A MOST decent 2026 summer season for Wellington CC was celebrated at Oake Manor Golf Club at its annual presentation night which was attended by over eighty people, writes David Derrick.

They enjoyed a quality three course meal, the chairman's address and the presentation of awards by club president Bernie Burnett.

After Grace led by club captain Jacob Hurry, dinner was delivered expertly by the Oake Manor serving staff and they are commended for their attention to detail; from the conclusion of this part of the evening, chairman Mark Salter delivered his Annual Address to the club by where he reviewed the past twelve months that the 'Red and Blacks' had delivered both on off the field of play at all levels.

He noted a strong season from the 1st XI had resulted in a second placed finish in the Somerset Division of the West of England Premier League. They were also inaugural winners of WEPL's Four Regions T20 competition for Tier Three teams.

The 2nd XI had achieved promotion to Division One of the Somerset League as a run of successive elevations up their structure had continued to the end of the 2025 season, but the 2026 season was a very tough one and, unfortunately, relegation was the end outcome for the team; one bright spot was the award of the Division's Players Player of the Season to wicket keeper/batter Aks Latifi who was voted in this manner by the opposing sides who he played against during the course of the summer.

The 3rd XI, playing in Division Seven South of the Somerset League, entertained hopes of promotion until the very last week of the season, but these hopes were extinguished by a rare wet day in an otherwise perfect summer of weather as they eventually ended in fourth place overall - once more this was the entry point for youth section players who were ready and able to make the jump to senior cricket and for a number of new players too.

Teams at the Under 11 and Under 15 age groups played in the Taunton and District Youth League on a weekly basis until the school holidays kicked in with further action taking place under the auspices of the ECB's All Stars and Dynamos programmes for those up to age eleven.

Cricket for females was provided with softball league action that was run by the Somerset Cricket Foundation.

A full social programme was also delivered during the course of the 2026 season as 'The Long Hop Bar' was the place to be.

Trophy Winners were: Clubman of the Year - Tony Hutchings; Lady's Award Winner - Cathy Sharland; Tony Rudd Sportsman's Award Winner - Fawad Sadat; Duncan Short Young Player Award Winner - George Davis; Arthur Scott 1st XI Player's Player Award Winner - Sam Whitefield; Fullstone Family 2nd XI Player's Player Award Winner - Aks Latifi; 3rd XI Player's Player Award Winner - Max White.

Six Hits Trophy - Aks Latifi; Outfield Catches Trophy - Lakshan Edirisinghe; 1st XI Batting - Sam Whitefield; 1st XI Bowling - Toby Stirzaker; 2nd XI Batting - Aks Latifi; 2nd XI Bowling - Rob Moysey; 3rd XI Batting - Des Campbel;l3rd XI Bowing - Jay Jadeja.

League Hundreds - Lakshan Edirisinghe, Sam Whitefield, Luke Desave, Aks Latifi, Archie Evans and Charlie Burrough. League Five Wickets taken - Toby Stirzaker and Rob Moysey

The club’s AGM for 2026-2027 takes place on Thursday, October 22, at the clubhouse from 7.00pm