League success and ladies’ team launch for Ashburton CC

The members and supporters of Ashburton Cricket Club turned out for their annual dinner at Dainton Park Golf Club to celebrate another successful season on and off the pitch.

Club Captain Lloyd White led the First XI to a commendable fourth place in C Division West, in his first season at the helm, the club’s highest divisional position since 2021.

Sunday skipper AJ West also secured impressive wins with a development side in the South Devon League.

But the standout achievement of the year belonged to Ashburton Second XI, skippered by Phil Pascoe, who took the G Division West title in a thrilling league that ebbed and flowed all summer.

Their division went right down to the final moments of the final day of matches, with multiple sides in contention for the two promotion spots. In the end, it was a maximum 20-point win at home to Whitchurch Wayfarers 2nd XI that saw Ashburton take the title, with Marcus West blasting an unbeaten 100 to take Man of the Match.

The club has had much to celebrate outside of league cricket as well, with dozens of local youngsters attending Allstars and Dynamos sessions on a Friday night, a Ladies team being newly created, a new sponsorship deal being struck with Stonehaven Care Group, and a successful fundraising campaign enabling solar panels to be installed on the pavilion roof.

Club Chairman Chris Yeo said: “Our skippers have done an incredible job leading the club this year, Phil in particular, leading our Second XI to the G Division West title, despite many players stepping up to play First XI due to injury struggles.

“But that was by no means the only success of the year – our youth training nights were very well attended again and establishing a dedicated Ladies side will improve opportunities for women and girls. The club is very grateful to Marcus West for all his work, both with our youth section and in establishing our new ladies’ side.”

Club Treasurer Dan Coles added: “Getting solar panels installed on our pavilion roof and establishing a new partnership with Stonehaven will help enormously with the higher costs cricket clubs like ours are facing, not least in terms of energy bills. Any business looking to strike up a mutually beneficial partnership should contact us via www.ashburtoncricketclub.com.”

Stonehaven Care Group, providers of high quality residential and nursing care for elderly people in Devon and Cornwall, are proud to be supporting Ashburton Cricket Club and the opportunities it provides to the good people of Ashburton and surrounding areas.

Director Nathan Stone, who lives in Ashburton, was among the first to congratulate the club on its many successes this season. “We’re already looking forward to the 2025 season,” he said.