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MOOR THE MERRIER
YOU would have got long odds on Barmby Moor being crowned HPH York Vale Cricket League first division champions at the start of this season.
Indeed, the club's main aim in the top flight was survival after gaining promotion as runners-up to York in division two.
Chairman Allan Wright said: "To be honest, we just wanted to ensure that we stayed in division one."
But the squad, made up predominately of Barmby Moor villagers, got their heads down and consistently picked up points throughout a rain-hit summer.
"At the end of July we had narrowed the gap on long-time leaders Drax, who had led from the start of the season, and realised we were in with a chance," said Wright.
As Drax stumbled, Barmby Moor gradually overhauled their rivals to hit the top for the first time with just a game to go - and with the final fixtures sunk by weather Moor won claimed the crown in only their third season as a Vale club.
Captain Andrew Winn and his men received the first division trophy from HPH partner Charles Walker at the league's annual dinner at York Racecourse on Saturday.
The trimphant skipper said: "This has been the culmination of a lot of hard work."
Home-spun Moor relied on a squad of only 17 players to get through the entire season, having no second team to call on and all the adminstration positions are held by players.
They left the East Riding Independent League for the Vale League in 2006 as they wanted to play in a higher standard of cricket and against opposition a bit nearer to home.
They won the division three title in their first season, followed that with promotion last summer and have now completed their meteoric rise with the championship.
For a small village with three of the area's larger clubs - Woodhouse Grange, Pocklington and Stamford Bridge - on their doorstep it has been a fine achievement.
Winn, 34, said: "We may not have the resources of some of the other clubs but we are a real 'village' team. We have pride in representing the village and as a team we have a great bond.
"We have progressed as a club, as well as a team, in the last few years and a few of the lads have been discussing the possibility fo introducing a second team."
Although Winn stressed the title success was a real team effort, all-rounder Dave Brent weighed in with 353 runs at an average of just under 40 and was the leading wicket-taker with 34 victims, coming at an average of 12.50.
His brother, Mike, also made a big contribution, while batsman Winn found his form in the latter half of the season. Charlie Cameron and swing bowler got among thw wickets and 42-year-old Paul Stubley had a great season behind the stumps.
David Knight, 16, of Askham Bryan, won the Drax Power Player of the Year award for his performances in division one.
Master of ceremonies Mike Hamshere told the audience that Frank Stones was stepping down as chairman of the League after a 50-year association as a player, umpire and administrator.
2008 Roll of Honour
Div 1: Barmby Moor, Div 2: University of York Staff, Div 3: North Cave, Div 4: Hemingbrough II, Div 5: Goole Town, HPH Cup: Hemingbrough, Scothern Construction Cup: Westow, Guy Mitchell Cup: North Duffield, Premier Sports Cup: Bishopthorpe II, Prendergast Memorial: Ben Johnson, Graham Headley Memorial: Huntington.
Leading Batting Averages - Div 1: Kevin Thomas (Drax) 70.75, Div 2: Richard Waites (University of York Staff) 41.88, Div 3: James Ferguson (North Cave) 61.17, Div 4: John Waterhouse 76.25, Div 5: Jed Vale (Pocklington) 70.80
Leading Bowling Averages - Div 1: Paul Smith (Drax) 11.58, Div 2: Dave Brummitt (Ovington) 10.09, Div 3: Rich Grimes (Stockton & Hopgrove) 8.00, Div 4: Glen Crouch (Hemingbrough II) 8.11, Div 5: Mark Hinchcliffe (Goole Town) 7.04.
Les Kirby Trophy (For most runs scored and most wickets taken): Steve Warner (Burton Salmon) 502 runs and Rich Grimes (Stockton & Hopgrove) 42 wickets.
Harry Smith Wicketkeeping Award: Dave Bielby (North Duffield) 20 victims
Drax Power Young Player of the Year: Winner: David Knight (Askham Bryan). Runners-up: Layton Hallam (Hemingbrough) and Andrew Simpson (York)
Scothern Construction Ground Awards (for pitches and grounds showing continual improvement): 1 Westow, 2 Hemingbrough, 3 Wheldrake.
