CHARLTON Down celebrated at their end-of-season youth presentation, held at the club’s pavilion.

The youth section completed their third season with a buffet, speeches and awards at the club before club captain Jae Miller congratulated the players, managers and coaches for their achievements.

They included Pete Lucas, Rich Fagence, John Harrington, Mark Akerman, Steve Jones, Stuart Dipple, Craig Robinson and Kevin Davies.

Charlton Down entered an under-11s team and two under-13s sides in the West Dorset District Leagues. The under-13s produced an excellent ECB Cup run to the semi-finals, losing to the eventual winners Martinstown.

The club also wished to send their congratulations to all the players who have now played representative district cricket during the season.

A winter indoor under-15s team is also currently playing in the West Dorset District league at the Osprey Sports Centre.

Crane and Bishop Roofing, the youth sponsors, were thanked for their continued support during the season.

Also, former Dorchester Mayor Les Phillips was thanked for his support since the inception of the youth teams at the club and presented the Les Phillips Coach Award.

Charlton Down’s Tommy Tucker, the lead coach, said “I would like to thank all the parents for transporting the children around Dorset during the summer evenings.

“Without the managers and coaches donating their time to help the youngsters play cricket, it would not be possible to offer cricket.

“The club’s youth section is growing slowly but steadily and the improvement in standard is there to be seen. It was brilliant to see the first youth players play their first match in the Saturday senior team, Elliot Rossiter and George Harfield.

“More importantly for me, as a coach, it is about the youngsters having fun and enjoying the game of cricket but increasing their skill base at the same time.

“A judge of success is that the same children return the following week and perhaps brings a friend occasionally.”

The club continues to invest in youth cricket and will turn out three youth teams in each age group (under-11s, under-13s and under-15s) in the 2016 season in the West Dorset District Youth Leagues for the first time in their history.

  • Charlton Down will be running the following events and teams in 2016: A Winter Indoor under-15s team in the West Dorset District League, at the Osprey Sports Centre.

Winter Indoor coaching sessions, starting in the first week of February for six weeks. Outdoor coaching running from mid-April at the club ground. If sufficient, there could also be an under-9s soft ball team.

The club is looking for new players and welcomes new young players of all ages. Indoor coaching starts on Monday, February 8 at 6.15pm.

If you would like to go to Charlton Down CC for some coaching and play some matches, contact the lead coach Tommy Tucker on 07810 275847, or by emailing either tommy.tucker501@btinternet.com or peter.tucker@charltondowncc.co.uk