Belhus Cricket Club

At the club's Annual Awards presentation evening, Chairman Brian Edwards paid tribute to the loyalty shown to the club by its many volunteers and thanked them for their commitment and efforts in achieving yet another successful season for the club.  Awards were presented to:

Gavin Jefferies - Saturday 1st XI Player of the Year
Michael Cansdale - Saturday 2nd XI Player of the Year
Jim Robertson - Saturday 3rd XI Player of the Year
Paul Whitlock - Saturday 4th XI Player of the Year

Joe Joyce - Sunday 1st XI Player of the Year
Mike Randall - Sunday 2nd XI Player of the Year

Daniel Dreher - Under 15s Player of the Year
Jack Martin-Hussey - Under 13s Player of the Year
Matthew Wakeling - Under 11s Player of the Year
Elliott Playle - Most Improved Young Player

Fred Taylor - Club Member of the Year

Ricki Ellis - Special Award
(pictured receiving from Brian Edwards the ball with which he took his second hat trick -  against Old Brentwoods CC - in successive league matches).

Danny Norris, Stuart Morris, Joe Joyce, Peter Clark and Michael Fogg - for their maiden centuries for the club in senior matches.

At the Shepherd Neame Essex League 2010 winners' presentation evening on 22nd October, skipper Paul Whitlock proudly received the trophy for winning Division Three East (4th XI). 


Having finished Runners-Up in the division in 2009, it was deservedly the club's first title-winning trophy for some years.



Pictured: Former Glamorgan and Sussex county player Tony Cottey congratulates Paul Whitlock on his, and the 4th XI's, successful season.

After defeating Harold Wood CC in their last Shepherd Neame Essex League match of the season, our 4th XI clinched the Division Three East title with a final, impressive total of 289 points.

Skipper Paul Whitlock led from the front by taking 6 for 37 as we dismissed Harold Wood for 95.  In the run-chase, opener Stuart Morris struck a masterly 47 to enable us to secure victory by 7 wickets.

Many congratulations to Paul and all other players who represented the 4th XI during its memorable season.

Photo: The 4th XI v Harold Wood CC:  Back (L to R): Mike Squires, Peter Clark, Barry Ruck, Stuart Morris, Lee Webber, Julie Whitlock (Scorer).  Front (L to R): ML Jnr, Darren Frampton, Nathan Turner, Paul Whitlock (Captain), Richard Waters, Mike Randall.

The club was pleased to host the Essex Over 60s match against the Victoria (Australia) Over 60s touring team from Australia.  Having been on tour in the UK since September 20th, the Aussies had played against the Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Wales Over 60s teams.  In a close, tightly-fought match, Essex emerged winners.  After the fixture at North Stifford, the tour party moved on to Spain to take part in an Over 60s cricket festival.

Sponsored by Shepherd Neame, the Over 60s County Championship has gained much popularity since it was established in the UK in 2004 (and which Essex has won twice), and Australia and other countries have followed suit.

Thanks are due to the generous sponsorship of the East London Mobile Tyre Service company, and to volunteers and numerous others who made raffle donations to ensure an  enjoyable and successful day.

Pictured: The Victoria (Australia) Over 60s team at North Stifford Village Green.

For an astonishing fourth time this season, all four XIs won their Shepherd Neame Essex League matches in an exciting climax to the SNEL season.

In becoming 4th XI Division Three East champions, victorious skipper Paul Whitlock led from the front in taking 6 for 37 against Harold Wood CC, lifting his total number of league wickets for the season to 34 and finishing leading wicket-taker in the division.

The 7 wickets win over Old Brentwoods CC enabled Steve Huckstepp's 1st XI to finish 4th in their division (5th in 2009) with a total of 212 points (182 in 2009).  Gavin Jefferies' 51  enabled him to finish leading run-scorer in Division Three (1st XI), while Richard Day  finished 5th.  Dale Kenyon and Rob Joyce both finished the season with 33 1st XI league wickets.  And Michael Fogg was the leading wicketkeeper in Division Three (1st XI) )with 20 catches and 9 stumpings.

Ben Marns stroked 80 and Jim Banner took a career-best 7 for 90 against Benfleet CC as the 3rd XI won by 18 runs.  In the process, Jim Robertson took his league runs tally to 553 and finished 3rd top run-scorer Division Three (3rd XI).  Although finishing in the same position in the table as last season, captain Paul Hall saw the 3rd XI's points total of 185 compare to 161 in 2009.

