Junior cricket
LAST Saturday more than 100 players, parents and supporters gathered at Glaxo Sports & Social Club for the presentation of Raby Cricket Club’s junior section end of season awards.
Junior co-ordinator Scott Hedley welcomed everyone ad introduced three special guests: Ottis Gibson, current Yorkshire head coach; Kyle Coetzer, former Scotland captain and assistant coach of the Northern Diamonds women’s team; and Richard Robinson, head groundsman at Headingley and record run scorer in the Bradford league
Raby Castle’s junior section is in great shape with more than 100 children attending weekly training sessions from All Stars to U15s.
This season the club entered two new teams into the Durham Cricket Board Junior League: U11 girls’ softball and an U15 team.
U9s and 11s
The U11 players’ player of the year was Joseph Bird. The most improved player was Barnaby Tiplady and player of the year was Oliver Clark.
U11s girls
Coach Glenn Solan spoke about each player and thanked assistant Molly Robinson for her support and organisational skills throughout the season. The players’ player of the year was Amy Heslop. The most improved player was Isabelle Ireland and the player of the year was Mia McCombie.
U13s
The U13 team won the Durham Cricket Board Junior League south west division league and cup double this season and each of the players received an engraved trophy as a reward for their efforts.
Player of the year was 10-year-old Louis Morris. Players’ player of the year was Finlay Kirkup and the most improved player was Annabelle Tiplady.
U15s
Coach Matty Glenton spoke about a really good first season for the team. They finished joint top of their league with Crook Town CC but then lost out in a play off and consequently finished runners up.
The good news is that all the players who played this year are eligible to play for the U15s next year. Everyone who had represented the team in 2023 received a runners up medal.
Player of the year and players’ player of the year was William Poole. Wicket keeper-turned bowler Harry Glenton was the most improved player.
The final award, the Poole Family Trophy for junior player of the year was presented by Bernard Poole, a club stalwart for more than 75 years.
Steve Caygill spoke about the difficulty the coaches had on deciding between William Poole, who scored more than 700 runs and took 19 wickets, or Finlay Kirkup, who took 53 wickets and scored more than 200 runs. In the end, the coaches decided that the trophy should be shared.
Club secretary Steve Caygill took the opportunity to thank everyone present for their support of the club’s crowdfunding campaign which raised £15,500 for an electricity supply.
He praised Ian Dent and Mark Poole for the fantastic voluntary work they do in preparing wickets and the ground for matches. They both received a gift of Chocolate Fayre chocolates from fellow groundsman Richard Robinson.
Steve Caygill
