Devon Cricket Board - Hickinbottom named as new Bovey captain for 2016

Hickinbottom named as new Bovey captain for 2016

BOVEY Tracey have picked Sam Hickinbottom as their new 1st XI captain following the resignation of Andy Fairbairn at the end of last season.
Hickinbottom, who has had two seasons with Bovey since moving to the area from the East Midlands, was confirmed as skipper at the club’s annual meeting.
Before joining Bovey Trace he played for Cropston in the Leicestershire County League and was an age-group player for Leicestershire and Rutland up to U17 level.
Fairbairn, who missed much of the 2015 season due to injury, will carry on playing for Bovey next season.
Hickinbottom’s appointment was one of three captaincy changes agreed at the annual meeting, which was held in the town at the Dolphin Hotel.
Third team skipper Dan Green, who had a breakthrough season with the bat in 2015, has been released from the captaincy to move up the XIs.
Andy Bishop moves up from 4th to 3rd XI captain with Mark Taylor replacing him as 4th XI skipper.
The only skipper to remain in place is Jeremy Christophers, who led the 2nd XI to promotion last season. Unsurprisingly, he was asked to carry on the good work.
Bovey are rejoining the South Devon League in 2016, which will provide competitive, Sunday cricket for some of the younger players at the club.
The captaincy will alternate between Toby Codd – a member of Abbotskerswell’s SDL Cup winning side this season – and Bradley Causey.
The meeting was held immediately before the annual dinner and awards evening, also at the Dolphin Hotel.
The 2nd XI celebrated a league and cup double as they also won the Aaron Printers T20 Cup, beating Babbacombe in the final.
Man of the match in the final with five wickets and a match-winning 78 was Green, who had quite a time at the awards evening.
Statistically, he was the leading league run scorer in the club across the XIs – he scored 583 alone in the 3^rd XI - which earned him two for the price of one.
Green (pictured clutching some of his awards) was the 3rd XI’s top scorer too – and he was also picked as the club’s most-improved player.
New captain Hickinbottom was the 1st XI bowler of the summer, taking 22 Premier wickets at an average of 12.9 each.
Opening batsman Malcolm Lake topped the 1st XI batting averages with 578 at 44. He was also the players’ player.
The miserly Christophers – 30 wickets at 8.8 topped the A Division 2nd XI bowling averages and was the club’s leading 2nd XI bowler.
Derek Perry, now at the tail-end of a Devon League career that started more than 20 years ago and has taken him from Galmpton to Paignton and Chudleigh as well, was top batter with 497 runs at 45.18.
Richard Wyatt-Haines won the 3^rd XI batting prize for his 616 runs in the promotion winning team.
A personal highlight for Wyatt-Haines was scoring a ton against Ipplepen while son Samuel was at the opposite end, also scoring a century.
Other awards went to: 4^th XI batter – Andy Bishop, bowler – Mark Taylor, players’ player – Dan Boteler, young player – Ollie Briddock.
The highest score shield went to David Stone, who made 163 not out for the 4^th XI against Chelston and Kingskerswell 3^rd Xi.
Mark Pitman’s 16 wickets in the 3^rd XI won him the club’s bowling award.
Club person of the year was shared between husband-and-wife supporters Jackie and Paul Bradley.

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