CHRIS Peploe has been named Berkshire’s player of the year, writes Dave Wright.

The 36-year-old left-arm spinner was their leading bowler in the county’s double-winning season with more than 60 wickets an average of 18.25, while also scoring a maiden century in the win over Oxfordshire.

Datchet star Peploe, who played for Middlesex from 2003-08, earned the vote ahead of Henley’s Richard Morris, who was the team’s leading batsman with 784 runs at an average of 60.31.

Andy Rishton took home the most improved player award.

The Loughborough all-rounder was one of the heroes when the county beat Lincolnshire in the Unicorns Championship play-off at Banbury, scoring a stylish 76 not out and sharing an unbroken fifth-wicket stand with Henley teenager Jack Davies (127no) as Berkshire recovered from 135-4 to 291 to retain the title.

The county’s best young player award went to Wokingham batsman and Wellington College student Archie Carter.

The trophies were handed out at the Berkshire celebration and presentation dinner held at Henley CC on Saturday.

Carter’s success completed a good weekend for the Wokingham club, as the previous night they had collected the Division One trophy when the Thames Valley League hosted their presentation dinner.

Player-coach Danny Housego led the Oaks’ representatives who received the trophy from Robert Croft, the former England off-spinner and current Glamorgan coach.

Chief guest Croft was kept busy handing out shields and pennants to the winners of all 17 divisions.

League president Neil Doody regarded it as the most successful dinner since the formation of the league in 1972.

A record 258 diners were in attendance at The Castle Hotel, Windsor with the organisers unable to accommodate all those who had requested tickets.

There was special praise for NPL, who maintained a 100-per-cent record in Division 4a. The Teddington-based club won 16 matches – their other two fixtures were abandoned – and finished the season with a remarkable total of 414 points, exactly 100 more than the runners-up, High Wycombe 3rds.

During the evening the league welcomed the clubs who will be joining next season – Binfield, Sulhamstead, White Waltham, Bradfield, Taplow and Wraysbury, with Ickenham being upgraded from associate to full-member status.

The TVL’s annual meeting has been changed to Thursday, November 30 (7.45pm) at Slough CC.