From left to right: Layton Hallam (Hemingbrough), David Knight (Askham Bryan YPO), Luke Edwards representing Drax Power, and Andrew Simpson (York)
KNIGHT CHARGES TO HONOUR TEENAGE all-rounder David Knight is following in his father's footsteps at Askham Bryan YPO Cricket Club.
For years Willie Knight was among the best players the HPH York Vale Cricket League has ever produced.
Now 16-year-old David has picked up where he dad left off and collected the Drax Power Young Player of the Year award at the league's annual dinner at York Racecourse on Saturday.
As a child young Knight used to watch his dad in action and joined the club as soon as he could. He quickly made it into the first team and this summer proved to be one of the stars of the first division, averaging 43 with the bat which also saw him smack a brilliant 120 not out against Wheldrake.
He's been no slouch with the ball either with best figures of 5-38 against North Duffield.
Willie still plays a key role in his son's development, driving David across from the family home in Brighouse, near Halifax, to turn out for his beloved Askham Bryan.
Even offers to play lucrative Bradford League cricket have failed to attract young Knight away from the Vale League so the £100 award he picked up from Drax Power's Luke Edwards will certainly help with petrol costs.
Also shortlisted for the award were 14-year-old Andrew Simpson (York) and Layton Hallam (Hemingbrough), aged 16, who received £50 each. 
2008 Press Performance of the Week
Certificate winners
Jed Vale (Pocklington) 104 not out v Selby II, Division 5, Saturday, April 26
Darren Hosford (Huntington) 131 v Carlton Towers, Division 5, Sunday, May 4
James Dakin (Thixendale) 192 not out v Malton & Old Malton, Division 3, Saturday, May 10
Chris Hall (Copmanthorpe) 6-16 v Kelfield, Division 3, Saturday, May 17
Matty Clark (Hemingbrough) 116 v Ovington, HPH Cup first round, Saturday, May 24
Dave Brummitt (Ovington) 7-51 v University of York Staff, Division 2, Saturday May 31
Mark Grewer (Askham Bryan) 43 and 6-34 v Burn, Division 1, Saturday, June 7
Gary Walker (York RI) 7-19 and 45 v Carlton Towers, Division 5, Sunday, June 15
Martin Reynolds (Ben Johnson) 100 not out v Sheriff Hutton, Prendergast Memorial Cup, first round, Saturday, June 21
Mike Hodgkinson (Askham Bryan II) 8-9 v Bishopthorpe II, Division 4, Saturday, June 28
Saturday, July 5 - Only one match played. No award
Murray Coyle (Huntington) 77 and 3-13 v Pocklington, Division 5, Saturday, July 12
Kevin Rich (Selby II) 111 v York RI, Division 5, Saturday, July 19
Steve Smith (Drax) 79 not out and 6-26 v North Duffield, Division 1, Saturday, July 26
David Knight (Askham Bryan) 120 not out v Wheldrake, Division 1, Saturday, August 2
Rob Thorpe (Clifton Alliance) 71 and 3-36 v Heworth, Division 2, Sunday, August 10
Glen Crouch (Hemingbrough II) 5-25 - including four wickets in four balls - v Selby, Division 4, August 16
Adam Prescott (Burn) 6-34 v Hemingbrough, Division 1, Saturday, August 23
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Of the 467 league fixtures scheduled, 140 were not completed due to the weather. That’s the sorry statistic that represents our 2008 season. Add to that all but one of our six Sunday cup finals were seriously affected by the rain and it is evident that we have endured the wettest season on record. What a way to mark our 75th jubilee.
