29th September 2023
| Mark Frost
On Wednesday 27th September we celebrated some of the 191 clubs across Wales volunteers who are the heroes that make up the Cricket Wales’ 2023 Volunteers’ Awards Event.
Held during the Glamorgan match against Derbyshire, over 70 nominees and guests enjoyed the cricket and a thank you meal to mark their amazing work to drive our game and make it flourish.
The volunteers’ efforts are especially significant given the recent announcement of the annual clubs’ audit of participation report which makes encouraging reading. The event also took place during #NationalInclusionWeek so it was especially heartening to see such a diverse range of nominees and winners across Wales.
The event’s awards were presented by Tom Bevan from Glamorgan, CEO Leshia Hawkins; Keri Chahal, Southwest Area Manager; Rachel Warrenger, Women’s & Girls’ Officer, North Wales, and Victoria Jones, Facilities Investment Manager.
Have a look at this short film of the day below or click here and some of the winners' comments
The winners and nominees are:
Growing the Game:
Winner: Adnan Haddadi:
Adnan took on the huge task in 2020 of becoming secretary for one of the biggest leagues in the rec game. With 14 divisions, over 140+ teams the day to day admin for administering such a big league is a task in itself. With the growth of cricket in Wales Adnan is always on hand to help clubs find friendly fixtures when availability allows, he’s often looking for alternative grounds or space capacity for these types of fixtures to take place. answering day 2 day questions for clubs when needed along with managing the SEWCL management group. Adnan keeps the management committee in shape each month with at times a large meeting pack to keep the meetings on point and stick to agenda item times. Without Adnan steering the ship along, with other great volunteers, the league wouldn’t be where it is today and growing. Additionaly Adnan is the secretary for his Club Llandaff CC.
Nominees Paul White-Pembroke CC; Richard Jones- Newport Fugitives CC; Matthew Pritchard-Northop Hall CC; Luke Ingham Sudbrook CC; Peter Doyle-Tata Steel CC; Carys Stallard Vale CC.
Inspired to play:
Winner: Lisa Dwerryhouse-Llandeilo Cricket Club:
Lisa’s story is a remarkable effort in inspiring women and children to taking up the game she loves. Lisa has recently taken up her core coach qualification, been player coach of the Llandeilo Red Kites (women's soft ball), assistant coach of the Llandeilo under 11's team; ever present at All Stars and Dynamo's training sessions; Lisa’s focus on fun and team spirit as well as cricketing skills whilst maintaining flexibility to allow as many women as possible to attend sessions whatever their work or family commitments. Lisa is now vice chair of the club and assistant coach of neighbouring club Ammanford Cricket clubs under 11's girls’ team.
Nominees: Jason Jones-Clwb Criced Y Bala; Matty Lloyd-Llanrwst CC; Nicola Morgan-Newbridge CC; Darren Jeffs-Newport Fugitives CC; Rob Felvus-Newport Fugitives CC; Dyfed Williams-Pwllheli CC
Rising Star:
Winner: David Owen-Clwb Criced Porthaethwy
David has been helping to coach the club's All Stars & Dynamos groups within the club for the past 3 years, he rarely misses a session. His temperament and genuine niceness shown to the children is fantastic. This has seen dozens of children continue into the clubs under 9 & 11 teams, whilst enjoying their cricket in a fun filled and safe environment. David also assists in coaching the under 9,11,13 and 15's teams at the club. If he isn't coaching, then he is helping to score or umpire within these games. During 2022 he was the 1st team scorer at the club, whilst also playing for the club's 2nd & 3 rd XI teams. This season he has been playing for both the 2nd & 3 rd XI, whilst also playing for the midweek team. He has also captained the 3 rd XI for a few games this season, in the process helping to guide and nurture the youngsters within the 3 rd XI in a calm and relaxed manner. David also helps out at the club's ladies coaching sessions occasionally. He also assisted with an Urdd festival which saw over 150 children participate in at the club.
Nominees; Luke Marriott-Llandudno CC; Leo Foster-Llandudno CC.
