The Longparish Presentation Evening passed without serious incident. Pork was cooked in pouring rain and fading light, which was just as well as presentation wasn’t the best. A plethora of puddings were consumed as chairman Martin Bearpark addressed the room with a speech that lasted 15 minutes and thirty seconds, securing a cash prize of over £20 in the sweep stake for Gary Taplin, more of him later.
Club President, Richard Wills was on hand to dish out the gongs, the first the BS&I Cup to outstanding colt Harry Samways.
William de Cani picked up the 1st XI batting cup and Matt Jackman the 1st XI bowling cup.
Gary Taplin was 2nd XI batsman of the year and ran Martin Savage close for the 2nd XI bowling Cup. William de Cani claimed the Midweek 20/20 player of the year award and U13 Scott Sturt took the Fielder of the year following some superb performances for both the colts and senior sides.
LCC young player of the year went to Ben Gardner who hit 212 in the middle order of the LCC 1st XI and also picked up 20 wickets.
Alex Coetzee picked up the "indoor cricket player of the year"" after starring in LCC’s stunning winter campaigns in the Winchester and District indoor leagues and the Dummer indoor cricket leagues, and younger brother Ollie Coetzee received the "young indoor cricketer of the year" award for skippering a precocious Longparish U16 side to second place in the Winchester and District U16 league.
After a successful season for LCC, the champagne moment was keenly contested, but Ben Gardner deserved the bubbles for his superb knock of 74 not out to secure the league title for the Longparish 1st XI, if you’d seen the ball that cleaned up the England guy at the Rose Bowl in the College Cup Final, he’d have had it in the bag ages ago.
Gary Taplin was a popular choice for "Players’ player of the year" and Julie Sturt was awarded the Sprague Trophy for her contribution to Longparish Cricket during the past twelve months.
Alan Langdon was justifiably recognised for pushing yellow and green mowers in circles over many miles around the Longparish ground throughout the season and scorer Rachel de Cani received flowers for her art work in the medium of fibre tip and LED display.
Gongs done, dancing commenced and the boat pushed out to mark a superbly successful season for Longparish CC, in which the following titles were attained.
Winchester & District Indoor League Division 1 – Champions
Winchester & District U16 Indoor League - Runners Up
North Hampshire U15 Indoor League - Runners Up
Dummer Indoor League Premier Division – Champions
Dummer Indoor League Division 3 – Chanpions
Hampshire Cricket League Division 3 – Champions
Winchester & District U13 League Champions
Thanks to all who have contributed to cricket at Longparish throughout 2013