Cornwall County Cricket Club Annual General Meeting Wed 5th March 2008

Cornwall Under 21’s manager Dick Collins was warmly thanked by the President, the Reverend Canon Ken Rogers, at the Cornwall County Cricket Club’s 105th Annual Meeting held at Truro. Mr Collins stood down after being part of the managerial set up of the club’s development teams for the last eight years. Former Cornwall player, and respected coach, Sean Hooper was elected to succeed him as the new Under 21’s manager.

All other officers were re-elected unopposed with Tom Sharp set to skipper the club for the seventh successive season. Only Harry Tresawna and Noel Dorning have skippered the club for longer periods in the club’s history. In presenting the Committee’s Report the Chairman Col. Ronnie Potts reflected on a season that saw five of the six championship matches seriously affected by rain. Games against Shropshire and Berkshire were reduced to one day affairs. Cornwall won two, lost three and drew one game to finish seventh in the Western Division – their lowest finish since 2001. However another 13 points would had seen a top three finish.

Col. Potts congratulated the batting performances of youngsters Matt Robins, who averaged 38.5 and Alex Smeeth in his debut season. Rob Harrison had an excellent season with the ball and was the third highest wicket taker in the entire Championship with 28 wickets. Tom Sharp and Martin Jenkin also enjoyed good all round seasons. Sharp was also honoured to be selected to captain the Minor Counties Representative XI in games against the MCC and the Australian tourists the Victoria Emerging Players XI at Trowbridge.

Treasurer Keith Hore reported that the club’s accounts had shown a welcome profit of £11,100. The lack of a professional and extra ECB funding, gained by keeping the average age below 26, had been significant. He warned though there was no room for complacency and that the prospects did not look so promising for 2008. Income looked likely to be reduced and there would be inevitable increases in expenditure with trips scheduled to Cheshire, Berkshire, Herefordshire, Wiltshire and Dorset.

The President presented Rob Harrison with the Canynge Caple Cup as the outstanding cricketer of 2007. Alex Smeeth received the Canynge Caple Colt’s (Under 21’s) Cup. The Arthur Lugg Cup for outstanding services was presented to Col. Ronnie Potts, in recognition of his years of service to the club. The Caerhays Cup, for the highest partnership of the season, went to Chris Hunkin and Alex Smeeth for their stand of 149 against Wiltshire at Corsham. The ‘Donald Cocks Cup’ for fielding was won by Chris Hunkin for the second successive year. The Ron Tither Memorial Cup for Under 21 bowling was made to Alex Taylor (Truro).

Elected Officers: President - Revd. Canon K Rogers; Chairman - Col. R.W. Potts; Hon. Secretary - Mrs Anita George MBE, J.P., Hon. Treasurer - K. Hore J.P.; Captain - T.G. Sharp. Team Sec / Manager - G.R. Furse; Under 21's Manager – S. Hooper;

The County’s 2008 season begins on the weekend of 19th & 20th April with warm up games against Cardiff University at Grampound Road and the Under 21’s at Truro. The MCCA Trophy Group games begin the following week Sunday 27th April with a trip to Devizes to meet Wiltshire. Other Trophy games follow against Berkshire at Camborne on May 4th, Herefordshire at Colwall on May 11th and Devon at St Just on June 1st. There is an extra incentive this year with a quarter-final round being added thus the top two from each group will now qualify for the knock out stages.

The first Championship game of the season is on June 8th against Berkshire at Newbury. Home games follow with Shropshire at Truro, Herefordshire at St Austell and Wales Minor Counties at Falmouth before trips to Bournemouth to play Dorset and Nantwich to take on last year’s champions Cheshire in a tough finish. -ends-