AT the recent 2015 Presentation Awards evening of the Shepherd Neame Essex League (the ECB Accredited Premier cricket league in Essex) held at the Mount Banqueting Suite, Hutton, 21 years old Joe Joyce of Belhus scooped two of the prestigious individual awards.
Out of more than 1,500 players who participate in the league, Joe was not only the fastest batsman to reach 500 runs, he was the highest run-scorer in the league with a total of 1,138 runs (including 5 centuries). Joe impressed the evening’s guest of honour, Ravi Bopara of Essex and England.
It was a frustrating season for the Belhus 1st XI who finished third in their Division, narrowly missing out on promotion, and who finished runners-up in the Premier Division of the Essex Sunday League. Nevertheless, yet another thoroughly enjoyable season was had by all players in all of the club’s XIs.
Many members contributed to the organisation and running of the club’s extensive 2015 fixture programme, and in finishing runners-up out of 40 clubs in the Essex League’s ‘Hospitality’ rankings, they can feel proud that their sterling off-the-field efforts were deservedly acknowledged.
