Suffolk Seniors honour Hames

November 21, 2025

NEIL Hames said it was a ‘total surprise’ after he was honoured for his outstanding service to Suffolk Seniors Cricket.

Hames (pictured above) received the Ray Russell Award, made annually to a player, supporter or official for their achievements over a long period, at the Suffolk Seniors Dinner at Venue16 in Ipswich on Thursday evening.

The 75-year-old, who has played for Suffolk Over-50s, 60s and 70s, is standing down as captain of the Over-70s after four years in charge.

Suffolk Senior Chairman Bill Chambers, who presented the award, said: “He has been part of Suffolk Cricket for many years as a player, captain and tourist. For the last four years he has led the Over-70s, achieving a 70 per cent win ratio.”

Dean Sykes who won the Over-60s 1st XI Player of the Year

Peter Boughton, who jointly organised the event with Gerry Artindale, who will take over as captain next season, added: “Neil Hames has been quite exceptional as skipper of the side.”

Hames said: “It has been great to play for so many years. I have enjoyed Seniors’ cricket more than club cricket because of the camaraderie all the way through the teams, but especially the Over-70s.

“Of course it is nice to win games, but we have always played in the right way and always tried to be fair.

“We have been lucky in that we have had several all-rounders in the team, and so have never had to rely on one single player.

“It has been a privilege to captain the side and this award is a total surprise – I never thought I would get this award.”

Among those to receive awards were Dean Sykes, who was the Over-60s 1st XI Player of the Year.

Sykes, who next season will celebrate his 50th year playing for Brockley, made his debut for the England Lions, twice playing against the USA and once versus Wales ‘B’ for the national Over-60s side.

Marcus Codrington Fernandez won the Over-60s 1st XI Performance of the Year for his debut display versus Cambridgeshire Seniors at Peterborough CC.

Marcus Codrington Fernandez who won the Over-60s 1st XI Performance of the Year

He came to the crease with Suffolk 7 for 2 chasing 187 for victory and led Suffolk to a six-wicket win, after scoring 85 not out off 100 balls.

Tony Locke won the Over-60s 2nd XI Performance of the Year for captaining Suffolk to a five-wicket win over Bedfordshire in the national Vase Final.

The award winners were as follows:

 

Over-60s 3rd XI

Player of the Year: Jeff Hurrell

Performance of the Year: Andy Foreman

 

Over-60s 2nd XI

Player of the Year: Colin Macrow

Performance of the Year: Tony Locke

 

Over-60s 1st XI

Player of the Year: Dean Sykes

Performance of the Year: Marcus Codrington Fernandez

 

Over-70s

Player of the Year: Dave Hinchcliffe

Performance of the Year: Ken Jones

 

Ray Russell Award: Neil Hames

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