Club Dinner - February 2009

The Annual Babington House Cricket Club Dinner is something of an institution eagerly awaited by the Members every year. Past events have been characterized by an assault on the bars' cocktail menu although Expresso Martini's now seem to have become the Club's drink of choice. Our own version includes a liberal splash of Bailey's which gives a velvet-like texture as well as an extra kick only fully realised the following morning.

18 Club Members gathered in the House's ultra-cool Log Room complete with roaring fire casting flickering shadows across the sparkling mirrors and brushed steel lampshades. Intimate and seductive, the atmosphere crackled with the cutting wit of Messrs. Mark Cadbury and James Mackenzie who clearly use the event as an excuse to transport themselves back to their obviously public school days! Poor Phil de Glanville, he of England rugby fame, seemed to bore the brunt of Cadbury's sledgehammer approach to humour.

Now in our tenth year, the Club is glued together by an innate respect shared by all the players regardless of age or ability. The passion we share for both the great game and the Club we are creating is palpable and ensures the spirit of the evening is wonderfully positive and inspiring. We are a Club without cliques, hidden agenda's or tittle-tattle. The players know we are blessed with a wonderful opportunity to build a Club of longevity for the common good of those who don the whites, their families and, essentially, the children who wish to learn the traditions and nuances of the game.

It is against this rarefied backdrop, that Club Chairman Michael Nicholson leads proceedings. Mike has a delightful touch as master of ceremonies and his printed out statistics lovingly prepared through the winter months are devoured over glasses of bubbly. Before dinner is served, anecdotes are shared as we take our places. Matt Ellis, our most dedicated of Fixture Secretaries, reads out the itinerary for the coming summer and we are all delighted to have a match against Wiltshire Queries scheduled for early May. The illustrious Free Foresters have agreed to play an All Day game which promises to be a great challenge for us all. Matt's pivotal role has been instrumental in the Club's progression and he is warmly thanked by us all for his sterling efforts.

After a feast of roast beef or fish, apple crumble and a cheese board with a Chernobyl-like pungency, the highlight of the evening is of course the Awards. There were numerous candidates for each coveted engraved glass tankard and trophy, but in the end, we rewarded those who demonstrated both cricketing prowess and that little extra something that mirrors the spirit of the Club. The winners and other nominations are listed below:

Player of the Year - Jonathon Boulton
Also Commended Andrew Standon McDougal

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Batsman of the Year - Mark Meadows
Also Commended Mike Sherring, Jonathon Boulton & Nick Sinfield.

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Bowler of the Year - Andrew Standon McDougal
Also Commended Andrew Jolliffe, Nick Wigzell, Chris Player & Rioh Alexander
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Special Award - Nicola Player

For her dedicated support of the Club and for being Mum to two of our most exciting and charming young players, Chris and Jeremy with whom she is pictured with her husband, Mark.

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Champagne Moment - Nick Wigzell
Nick, not known for his catching ability let alone in the slips, took a blinding one-handed catch off the express bowling of James 'Rocket' Stephenson against The Strollers. Bothamesque, the catch was truly outstanding and made all the more remarkable as he had never ever fielded in the slips before this one particular ball. Mobbed by the rest of the team, none of us will ever see a better catch and it was fitting that the Champers went to one of the genuinely nicest blokes around and a founding member of the Club. Nick, we collectively applaud and thank you.

There were many other highlights of the season recounted over the metaphorical port; Boulton's dance on the lawn after defeating the Free Foresters, Cadbury's fitst-ball six into the trees, Mackenzie's five dropped catches in one afternoon, Sherring's batting, Sinfield's boundary catch, Ed Weale's devastating spell of swing bowling, Chris Player and Rioh Alexander's bowling against the FF and Chester Ellis' first wickets for the Club against Mells. The list is endless and illustrates just how much the season means to all of us. Great achievements and great memories.

As ever, the evening ended in the bar with wistful thoughts of the forthcoming summer. Of course it will be a scorcher and the pitch will be laden with runs, England will win the Ashes and we will give the Free Foresters another thrashing! All in the future, but one thing is certain, the Club will continue to flourish as the commitment and the devotion of those present at the 2009 dinner presents a genuine tour de force.

Thanks to one and all for a lovely evening as ever.