COLCHESTER and East Essex Cricket Club celebrated an excellent season in 2022 with their awards evening.

The first team finished third in the Hamro Foundation Essex Cricket League premier division and the Ladies also finished third in their league.

In addition, Colchester's under-19 team won the Essex T20 cup for the third time in four years (Covid stopped a year).

Following this success and a huge off-the-field development in redeveloped pavilion and additional changing rooms, the club is heralding a new era.

It is focused on winning both leagues within three years and hoping to create a third XI and finally to tempt Essex back to play some form of festival cricket, at Castle Park.

Colchester and East Essex Cricket Club have high aspirations for the future and the awards evening reflected a super 2022.

They were delighted to welcome back club legend Graham Napier to say a few words and present the awards and the evening was a great success.

Colchester were also proud to have so many past club legends sponsor awards - the Topley family, Lorrie Austin, Ben Foakes, Tom Blundell, Beth Barrett-Wild and a famous local club The Gents of Essex, who first played at Castle Park in 1908.

Colchester and East Essex award winners: U11 Under 11 Club Player of the Year the Lorrie Austin: Austin Brook; U12 Under 12 Club Player of the Year: Alfie Youngs; U13 Under 13 Club Player of the Year: Harrison Brook; U16 Gents of Essex U16 Young Player of the Year: Dan Gladwell; U16 Lorrie Austin U16 Sportsperson of the Year: Jacob Drew; Beth Barrett-Wild Girls Club Player of the Year: Amelia Shean; Ladies Award Blundell Womens Batter of the Year: Beth Dodd; Ladies Award Topley family Women’s Bowler of the Year: Beth Dodd; Ladies Award Beth Barrett-Wild Players Player of the Year: Bella Johnson; Mens Award Tom Blundell Batter of the Year: Joe MacGregor; Mens Award Topley family Bowler of the Year: Dan Thacker; Mens Award Lorrie Austin Most Improved Player of the Year: Guy Haines; Mens Award Gents of Essex Players Player of the Year: Joe MacGregor; Mens Award Ben Foakes Best All-Rounder of the Year: Josh Elliott; Mens 2nd Team 2nd Team Batter of the Year: Ollie Hills; Mens 2nd Team 2nd Team Bowler of the Year: Kieran Savill; Mens 2nd Team 2nd Team Players Player of the Year: Jacob Drew; The Andrew Kennedy Club Person of the Year: Trudie Dodd; Graham Napier medal for best performance to win a match: Ollie Burle.