AS the curtain closes on another cricket season the young cricketers of Grayshott Cricket Club celebrated another successful season at their recently held youth presentation evenings.

With almost 200 children at the club fielding ten junior sides this year from under-nines through to under-19s, the club won silverware in four age groups and just missed out in another.

The under-nine Tigers Team won the Two Counties Youth League, while the U13 Foxes side won the South East Hants District League remaining unbeaten and were runners up in the West Surrey Youth League.

The Foxes were voted Junior Team of the Year in the Sport Haslemere Awards.

The U17 side won the West Surrey Youth League for the second year in succession while the U19s won the Two Counties Youth League.

The U12 side just missed out and ended as runners-up in the Two Counties Youth League.

U13 Captain Alistair Wheble, who has scored over 1,000 runs this season, was awarded Peter Clapham’s Young Player of the Year Award and went on to win Sport Haslemere’s Sports Personality of the Year Award.

Youth manager Graham Sampson said: “It has been another successful year for the children, but what is more satisfying is the overall strength of all the children at the club.

“The year-on-year improvement is reflected in the number of children being selected at regional level which now totals 35, with three of them representing Hampshire in their respective age groups.

“The club is very lucky to have a large group of parents who are committed as coaches and help off the field of play which is so important for the benefit of the children.”

Grayshott Cricket Club’s Junior Fixtures Secretary for the last few years, Ellie Clayden, was invited to the Ageas Bowl recently to receive a Nat West OSCA for Hampshire for “Getting the Game On”.

The NatWest Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards (OSCAs) aim to reward the contribution that volunteers make to the game.

Established in 2003, the OSCAs form part of the ECB’s volunteering programme, which gives cricket clubs advice on educating, recruiting and rewarding volunteers.

Ellie’s nomination was for all the work she undertakes in not only organising over 100 games of junior cricket across just three months of the year, but organising junior teams to ensure everyone turns up at the right place at the right time.

Mr Sampson said: “Ellie was thoroughly deserving of the award recognising the importance of volunteers to undertake such key roles in clubs.”

Ellie now receives an invitation to join all County Winners at Lords for lunch in October.

Winter coaching sessions are already planned and start in November, continuing into next year.

In 2017 the club is looking to further expand its Cricket For Fun Group for boys and girls aged between five and seven by launching the Little Smashers Group.

With children moving up an age group this year, the club is actively recruiting for this group. The club welcomes new members in all age groups but being a popular club, parents are encouraged to register over the winter months and join in with the winter coaching to avoid disappointment.

For more information on joining the club, visit www.grayshottcc.co.uk or call Graham Sampson on 07826 523227.