Sessay CC 2026 Dinner
A cricket season is measured in runs, wickets, catches and results, but a club season is built on much more than scorecards. It is built on players who keep turning up, volunteers who give their time, families who support from the boundary, and the shared moments that bring everyone together after the final ball has been bowled.
On 3 October, the club came together for the annual cricket dinner to celebrate the achievements of players from the senior sections of the club. It was a chance to recognise performances across the Sessay, Sessay Emeralds and Sessay Raskelf teams, and to thank the many people who helped make the evening, and the season, possible.
The awards reflected a wide spread of talent across the club. From batting and bowling honours to fielding, improvement, outstanding performances and service to the club, the evening showed the strength and depth of the senior setup.
Photos from the evening can be viewed in the club’s Flickr albums here: Sessay Cricket Club photos.
A night to recognise the whole senior club
The annual dinner gave the club a moment to pause and look back on the season as a whole. Across the senior sections, players contributed in different ways. Some produced key innings. Some delivered match-turning spells. Others lifted standards in the field, improved throughout the year, or worked quietly behind the scenes for the good of their teammates.
That range matters. A cricket club does not run on individual performances alone. It needs commitment across every team, from the 1st XI through to developing sides and age-group pathways. It needs senior players setting standards, younger players gaining experience, and volunteers keeping everything moving.
The Sessay Cricket Dinner Celebrates Senior Awards and Club Achievements by bringing those parts of the club together in one room. It gives proper recognition to the people whose efforts can otherwise pass quickly once the season ends.
Awards nights are also a reminder of how many stories sit behind a season. A batting award may reflect many hours at the crease, often under pressure. A bowling award may reflect consistency, control and persistence across months of cricket. A fielding award may come from moments that changed games but did not always dominate the headlines.
The dinner made space for all of those contributions.
Senior batting and bowling awards celebrate consistency and impact
The main batting and bowling awards recognised standout performers across the senior teams. These awards are often among the most closely followed, as they reflect the players who have made repeated contributions with bat and ball throughout the season.
Team | Batting award | Bowling award |
Sessay 1st XI | Ayana Siriwardhana | Will Jenkins |
Sessay Emeralds 1st XI | Ophelia Watson | Amy Burton |
Sessay 2nd XI | Chris Till | Dave Johnson |
Sessay Emeralds 2nd XI | Jessica England | Chloe Pearson |
Sessay Raskelf 1st XI | Amy Burton | Matt Burn |
Sessay Emeralds 3rd XI | J. Marshall | Isla McCormack |
Sessay Raskelf 2nd XI | Martin Cook | Nancy Brammall Smith |
Sessay Emeralds U19s | Clare Fairclough | Jasmine Passman |
These awards show how broad the player base has become across the club. Recognition went to players from men’s, women’s and development sides, with the Emeralds teams strongly represented across both senior and U19 cricket.
For the Sessay 1st XI, Ayana Siriwardhana received the batting award and Will Jenkins received the bowling award. Both honours recognise the value of match-winning skills at the top level of the senior club.
For Sessay Emeralds 1st XI, Ophelia Watson took the batting award, while Amy Burton took the bowling award. Amy’s name appeared again later in the awards list, reflecting an impressive all-round contribution across the season.
The Sessay 2nd XI awards went to Chris Till for batting and Dave Johnson for bowling. Dave would also receive one of the club’s major honours later in the evening, making it a particularly memorable night for him.
In the Sessay Emeralds 2nd XI, Jessica England received the batting award and Chloe Pearson received the bowling award. For the Sessay Raskelf 1st XI, Amy Burton was recognised for batting, while Matt Burn received the bowling award.
The Sessay Emeralds 3rd XI awards went to J. Marshall for batting and Isla McCormack for bowling. In the Sessay Raskelf 2nd XI, Martin Cook received the batting award and Nancy Brammall Smith received the bowling award.
The Emeralds U19s awards recognised the next stage of the club’s playing pathway. Clare Fairclough received the batting award and Jasmine Passman received the bowling award, highlighting the talent coming through the senior and youth sections.
Together, these awards tell a strong story. There was not just one team carrying the season. Performances came from across the club, with players contributing in different competitions, formats and team environments.
