Raby Castle CC
AT the club’s annual meeting, held at the Wheatsheaf, in Staindrop, chairman Paul Hedley reported that the season had been a successful one for both first and second teams.
He congratulated player of the year James Forster and then first team skipper Dan Lee for leading the club to three cup wins and runners-up spot in the Darlington and District league.
Second team captain Mark Humble was congratulated for his bowling and for steering his team to a creditable fifth in the B division.
Mr Hedley said he was pleased that a number of the juniors had made their debuts for the second team, adding this was vital for their development and meant that old timers like him didn’t have to play as much.
Secretary Steve Caygill praised everyone who had played this year and stated that the results of both teams confirm the club undoubtedly one of the strongest in the league.
He thanked all those who were actively involved in the club’s junior programmes. He told them that their hard work over the last couple of years has been recognised with an award from the Durham Cricket Board.
Mr Caygill ended his report saying: “The club is in an exceptionally good position with a hard-working committee, a thriving junior section, and a great group of senior players and supporters.”
Retiring treasurer Betty Poole was thanked for the hard work and commitment she has given to the club over the years. The club has a healthy bank balance and thanks were also given to all the organisations and individuals who financially supported the club last year.
First team captain Dan Lee thanked his players for their support and for their performances this season. He then praised all those behind the scenes whose hard work enables cricket games to take place each Saturday.
Dan then announced that he was standing down as club captain next season.
Second team captain Mark Humble gave a massive thank you to all the players who had taken part this season.
He thanked Ian Dent for preparing great wickets and Mark Poole for the wonderful state of the ground and the outfield.
Junior co-ordinator Scott Hedley reported that the club’s award-winning junior section is going from strength to strength and that it was great to see the ground regularly packed with children playing cricket.
This year the club entered four teams in the Durham Cricket Board Junior League and Scott praised team captains Oliver Marshall (U9), Beth Poole (U11), William Poole (U13), and Elliott Davis (U15), for the way they had led their teams this season.
Finally, Scott thanked all the volunteers who had helped him.
In his address, club president Duncan Peake congratulated the club on winning the three cups and on being runners-up in the league.
He congratulated Steve Caygill on being Durham’s Coach of the Year along with all those involved in the club being recognised as the counties All Stars Centre of the Year. Mr Peake said that it was great to see cricket being played regularly at Raby again after what was a difficult couple of years for everyone.
Regarding the club’s plans for a new pavilion, he said it was good to see that the club was actively planning to secure its long-term future.
The club voted to implement a small increase in membership fees for the coming season and to release funding for the new pavilion.
