The day arrived that all at the Jolly Tanners Cricket Club had been waiting for.....the Cricket Dinner.

On this year's menu was a succulent Steak and Kidney Pudding with Green Beans, Carrots and Mashed Spuds, lovely. Followed by a Cheese Board, yes it did have cheese on it! Plus a rounding up of last season's antic's by the world famous Cricketers of the Jolly Tanners.

To start with….a slight moan chaps and lasses. Out of 33 members, less than half turned up to the event of the year. Yes, only 15 turned up to eat, with a couple turning up a tad later (who had already said they were not eating!!). However another 5 did say they were coming….but didn't, slapped wrists all round for those who didn't have a reasonable excuse! This was only Gill who was very poorly! Still between the 15 of us we still managed to eat 20 meals!!

A second to start with..on a sad note, we all toasted David Dunbell, who sadly passed away around Christmas time. A member who played on occasions for the JT's with great zealous and pride. He played so well for us that he was unable to play last year due to an injury that was caused during one of our games. Through Ron, who made a great speech, we sent our commiserations to his family and wish them well in the future.

After the scrumptious meal we got down to the serious part of the evening…the awards.

We started by giving some well earned flowers to Sue Petersen who not only does our scoring for us but finds the time to prepare some fantastic teas!! A lovely bunch of flowers was presented to her by Kevin with all our grateful thanks.

Another bunch of flowers was presented to Ron…to give to Gill for all her help during the season in the clubhouse on match days, again presented by Kevin with all our grateful thanks.

Kevin also presented a lovely box of chocolates to Ian for the absent Rachel; these were for her help in preparing the tea on more than one occasion when Sue was unable to make the teas. Thanks Rachel. Hope to see more of you in 2008?

When I went through the stats it soon became clear that there was only one name to be considered...Ian Cowell.

He has been superb all year round. Ian consistently out-scored everybody by a country mile in all aspects of the game. He scored more runs, he took more wickets, he took more catches and hurt my hands behind the stumps with more of his long throw's than anybody else's!

It was my pleasure to present Ian with the Jolly Tanners 'All Round Cricketer Award' for 2007. Well done Ian, I hope your shoulder gets better in time for the 2008 season! Believe me; we will miss you if it doesn't!

I then went through the season's 'Champagne Moments'.

The first was to Richard Brock….or would have been if he had been there! This was for the game against The Witch, whilst he was strolling around the boundary, supposedly fielding, when he met up with Keith holding his baby. Richard went “How lovely…can I hold her?” Keith duly obliged, but the next moment he had a decision to make…a ball was sent high into the sky towards him and his decision was, and you could see this in his mind as he looked at the baby, the ball, the baby, which one do I do, fortunately for the baby he decided to hold on to it! Richard, your award was presented in your absence and is…a baby of your own for the 'Decision of the Season'.

The next award was presented to Brian Griffin. This was during the 'David versus Goliath' match against Staplefield. Brian made a superb one-handed catch that would not have looked out of place at Lord's well done Brian. A fish was presented as the 'Catch of the Season'.

Now, the next award was for a sublime dive. It would not have looked out of place on a football pitch! In fact I do hear that Doug is teaching the Premiership players! Doug this is for you mainly because I was bowling at the time and you saved a certain four, many thanks. Doug was awarded his very own diver to practice with for the 'Dive of the Season'.

If Frazer had of been at the dinner, he would have been also presented with a 'Catch of the Season' fish award as another 'Champagne Moment' was his two superb catches against the Rose and Crown. I am sure we will save a 'plaice' for him next year. Good catches though Frazer, well done.

One of my favourite Champagne Moments of the season was against the JTCC Odds and Sods. This was when I was behind the wickets umpiring. In front of the wickets was Georgia Salvage, Dave Fairchild came up with a lovely ball which Georgia only just missed and it hit her on the pads and shot down the wicket. Georgia daintily went for a run with Dave calling “Owzat!” I gave “Not out” and Georgia, bless her, asked “Why not!?” A cracking blond moment if I ever saw/heard one! Georgia was presented with a bat and Barbie Doll for the 'Blond Moment of the Season Award'. I hope we see more of you this year Georgia.

There were other Champagne Moments such as when we were playing Shortland's Golf Club, and Angus 'Son of Ian, Grandson of Doug' Cowell clean bowled Ron. Your face was a picture Ron, but you don't get awards for looks, not in cricket! If I could have awarded a team prize for our fielding against The Cuckfield Taverners' I would have done, it was fantastic. We will of course be fielding like that in 2008, won't we fellers?

However, the Champagne Moment of the Season Award went for an incident which I am sure is unique in cricket. If you can imagine a cricket field with batsmen in place as are the fielders.

Suddenly a shout goes up from the crowd 'Zack are you warm enough, you haven't got much on!' Now Zack is a proud young man all of 15-16 and all he wanted to do was dig a hole and disappear..but he knew that it would spoil the outfield.

Zack replied very politely 'No thanks MUM I'M FINE'. We all thought that was that… but about ten minutes later Jo Chambers is seen running onto the pitch with a jumper for Zack! Zack duly put on the jumper whilst everybody else was on the floor creased up.

The award for this sublime moment in motherly love was a shirt for Zack, long may he wear it! Jo, you were fantastic, fancy a job as the team's Physio?

The evening was rounded off with a cheer and we all look forward to 2008 with great expectations…we are going to win more than a third of our matches aren't we?!

Thanks for a great season lads and lasses it was a pleasure to lead you into the fro.

Gary Ireland
Capt JTCC