FIFTY-five players, vice-presidents and guests, including past president Nigel Millett, attended Belstone Cricket Club's annual dinner and awards Night at Okehampton Rugby Club last Friday.

Chairman Ian Solomon and president Peter Hammond praised the club's achievements in the ten years since its formation and reflected on a successful 2003 season which saw 37 matches played, 24 won, nine lost, one drawn and three abandoned.

The Buckley Cup, fiercely contested between Belstone, Spreyton, Sticklepath, Tedburn St Mary and Yeoford, was retained and promotion was achieved to the first division of the South Devon League.

Individual awards were presented as follows: Hammond Bat for centurions, Eddie Jones for his 203 not out, the highest score ever for the club, against Cheriton Fitzpaine and to skipper Richard Drake for his 101 against Paignton. Richard and Eddie also shared the Fielding Award, as they did in 1999, with eleven outfield catches apiece.

Eddie completed a hat-trick of trophies when he retained, for the fifth year running, the Woodman Cup for batsman of the year, having become the first Belstone player to exceed 1,000 runs in a season, finally finishing with 1,023 at an average of 48.71.

On the bowling side the Telecare Cup for the bowler with the best season's average went to Aidan Easterbrook whose complete statistics read 54.3 overs, 5 maidens, 19 wickets for 160 runs, average 8.42.

The best single bowling performance was achieved by Pete Gross, whose five wickets for three runs, including the hat-trick, against Mount Edgecumbe gained him the Barton Best Bowling Award in this his first season for the club.

Phil Woods picked up the evening's least desirable award, the Duck Cup, for failing to trouble the scorer on six occasions. This did not stop him also being named best young cricketer for his 265 runs and for his effective replacement wicket-keeping.

Off the field Lucinda Walsh won the ladies' award, Barry and Joyce Woods received the good servants' trophy, Peter Hammond was clubman of the year and long-time supporters and benefactors Tom and Norah Marshall were awarded the non-playing members' award.

All Belstone Colts and their parents are invited to the Colts presentation evening which takes place at The Tors on Monday October 27 at 7pm.