Michael Vaughan added a sprinkling of celebrity stardust as the Cherwell League celebrated reaching a milestone in style at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium.

The former England captain's half-hour question and answer session provided the centrepiece of the entertainment on Saturday night as he related a series of amusing anecdotes on topics including Kevin Pietersen, the 2005 Ashes and Geoffrey Boycott.

But to illustrate that his popularity now transcends the boundaries of the game, the first question from the appreciative audience of 268 at the 40th anniversary dinner was about his time on Strictly Come Dancing.

Vaughan also carried out the presentations and obligingly posed for pictures with not just the winning teams, but also many individuals.

  • Latest Sport news The event brought back memories for him of when he started out in the game.

“You see the tables of youngsters and I think back to the 80s and early 90s when I was at awards nights and there is a lot of passion in the room for club cricket,” he said.

“The league are doing a great service to club cricket and providing an opportunity for cricket, which is what it is all about.”

With Buckingham Town receiving the Division 1 trophy and Leighton Buzzard Town the Division 2 champions, Great & Little Tew 2nd were the highest divisional winners from Oxon, triumphing in Division 3 to add to their first team’s achievement in reaching Lord’s, where they finished runners-up in the Davidstow Village Cup.

It was also a big night for Horley, who captured the Peter Baker Trophy, awarded to the club whose 1st and 2nd XIs accumulate the most aggregate points, for the second time in just three years since joining the league.

With the 1st XI winning Division 4 and the 2nd XI finishing runners-up in Division 7, Horley chairman David Beck said: “We want to go as high as we can and everything we do, on and off the field, is for the long-term future of the club.

“The majority of our members are local and at least seven of the first team have come through the junior ranks.”

Receiving their trophies from Vaughan was a great thrill for all the winners – none more so than Horspath 4th joint captain Carl Thompson, who followed England around the world during the former Yorkshire batsman's playing days.

“It’s an honour,” he said. “He is a legend of the game and to receive a trophy from him is a privilege.”

Didcot’s Ian Demain, who was not present, and Kingston Bagpuize’s Matthew Warner shared the 1st XI bowling award with 51 wickets apiece Leighton Buzzard’s Phil Whatmore collected the 1st XI batting prize for his 690 runs.

Oxfordshire Under 17s’ achievement in winning the Royal London National Cup was also recognised.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Div 1: Buckingham Town. Div 2: Leighton Buzzard Town. Div 3: Great & Little Tew 2nd. Div 4: Horley. Div 5: Stokenchurch. Div 6: Long Marston 2nd. Div 7: Sandford St Martin 2nd. Div 8: Horspath 4th. Div 9: Aston Rowant 4th. Div 10: Leighton Buzzard 3rd.
Peter Baker Trophy  (1st & 2nd XI aggregate points): Horley.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
1st XI batting: P Whatmore (Leighton Buzzard Town) 690 runs. 1st XI bowling: I Demain (Didcot) & M Warner (Kingston Bagpuize) 51 wkts. 2nd XI batting: M Wareham (Long Marston 2nd) 675 runs. 2nd XI bowling: T Spindler (Chearsley 2nd) 48 wkts. 3rd/4th/5th XI batting: S Cardy (Abingdon Vale 3rd) 541 runs. 3rd/4th/5th XI bowling: S Priscott (Great & Little Tew 3rd) 32 wkts. Umpires’ award: D Faulkner.

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