Joe Gatting was named 1st team player of the year by captain Mark Thomas at Swardeston’s annual awards dinner, held at Brasted’s Restaurant on Friday night.
The dinner was attended by more than 100 guests and was also marked by presentations to the young player of the year and the outstanding performance of the season award, see separate report.
Chairman Mark Taylor welcomed players and members and thanked guests from main club sponsors Leathes Prior for their support during a fantastic summer for the club.
1st team skipper Mark Thomas said Joe made more than 2,000 runs in all competitions in his first season for the club, the first player ever at Swardeston to break the 2,000 mark.
He was the leading run scorer for the 1st XI in the East Anglian Premier League , making 978, with a best of 118 not out at home to Sudbury, a game which saw him almost single handedly-rescue the team for a perilous 22-7. We won the game by four runs.
Joe’s highest score of the season, an unbeaten 160, came in the ECB National Cub Championship win over Ramsey. In this game Joe hit six sixes in one over, a feat he was to repeat in the NatWest T20 win against Old Northamptonians. To see that once a season would be fantastic, said Mark, but to see it twice was remarkable.
Joe also claimed 59 wickets throughout the season, including 33 in the EAPL. He also claimed 21 catches.
Mark also praised many of the 1st team squad but said Joe’s impact with bat and ball has made him a natural winner of the trophy.
Mark Thomas presents Joe Gatting with the Chris Bean Cup for the Premier XI player of the year.
Sam Thelwell picked up the John Bobbin Salver as 2nd XI player of the year, and was presented the award by skipper Ben Hogg. Sam claimed 26 league wickets with a season’s best of 5-43 coming against Diss in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division. In a difficult relegation season Ben said Sam had always wanted to bowl whatever the status of the game, providing great support for the team and his skipper.
Ben Hogg presents Sam Thelwell with the John Bobbin Salver for 2nd XI player of the year.
Another bowler was named as the A XI player of the year by captain Matt Hogg. Matt said Nathan Taylor had claimed 21 wickets, with a season’s best of 4-38 in the home game against Hethersett and Tas Valley in the Norfolk Cricket Alliance Division Two match. He also chipped in with a valuable 110 runs over the course of the league summer.
Matt Hogg presents Nathan Taylor with the Bob Read Shield for A XI player of the year.
Eddie Smith was named the Swardeston CEYMS player of the year. Eddie claimed 27 league wickets for the team, the most by a bowler in the CEYMS team for many seasons. His top performance was 4-41 in the home Norfolk Cricket Alliance Division Five game against Bircham. He also scored 253 runs with a top score of 40 in the home game against Cromer A. Unfortunately Eddie was unable to attend the dinner as he is away at Catterick with the Army. Dad Tim stepped in to the receive the award in his place from Swardeston CEYMS captain Stuart Bartram.
Stuart Bartram presents Tim Smith with the CEYMS Trophy for the Swardeston CEYMS player of the year. Tim was receiving the trophy on behalf of his son Eddie.
Will Kidner was named the Swardeston Sunday player of the year by captain Ben Hogg. Ben said Will had topped the Sunday batting averages, hitting 398 runs at an average of 39.80 with four half-centuries. His top score of 94 came in the home Mid Norfolk Sunday League win against Hethersett and Tas Valley.
Will Kidner picks up the Peter Thomas Trophy from captain Ben Hogg as Swardeston Sunday player of the year.
Chris Bean Cup – Premier XI player of the year: Joe Gatting
John Bobbin Salver – 2nd XI player of the year: Sam Thelwell
Bob Read Shield – A XI player of the year: Nathan Taylor
CEYMS Trophy – Swardeston CEYMS player of the year: Eddie Smith
Peter Thomas Trophy – Swardeston Sunday player of the year: Will Kidner