Safe Hands:
Winner: Derek Picken-Rogerstone CC
Derek has been tireless in his commitment to ensure that safeguarding compliance is met to the highest standard across the league. Derek has consistently worked to educate others on the importance of ensuring we have the right people and has helped to promote safeguarding in cricket.
Nominees Adam Lane-Blaina Junior CC; Joe Lambe-Llandudno CC; Nerys Saunders-Ynystawe CC.
Unsung Hero:
Winner: Sean Hannon-Neyland CC
Sean dedicates most of his time to Neyland Cricket Club, if he is not leading the 1st team, he is supporting others in the 2nd and 3rd team to give everyone an equal opportunity and supporting in the progression of the younger members and being a positive role model across all 3 teams. Coordinating Training sessions and giving all an equal opportunity to be involved in cricket. Sean also captains successfully the Pembrokeshire County Team. Sean also organises and coordinates All Stars programme with almost 30 children attending giving up several weeks to get children into cricket and sharing his love and passion with them. Engaging all in the sessions while also coordination help and support from players, committee and parents. Sean is also going to support with an up and coming Under 9's team including an all-stars team into this.
Sean also coordinates fundraising and conducts a monthly draw which brings in vital funds for the club and is an active committee member regularly attending committee meetings and being a great role model in all crickets related activities he is part of.
Nominees Mike Devoy-Glangrwyney CC; Tom Thornton-Llandudno CC; Luke Butler-Pembroke CC; Chris Hamilton-Swansea CC; Bob Gilbert-Vale CC.
Volunteer Grounds Management Team of the Year:
Winners: Dai Snelson, Darren Smith, John Wade, Paul Gilbert + Kenny Thomas -Vale CC Grounds Team
This team of volunteers have worked together for several years looking after Vale CC and Wick CC (where our 3rd XI play). Both grounds have improved year on year. Our main ground in Corntown receives lots of positive comments and the team are proud of their achievements. One of the team travels from Ely, to help us twice weekly and another member of the team is 70+. In total this team delivers over 40 hours of volunteering every week. Over the season that equates to just under 1000 hours of work. The ground in Corntown is used for a growing number of junior, women and girls and senior fixtures and the team prepare tracks for U9 festivals right through to senior league and representative games. In addition to working on the ground two of our volunteers have mechanical and electrical skills and these are used to help maintain our equipment and club assets. The club is very lucky to have this ground team.
Nominees Peter Coleman-Barry Wanderers; George Richards-Cresselly CC; Mark Hughes-Llandudno CC; David Tibbs-Whitchurch Heath CC.
Lifetime Achiever:
Winner David Kay-Hawarden Park CC
David (Dave) has been scorer/secretary/groundsperson/and most other things for HPCC for the past 64 years (yes, he first scored at the age of 12!) only missing a handful of fixtures during that time. Dave had been a club and league committee member during these years and has given his life to cricket in North Wales. Scoring for the county for over 30 years, Dave now dedicates his Sundays to scoring for the HPCC ladies’ team. He is always on had to offer support to every member of the club and community.
Nominees Tim Flack-Chirk CC; Keith Hughes-Menai Bridge & North Wales; Paul Donovan-Tata Steel CC; Gareth Keenor-Whitchurch Heath CC.
The ‘Extra Mile’ - Cricket Wales Special Award
Winner: Carys Stallard:
Carys has been as active volunteer at Vale Cricket Club for over 10 years. Initially Carys helped with the junior section as our junior coordinator following her boys through the junior section. Carys’ work at that time laid the foundation for our junior section numbering close to 200 today. Over the past 4-5 years Carys has become a director of Vale CC and has championed our Women and Girls section growing it to a 25+ strong group playing soft and hard ball cricket. Carys has a passion for getting girls and women involved in cricket and has said that at Vale CC women playing cricket alongside men has been normalised. Well, that’s due to Carys and the work she has led introducing dynamos cricket, encouraging W&G to join the club and being a great ambassador for the women€™women’s game. Carys has freely offered her journalistic and Welsh language skills to help this club grow and become the club it is today. Carys is currently helping the club with its marketing and is a member of our grants team who have raised over £75k in the last 6 years. Without Carys we would not have a junior section numbering 200 today and a W&G’s section that is growing weekly as mums and young ladies give cricket a go. Diolch Carys
Connecting Communities
Winner: Guy Browett:
Guy started All Stars and Dynamos in 2022. Think we started with 10/11 kids now we're up too nearly 30 not all joined as all-stars/dynamos as we try to help under privileged kids in the area. He's giving his own time over and over and as a result we've had invite off a couple of junior schools in the area to run free sessions and also had girls guiding Cymru and the Brownies recently doing sessions. On top of all that he's the club secretary/player and gives his all to move the club in the right direction and bring cricket to one of the most deprived areas in R.C.T.