Despite the weather, however, the following clubs and players turned in top performance to take the 2008 season honours:
2008 Honours Division 1 Champions: Barmby Moor
Division 2 Champions: University of York Staff
Promoted: Clifton Alliance
Division 3 Champions: North Cave Promoted: Acomb
Division 4 Champions : Hemingbrough II
Promoted: Selby
Division 5 Champions : Goole Town
Promoted: Pocklington
HPH Cup: Hemingbrough
Scothern Construction Cup: Westow
Guy Mitchell Cup: North Duffield
Premier Sports Cup: Bishopthorpe II
Prendergast Memorial: Ben Johnson
Headley Memorial: Huntington
Batting Average Winners:
Division 1: Kevin Thomas (Drax) 70.8
Division 2: Richard Waites (University Staff) 41.9
Division 3: James Furguson (North Cave) 61.2
Division 4: John Waterhouse (Hemingbrough) 76.3
Division 5: Jed Vale (Pocklington) 70.8
Bowling Average Winners:
Division 1: Paul Smith (Drax) 11.6
Division 2: Dave Brummitt (Ovington) 10.1
Division 3: Rich Grimes (Stockton & Hopgrove) 8.00
Division 4: Glen Crouch (Hemingbrough ll) 8.1
Division 5: Mark Hinchcliffe (Goole Town) 7.04
Les Kirby Award for most runs/wickets
Steve Warner (Burton Salmon) 502 runs
Rich Grimes (Stockton & Hopgrove) 42 wickets
Harry Smith Wicket Keeping award for most dismissals
David Bielby (North Duffield) 20
Drax Power Young Player of the Year
David Knight (Askham Bryan). Runners-up: Layton Hallam (Hemingbrough) and
Andrew Simpson (York)
Scothern Construction Grounds Awards:
Westow, Hemingbrough and Wheldrake
75th Anniversary
The League was born in 1933 and to mark the 75th anniversary we have published a fascinating 24-page souvenir booklet, which traces the development of the League to the present day. A vote of thanks is extended to Martin Jarred for his expertise and tireless work researching and editing the booklet.
Guardian Angels Donation
As part of the anniversary celebrations every club was asked to donate 10p for every run scored on the weekend of 28/29 June. With most clubs contributing we raised in excess of £1000, which included a significant top-up from Chairman Frank Stones, towards special equipment at the high dependency children’s ward of York District Hospital. Well done to everyone who supported this worthy cause.
Clubmark
Congratulations to Ovington who became the third Vale League registered club, alongside Drax and Westow to pick up the prestigious clubmark accreditation. Well played.
Sponsors
We were delighted to team-up with Rob Ellis who took on title sponsorship of the Premier Sports Cup. Rob, a former quick bowler with General Accident and Copmanthorpe, runs York’s only independent sports shop and we look forward to a long and fruitful association with him.
The League is very much indebted to all our sponsors, who also include: HPH chartered accountants, Scothern Construction, Drax Power and, of course, our president Guy Mitchell.
Their support, both in terms of finance and commitment, is greatly appreciated.
Chris Houseman
Earlier in the year saw the sad loss of York CC chairman Chris Houseman. Chris was life and soul of the cricket club and an ever-present at our league meetings. He will be sadly missed.
Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary
Frank Stones succeeded Harry Smith as League Chairman back in 1978 and on completion of 30 years’ service he has decided to hand over the reins. On behalf of past and current players and officials, I would like to thank Frank for his dedication, enthusiasm and for being a magnificent ambassador for the League.
Mike Mead, who has held the role of Vice-Chairman since 1986, has also indicated he wishes to step down. Mike’s eloquence and wisdom at committee meetings will be truly missed, but I hope that both he and Frank will still remain in close contact with the organisation they have served so well over the years.
It is an amazing coincidence that after much deliberation I have also chosen to declare my innings having spent what feels like a life time at the crease. I was, in fact, elected to the position of League secretary in 1982 following a 7-year apprenticeship on the management committee. Way back then we had two divisions and two cup competitions and running the league was a relatively simple matter
Cricket administration has changed considerably over the years and not always for the better. The plethora of YCB and ECB directives.from child welfare to player transfers has placed increased demands on clubs and their leagues. At times it seems as if all this bureaucracy is detracting from the main objective which is to play cricket.
In addition to managing this aspect of game there is the mounting challenge of ensuring what happens on our pitches runs smoothly between April and September and in this respect 2008 has been a particularly testing time. Breach of rules by clubs and individuals and a spate of disciplinary issues have put an immense strain on the League’s resources. There is a worrying tendency for some clubs and players to fail to take responsibility for their actions. Moreover, they are quick to deflect blame and even point an accusing finger at the League for administering the rules especially if the verdict is not in their favour. I’m sure that in challenging decisions some conveniently forget that this is now a big League run by a handful of volunteers and difficult judgement calls have to be made. And as the saying goes: “you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.
