SANDFORD skipper Richard Foan has been named player of the year in the Tolchards Devon Cricket League.

League officials put Moore’s Foan’s at the top of the short list when they sat down at the end of the season to sift through the young talent in the competition.

Foan led the team to promotion from the A Division in his first season as captain, hitting 906 runs in the process.

The award was handed over by new Devon League chairman Nick Rogers at the competition’s annual meeting in Exeter.

Foan had no idea he was in line for the award and wasn’t at the event, staged at the Exeter Court Hotel.

Luckily for family pride, Foan’s dad Mike was at the meeting, representing his club Cheriton Fitzpaine

“I wish I could have been there to collect the award myself and say a few words thanking the team for all the support they gave me on and off the field during the season,” said Foan.

“It was a fantastic season for the club on and off the field. Everyone puts in a massive effort to make sure the club is run properly and that shows with not just winning the A Division but club of the year as well.”

It was a good night for Sandford as they won the club of the season award for the third year running and the sixth time in the last eight years.

End-of-season awards were handed out at the end of the meeting, the first since the death of former chairman Stuart Munday.

Rogers, who has played for Hatherleigh, was nominated by a selection panel for the job last month, His appointment was ratified without dissent by the meeting,

Rogers told the meeting Munday would be a hard act to follow but he is relishing the challenge.

“Stuart put in a huge effort into the Devon Cricket League, the county club and the David Shepherd Cricket Trust and will be irreplaceable,” said Rogers.

“The executive recognised the workload needed to be shared and jobs such as fund-raising have been delegated to people well qualified to do it.

“Friends persuaded me being chairman of the DCL is something I would enjoy.

“I consider it an honour and a privilege to be chairman of an organisation that does so much for a sport I feel passionate about.”

Member clubs heard the league was in a healthy state financially and made a surplus of £5,280 in the last accounting period. Subscriptions will remain at 2017 levels next year.

Four new teams were elected to the league for 2018: Cheriton Fitzpaine, Lustleigh, Babbacombe 3rd XI and Exmouth 3rd XI.

A number of teams have pulled out, among them Chagford 3rd XI, Lewdown 2nd XI and Ottery 3rd XI.  Sampford Peverell and Tiverton have merged.

Clubs nodded through a new constitution and playing regulations provisionally approved at divisional meetings.

Some fine-tuning took place, including amendments to the new rules and regulations.

Fielding circles and a five-outside rule was voted in for the C, D and E Divisions. They already apply to the Premier, A and B Divisions.

Earlier this year clubs agreed to an all-through league – 1st and 2nd XIs together instead of in separate leagues – but had some tidying up to do. How far should 2nd XIs be allowed to rise.

Clubs agreed to cap 2nd XI progress at B Division level. Exeter’s representative Bruce Coleman said the ceiling may need raising if the B Division becomes clogged up with 2nd XIs after a few years.

As well as trophies for divisional winners, individual achievements were also recognised.

Teenage all-rounder Jack Moore from Barnstaple & Pilton CC was named young player of the yaer.

Moore, who is 15 and attends Pilton Community College, batted first wicket down for B&P in the D Division East.

He totted up 614 league runs at an average of 61.4 – and chipped in with 17 wickets as well.

There are some impressive names on the Bob Bridges Trophy that goes with the award, including future England Test stars Chris Read (Paignton) and Mark Lathwell (Braunton).

Bideford, Exeter and Sandford, in their case for the third year running, were selected as club of the year in their divisions based on umpires marks.

North Devon’s Ed Yeo, Hatherleigh’s Mark Lake and Ottery’s Will Harrison topped the captaincy markings. Harrison had a mark of 99.6 per cent over the season.

Recently retired administrators Gavin Lane and Nigel Piddock were elected as life members of the league in recognition of services rendered.

Sheila Harding, secretary of Topsham St James, won the league’s services to cricket award, now known as the Stuart Munday Memorial Cup.

Sheila has been part of the league’s results team for six years and is also part of the cup organising committee – see separate story.