Devon Cricket Board - OSCA's Day Out for Devon Winners

The Outstanding Services to Cricket Awards this year are now all done and dusted, with the very deserving winners in each category off to Lords for the National Natwest OSCA's ceremony. An evening filled with special guest speakers and presentations but also picking out the National winners of each category from each County Boards winning nomination. The awards in Devon are always well supported with a high number of nominations from a range of cricket clubs, all putting the nominated persons case across. Each and every nomination very deserving and well done goes out to all of them. Unfortunately Devon can only send forward one nominated winner in each category, so a huge congratulations goes out to them.

The Behind the Scenes award for Devon went to Peter Anderson, the Ex-Somerset CCC Chief Execuetive who is seen as the 'Backbone of Seaton Cricket Club' with his tireless work helping the club operate smoothly on a day in day out basis. His nominator said about Peter "He is the Chairman, groundsman, and manager. He empties bins, seeks funding from the local community, helps with fundraisers and liaises with the local secondary schools to share facilities

Chris Mount of Chagford CC took the award for Building Partnerships, Chris who has been involved with Chagford cricket for a number of years has been at the forefront of getting a youth section off the ground at the club. Chris has made sustainab

le links with the local learning community and very innovatively created his own learning programme plus formed his own competition the Dartmoor Cup for primary schools. Chris's nominator said "Having started with very little kids cricket activity in the Dartmoor area, Chris has accelerated the process and now there is lots." (Pictured Left:- Chris Mount pictured right hand side before a session)

Like all the awards its always very difficult to find one more deserving than another, especially when everyone is a volunteer. However in the Leagues and Boards category with the wide range of different Leagues in the county we found this one especially hard to choose from all the nominations received. However we felt Andy Alford the secretary from the Palladium League for the last five years is truelly deserving of this award. Andy deals with the everyday running of the league, he manages to do with this with the kids in the forefront of his mind. His nominator said "He really warrants this recognition as he is always striving to make the league as much of a success as it possibly can be.''(Pictured Right:- Andy Alford)

Our winner in the Officiating category goes to Di Wadsworth, Di is a scorer, and umpire appointments officer for the East Devon area. Di has worked for a number of years originally with her late husband John, and now her own to find umpires for county youth matches, touring games and assisting in Saturday league appointments as well. Di's nominator said about Di "She has been a tower of strength to DACO and cricket in Devon, particularly the East Area, has been the beneficiary."

(Pictured Left:- Di Wadsworth)

The next category is the Young Volunteer Category, our winning nomination is Alex Clements of Ottery St Mary CC. Alex is a budding young coach but has also taken on the co-ordination of youth training at Ottery. Alex is a keen cricketer himself but also willing to help out and volunteer to see people improve. For the last year he has co-ordinated Ottery's Chance to Shine delivery working hard to form sustainable partnerships with the local schools, but also manage and monitor delivery on the online recording system. Alex's nominator said ''Alex is a deserving winner of this award, with his clear commitment, passion and drive to push Ottery St Mary CC youth section forwards.''

NatWest CricketForce award winner was a category design for this man. John Smith at Heathcoat CC has the club firmly at heart. He is the mastermind, project manager, and overall co-ordinator of the stunning new pavilion at Heathcoat. John spent hours planning, phoning, emailing, questioning, sourcing, you name it he did it to get arguably the most attractive pavilion in the county. The picturesque Knightshayes ground has been transform thanks hugely down to John, there is no one more fitting to go forwards to Lords than John Smith for this award this year. His nominator said "John's passion and enthusiasm is unrivelled. His work ethic to improve the club as a whole weather it be the pavilion development, new net lane development, or general ground maintenance is second to none!"

(Pictured Below:- John Smith (left) receiving an award at the Heathcoat Dinner and Dance from Alistair Deighton-Gibson)

Last but by no means least is Bill Matten from Sandford CC, Bill is our winner of the Lifetime Achiever award. Bill has been a stalwart of the club for the last 64 years, this is the length of time Bill has held the post of fixture secretary, Bill is an honorary life membership of Sandford CC. His nominator said "Bill who is without doubt been responsible for leading and inspiring the club to the position it is in today.'' (Pictured Right:- Bill Matten at the cricket club)

A massive congratulations to all nominated, and thank you to all nominators for taking the time to nominate individuals for each categories.