Michael Cansdale scored 101 in the 7 wickets win against Old Brentwoods CC as skipper Tom Thompson again saw the 2nd XI finish 4th in their division.  Owen Jefferies took 3 for 39 to take his total number of 2nd XI league wickets to 30, finishing 5th DivisionThree (2nd XI).

Our SNEL league season produced 13 centuries by no less than 12 different batsmen across our four XIs, and our bowlers took 16 '5 fors' or better between them - including those memorable two hat tricks by Ricki Ellis. 

By any measure, another enjoyable and moderately successful season for the club with every reason for optimism for improvement in 2011.  For full scorecards of these matches please see FIXTURES /RESULTS above.

SNEL League tables can be viewed on www.essexcricket.com

The Sunday 1st XI took 3rd place in this season's Essex Sunday League East Division - a fine improvement on last year's 7th position in this 40 overs format.

Paul Bennett was our star batsman with an impressive tally of 653 runs from just 8 innings  (2 x 100s and 4 x 50s) and clocked up the club's third highest individual score of 175* against Benfleet CC.   And in the same match, Paul and Richard Day compiled a club record 5th wicket partnership of 141 in our final score of 303 for 5.

Our leading wicket-taker was Michael Cansdale who captured 19 wickets, including a best 6 for 2 against Old Southendian & Southchurch CC.

Another highlight was when we chased down Basildon & Pitsea's total of 273 for 5 in 37 overs.  Michael Fogg registered his first century (108*) in senior cricket, and with Joe Joyce making 69, and Paul Bennett 78, we finished on 274 for 2 - the club's second highest winning score when batting second.

So congratulations are due to captain Chris Baker and all others who played in this successful Sunday team.

Our Under 13A team finished second in the Group stages of the SEDCB U13 competition, with an impressive average points score of 27.88 - the second highest of the 26 participating South Essex clubs.

After defeating Leigh-on-Sea CC in the semi-final, we met Hadleigh & Thundersley CC in the Final (played at Benfleet CC) but weren't quite able to repeat our previous oustanding performances.  Skipper Sam Hall and his team had to settle for the Runners-Up slot after a sound performance by our opponents who proved worthy winners on the day.

Well done boys and we look forward to an even more successful season in 2011.

The club's 2010 Cricket Week was blessed with glorious sunny days throughout the entire week - we lost three and won three of our six matches with a number of memorable performances.  Many players represented the club during the Week and our thanks are extended to the match sponsors, caterers, scorers, umpires, ground staff and numerous others who made the week a great success.

Sunday 29th August
Belhus Present v Belhus Past
(Lost by 125 runs)

Monday 30th August
Belhus XI v Dartfordians CC
(Won by 3 Wickets)

Tuesday 31st August
Belhus XI v Essex Over 60s
(Won by 6 Wickets)

Wednesday 1st September
Belhus XI v Hornchurch Athletic CC
(Lost by 2 Wickets)

Thursday 2nd September
Belhus XI v Prague CC (Czech Republic)
(Won by 5 Wickets)

Friday 3rd September
Belhus XI v Ardleigh Green CC
(Lost by 9 Wickets).

Due to the success of the Week, it is planned to arrange another in 2011 and a Cricket Week  will hopefully become a regular annual event on the calender of the club.

Pictured: The Past XI
Back: Terry Lambert, Mark Winter, Dean Bettles, Wayne Read, Tony Lincoln, Robert Waters.
Front: Richard Waters, Steve Huckstepp, Jim Robertson, John Forrest, Matthew Lewis Snr.

For the full Programme for the Week, please see Cricket Week Programme 2010

To mark our 50th Anniversary, the Thurrock Museum is staging a mini-exhibition to acknowledge the club's outstanding achievements since its formation in 1960.

From Saturday 7th August through to October, the Museum (on the 1st Floor, Thameside Complex, Orsett Road, Grays - car park is in Cromwell Road) will be displaying various club memorabilia and is open to the public between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday (closed Bank Holiday Monday, 30th August).

The Museum's first ever sport-related public display pays tribute to the club's loyal and dedicated volunteers and players who have built one of the most successful sports clubs in the borough.

Congratulations to all members, past and present, who have contributed so much over the past 50 years.