubs volunteers whose efforts over the season allow the players to just turn up and concentrate on their cricket. There were flowers for our scorer and tweeter in chief Julie Mason, a drop of whiskey for Malc Browning and Peter Cox , whilst Allan “The Cat” Packer received a copy of Clare Baldings autobiography. The Bryant Family who between them make the teas, prepare the pitch and umpire and in Charlies case all on one leg this season received a family meal voucher for the Harvester. There was also a donation from Rosemary and Tig Swallow of cricket equipment to our Junior section as a thank you for the start our club gave to their sons Henry and Charlie, a lovely gesture it was too.
Terry Tarpley then took over and introduced our guest for the evening Andy Tipler who was making the presentations. Andy played for our club during the 80`s and 90`s making over 160 league appearances.
The averages were first up with First team batting going to Dan McLaughlin whose 548 runs came at an average of 45. James Ashby collected the first team bowling average with his 14 wickets costing just 12 runs apiece. For the second team Ashley Davis matched Dans average whist Ryan Knight also matched James in the bowling average department.
The most improved player of the year went to the very promising Ray Ahmed of our under 13`s whilst Ashley deservedly picked up the young player of the year award
Ashley picking up the Young Player of the Year Award from Andy
The first team fielder of the year was Paul “Teffers” Browning who had a very decent season behind the timbers snapping up 20 victims the best in Division 6. Chris “safe hands Syd” Mason picked up the second team fielder of the year.
There were no surprises with the first team batsman of the year with Dan again the stand out batters for the Cooks whilst James Ashby was a unanimous choice for first team bowler of the year.
Skipper Dan picking up yet another award
Ashley ensured that Mum Julie will have another busy year of dusting ahead as he picked up the second team batsman of the year whilst Tony Bird was rewarded for another superb year with the ball with his miserly bowling deservedly earning him the bowler of the year award.
The Captains Player of the Year award and the magnificent Guy Goddard Rose Bowl went to Nick Lester not just for his performances on the field but his coaching, organising the fantasy cricket competition and his total unselfishness in putting our club first.
The two skipper Dan and Ryan both led their sides by example and it was no coincidence that they both won their respective teams Player of the Year awards.
The club then presented the Ian Davidson Memorial Trophy that we won at the NCL Awards Night on October 12 th to Jason Kruger and Mark Bird whose skills in the dark arts of computers and all things social media put our club in a league of its own.
Mark and Jason with Andy and the Ian Davidson Memorial Trophy
The final award was the Clubman of the Year which was won by 5 people! The award has been shared on a couple of occasions but this time it was between the Towler Family of Dad David who has transformed our youth section, Mum Louise who is quite brilliant as our Treasurer, oldest son Chris who not only helps out at youth practice and plays for the Northants Disability team but is our inspiration behind us supporting the Jennifer Trust Charity and then last but by no means least Alex who is a rising star of our U11`s and Chairman Roy Quennell.
Louise, David, Chris, Roy, Andy and Alex
The evening was another outstanding success with players, vice presidents, sponsors and members enjoying a top social occasion.
The spirit at our club really is quite something and was superbly summed up by Dan whose said a few words in praise of the club and its members , extolling the virtues of playing cricket with your friends. Well said that man.
Our thanks to Fred and Ali who worked tirelessly behind the bar, to Tracey for the superb Cottage Pie, to Andy and Caroline for being our guests, to all our members for turning up and supporting us and to John White whose superb photos you can see on this post.
Dont they make a lovely couple Henners and Matt Mo sharing the love