Cricketing colts end season with celebration

The junior section has existed for only two years, but has already seen its membership swell to more than 80, which has allowed the club to hold competitive matches at under-nine, 11 and 15 this year. They will make their first entry into formal leagues in 2015.

Several of the older children have also now started to play for the adult Sunday XI.

The final weekend saw two fun matches held for the under-nines and the ten-and-overs, with parents taking part and finding their children had improved dramatically over the course of the year.

Rob Unwin, junior section manager, thanked Ascot Underwriters, who sponsor the junior section, the strong coaching team sponsored by Prodigy and the volunteers who have provided a welcoming atmosphere at the pavilion for the 20 weeks coaching has taken place.

He also thanked the parents and children for bringing such vitality to the club, with a real sense of community that has helped the rapid expansion of the section.

He also announced this year’s awards, with the winners given club shirts, club caps, England caps or mini cricket bats. All junior members received 2014 Fernhurst CC medals.

Awards: Under-sevens – Player of year James Vigar; Most improved Henry Eden; Coaches’ commendation George Brooks, Zack Garguilo, Fergus O’Connell, Hamish Unwin. Under-nines’ player of the year Jack Kidd; Most improved Sam Stevens; Coaches’ commendation Wilby Westerly, Josh Clay; Under-11s’ player of season Josh Whittington; Most improved Jude Unwin; Coaches’ commendation Charlie Bailey, Ethan Chaffey. Under-14s’ player of season Tom Payne; most improved Josh Dean; coaches commendation Felix Bacon, Richard Payn.

Unwin also said junior football training at Fernhurst had begun and the annual awards dinner for the club would be on October 11.

See this week’s Chichester Observer for a report and pictures from a fine end to the cricket season for Arundel Colts