Improvement and outstanding performances received special recognition
Not every award is about topping a batting chart or leading a wicket list. Some honours recognise progress, character, effort and moments that stand out long after the scorebook has been closed.
The most improved awards celebrated players who made clear progress during the season. James Margerison received the Men’s Most Improved award, while Georgi Houseman received the Emeralds Most Improved award.
Improvement awards are always important within a club setting. They recognise players who have worked hard, listened, adapted and raised their level. That kind of development strengthens the whole club, because it encourages others to keep improving too.
The Brian Cooper Outstanding Performance award went jointly to Aidan Gaunt-Edwards and Lee Margerison. This award recognised the match winning 10th wicket partnership of over 90 runs against South Milford in August.
Fielding also had its own place on the night, as it should. Runs saved, pressure built and chances taken can decide matches just as much as runs scored or wickets taken. The Fielding awards went to James Banks and Zintle Kula, while the Catching Cup was awarded to Joe Watson.
These honours send a clear message about the standards valued by the club. Batting and bowling win attention, but fielding builds pressure, supports bowlers and changes games. Recognising fielders properly helps keep that part of the game at the centre of team culture.
Club service awards honoured the people who give more
Every cricket club relies on people who do far more than turn up on match day. Some take on jobs no one sees. Some support others without looking for attention. Some keep the standards, spirit and practical side of the club moving week after week.
The Derek Watson Unsung Hero award went to Louis Luck. This award carries a special meaning because it recognises contribution that can often happen quietly. The unsung work matters. It creates the conditions for everyone else to enjoy their cricket.
The Sidney Till Club Person of the Year award went to Dave Johnson. This is one of the most meaningful honours at any club dinner, because it goes beyond playing performance. It recognises commitment, service and the positive effect someone has on the wider club.
Dave’s evening also included the Sessay 2nd XI Bowling award, making his recognition both on and off the field especially notable.
Awards like these are often the ones that stay in people’s minds. They remind everyone that a successful club is not measured only by league tables. It is also measured by who helps, who supports, who takes responsibility and who makes the club a better place for others.
That is especially true at a club with several senior sections. The more teams a club has, the more moving parts there are. Someone has to organise, prepare, encourage, tidy, communicate and help when needed. The dinner gave the club the chance to say thank you properly.
The evening depended on volunteers and helpers
A successful club dinner does not happen by accident. It takes planning, preparation and plenty of work before, during and after the event.
Special thanks went to Stephen Langstaff, Rachael Langstaff, Sarah BH, Charlotte Pipes and Gillian Jackson for setting up. Their work helped create the right setting for the evening and ensured the event was ready for everyone to enjoy.
Thanks also went to all those who presented awards. Presenting awards is more than reading names from a list. It helps give each achievement the recognition it deserves and adds to the sense of occasion for players, families and supporters.
The club also thanked Louise Bumby and team for the catering. Food is a big part of any annual dinner, and good catering helps make the evening feel relaxed, enjoyable and well organised.
Matthew Jackson was thanked for running the bar, another key part of the night that helped the event flow smoothly.
There was also appreciation for everyone who helped clear up after the event. Clearing up is rarely the most glamorous job, but it is one of the most important. It is the kind of work that shows the practical strength of a club community.
Those thanks matter because they show what sits underneath the awards. On the night, the trophies and certificates rightly take the spotlight. Around them are the volunteers and helpers who make the evening possible in the first place.
A season remembered through people, not just results
The annual cricket dinner gave the club a fitting way to close the season and recognise the efforts of its senior players. It also reflected the spirit of a club with many different teams contributing to one shared identity.
The list of winners showed quality across the senior sections. The special awards highlighted improvement, outstanding performances, fielding excellence, quiet service and all-round commitment. The thanks given to organisers, caterers, bar staff, presenters and helpers showed the depth of support behind the scenes.
That balance is what makes an awards night feel meaningful. It is not only about who scored the most runs or took the most wickets. It is about recognising the full range of contributions that helped shape the season.
Congratulations to all award winners, and thank you to everyone who played a part in the evening and the wider season. The dinner on 3 October was a celebration of cricket, commitment and club spirit, and it gave the senior sections a well-earned chance to look back with pride.
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