The York Vale League has come a long way since I jumped on-board in 1975 and the fact that two more teams seek membership for 2009 is a glowing testament to the fact that those in charge of running things must be doing something right. That’s something worth remembering when you take to the field next time.
Enjoy your preparations for 2009 – it will soon be here. Shane Hargrave
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2008
A G E N D A
1. Chairman’s Address
2. Roll Call and Apologies
3. Minutes of 2007 AGM and Matters Arising
4. Reports: Secretary, Treasurer
5. Honoraria: Proposed that the Management Committee is given a mandate to re-allocate honoraria after implementation of the proposed Management structure.
6. Election of Officials President (G Mitchell); Chairman ; Vice-Chairman; Secretary; Treasurer (M. Hamshere); Management Committee (P Northfield , A. Copeland, D Smith, R Kerrison, Paul Smith, L. Fearn, M. Wellock
All members who have expressed a willingness to stand for re-election are shown in brackets. Vacancies exist for Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary
Proposed by the Management Committee that Frank Stones is elected an Honorary Life Member of the League.
7 Subscriptions: Proposed by the Management Committee that subscriptions remain at £75 per team, plus the prevailing YCB affiliation fee.
8. Applications for League Membership in 2009:
Thorp Arch and Boston Spa III:
New third team proposing to ground sharing with Tadcaster Magnet.
Voted into the League
Welton & Brough III:
New third team proposing to play home games on Sundays.
Voted into the League
9. Changes to League Rules proposed by Clubs
Westow CC
New rule: It is the responsibility of each team to provide a competent scorer who must ensure that the match details are recorded accurately. Defeated
New rule: Scorers must agree details of the first innings prior to the commencement of the second innings, and agree details at the end of the match. Carried
New rule: Any club not providing a scorer will forfeit a player to act as the scorer whilst that team is fielding. Defeated
York RI CC
New rule: No bowler is allowed to bowl more than 10 overs per innings (to be considered with Management proposals below) Defeated
New rule: No bowler is allowed to bowl more than 10 overs per innings in divisions 3, 4 & 5 (to be considered with Management proposals below) Defeated
Amend 8.2: amend visitor’s teas to £30 (to be considered with Management proposal below) Carried
Pocklington CC
Amend 12.1: amend fine to cost of visitor’s teas or £30 if Management proposal to amend 8.2 adopted. Carried
Wheldrake CC
Amend 21.1 Clubs may not normally register Overseas Players. Registrations may be accepted at the discretion of the League Committee where a player has moved into the area because of non-cricket reasons. Failure to seek permission to play an Overseas Player (may result in the reallocation of league points or disqualification from cups - deleted) will result in the forfeiture of match points or disqualification from cups and a fine not exceeding £50. The 20 points for a win will be awarded to the opposing team. Carried
10. Changes to League Rules proposed by the League Management Committee
New rule
: No bowler is allowed to bowl more than 12 overs per innings. Defeated
New rule: No bowler is allowed to bowl more than 15 overs per innings. Carried
New rule: No bowler is allowed to bowl more than 12 overs per innings in divisions 3, 4 & 5.
Amend 8.2: amend to: visitor’s will not be charged for teas except in the case of cup games, when the cost will be £30. If a league game is switched to an opponent’s ground and the opponents provide tea, then the visitors will pay £30 for tea. Defeated
Amend 18:
change ‘11am the following day’ to ‘11pm of the day of the game’ Carried
Amend 20:
These junior players may only be registered to one club, regardless of league and can only play for other clubs in League games. Carried
Amend Cup 2.1: add ‘Junior players in the U16 age group and below may only play for the club with which they are registered’. Carried
New rule: Any player arriving after the start of play will not be allowed to bowl or bat until he/she has been present for at least the length of the playing time (measured by overs bowled) for which he/she was absent. However if his/her team is batting first, they may bat last even though the required time may not have passed. Carried
Amend 12.1:
add that fines are payable to the League who will distribute to clubs Carried
Amend Cup 2.11
amend fee to £20 and expenses to 30p per mile Carried
New cup rule 2.9.1:
Both teams must provide a non-playing scorer at a cup final. Failure to provide a scorer will result in a £25 fine. Carried
11. Chairman’s closing remarks