By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

IPPLEPEN CC kept changes to a minimum at their on-line annual meeting.

Rather than spend time voting in numerous new officials, there were only two significant changes on the field and two more on the committee.

Harry Lewis succeeded long-serving Simon Tapley as 2nd XI captain and Dave Alsop was invited to replace veteran Alan Boon as skipper of the 3rd XI.

Tapley led the second team for seven of the last eight seasons. He has been earmarked for a new job as cricket manager.

The committee was returned almost en-bloc with the additions of Keith Bell and Claire Hancock, who joins the expanding women’s section management team.

Chairman Keith Wakeham preferred to focus on the club’s achievements last season, even if it was the shortest campaign anyone had ever known due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The season was dominated by Covid-19 but strangely saw one of our more successful years on the pitch,” said Wakeham.

“The 1st XI won their Tier Two final against Torquay 1st XI while the 2nd XI finished the league strongly and won the Brockman Cup for the first time in 29 years.”

Missing two thirds of the season due to the first National Lockdown had an inevitable impact on the club’s finances, but Wakeham said the club remained on a sound financial footing.

“We are indebted to Teignbridge District Council for a grant that will sustain us through these tough times,” said Wakeham.

“We are also very fortunate that most of our sponsors kindly donated, including main sponsor Stonehaven Care Group, which enabled us to purchase the mobile net.”

Awards were presented to Toby Holroyd (best emerging junior), Ollie Holroyd (most improved) and Anna Lodge (club person).

[O] IPPLEPEN have said their farewells to batting all-rounder Reuben Stanley, who has left the club to join A Division side Torquay for the 2021 season.

Stanley, who has previously played for Bovey Tracey and Paignton, has followed in the footsteps of brother Callum, who made the same switch before Christmas.