NAILSEA Cricket Club held their annual dinner dance and awards at the Walton Park Hotel in Clevedon recently.

NAILSEA Cricket Club held their annual dinner dance and awards at the Walton Park Hotel in Clevedon recently.

The evening was a chance for the club to honour long standing chairman John Fox, who is stepping down after 14 years in office. President Rod Cooper presented John, who remains one of the most dedicated groundsmen in the county, with a special gavel in honour of his contribution to the club.

The gavel, beautifully turned in wood by former president and chairman Owen Taylor and donated by his widow, will be in worthy hands when John chairs his final AGM next month.

The night also saw the conclusion of Nailsea's shirt sponsorship draw. First out of the helmet were West Country Groundcare, who will have their company name on the front of all Nailsea's shirts for the next two seasons.

Cricket bat manufacturers Willow & Leather Sports will be displayed on the reverse of the shirts and Budgens (food retailer) will occupy the sleeve. Fourth prize, a banner at Nailsea's home ground, went to Penny Ling Hypnotherapy.

The club would like to thank all the companies that took part - AR Dury & Co, S&D Plumbing, Wayne Allen Flooring, Access Sports Online, Bristol Airport, the Ring O' Bells and Cowlin Construction - and helped to raise over �700.

The rest of the evening saw Russell Baker win the 1st XI player of the year, Terry Robinson receive the clubman award for his outstanding contribution to coaching, and the 3rd XI celebrate their league title success.

Other awards went to Simon Hopkinson (2nd XI player of the year), Geoff Leeson (3rd XI player of the year), Will Turner (4th XI player of the year) and Richard Morris (fielder of the year).