Nominees Upper Rhondda Women’s Cricket Club
Game Changer
Winner Euan Murphy Malpas CC
Euan is 18 years of age and took a significant responsibility of Volunteering to be Head of Ground for Malpas Cricket Club after the retirement of the old team we had in place. Euan has shown immense drive and determination to better himself in this field. Euan has managed to support Glamorgan on game days and also looked to share his knowledge by agreeing to host the Groundkeepers’ Workshops at Malpas.
Tackling Climate Change
Winners: Gareth Ryan and Gareth Williams
St Asaph Cricket Club’s players and members are indebted to the sterling efforts of the two nominees as they have both made and continue to make major contributions to the state of the art playing and off the field facilities at the Club. Gareth Ryan drives the projects once Gareth Williams has been successful in obtaining the necessary grant funding. Thanks to their continued drive and forward thinking the Club became one of the first clubs in Wales to take the step into renewable energy and as a result are forward thinking in terms of sustainability. The project is a major short-term solution to reduce the significant increase in energy that we are currently experiencing, but just as importantly will play a significant part in the Tackling Climate Change agenda by reducing our carbon footprint. This ensures that our Club can continue to grow, whilst at the same time safeguarding the future of the Club for the next generations of players. Our Club has now got a very successful All Stars programme and teams at all age group levels. The intention is to form a ladies/girl’s section next season with three taster sessions being organised for August 2023.
Cricket Innovator
Winner Nerys Saunders: Ynystawe CC
Enter Ynystawe Cricket Club and you will immediately have a clear picture of the safeguarding work Nerys has done for our club. A collage of safeguarding work done by all 7 junior age groups spread over a large notice board area. Nerys asked each team to undertake a piece of work setting out how they will behave within the club and what they expect on return. A truly inspirational piece of work and a visual aid that Nerys Saunders worked so hard to deliver. Nerys is currently working on a second piece of innovative work by QR coding all our safeguarding policies and associated ECB guidelines. This is another first and brings us into a truly modern era of communication. Nerys hopes to launch this into the wider safeguarding community once it's fine tuned.
She is so much more than a safeguarding officer though: -
- A key member of our executive whose wider knowledge and expertise is truly valued.
- Captains our lady’s 2nd XI that won their division in 2022.
- Scorer for our 3rd team
- Mum of two boys who play for the club and husband who coaches our u13s.
- Hugely successful schoolteacher of repute.
Nerys Saunders lights up any room she walks into.
Junior Groundskeeper
Winner George R: Cresselly CC
A special Cricket Wales Award
This summer George has been allowed to help more, especially after attending his two groundsman courses. He spent the whole day at the field for the Harrison Allan Final and every day the week before assisting the boys in getting not only the wicket but the outfield and the rest of the ground ready. He also helped during our junior presentation night so that everything was set for the cup final.
Credit has to be given to the ground staff at Cresselly who have not only encouraged and helped George develop, they have also shared their vital knowledge without ever looking at George as a 10 year old.
Whether George is playing cricket for Cresselly, West Wales or whether it is working on the field, it ignites something in him, it’s not a chore, it’s fun and exciting and I cannot see this ever changing for him. He is certainly a grafter who’s not afraid to put in the time and effort or get his hands dirty and we are certainly very proud of what he has achieved at such a young age.
A huge congratulations to all of these amazing people who make our game run so well. Quite simply, you are the backbone of Cricket in Wales and without you we would have no game.
If you have missed out on nominating someone special in your club this year, please make sure you do it next year so they can be recognised nationally.
To find out about coaching courses or officiating courses this autumn winter visit these links.