Fair maiden Claire Levitt admitted she was bowled over when she won the Hadleigh Mayor's annual community award last night.

Fortunately, Hadleigh Cricket Club coach Clair was not stumped for words once she got over the shock.

Speaking after the recently re-elected mayor Gordon McLeod had presented her with the award certificate at the town's annual general meeting at St Mary's Church, Claire instantly highlighted the community feel at the club and how developing the youngsters was a huge driver for her.

A qualified coach, Claire is primarily the English Cricket Board (ECB) lead activator, running the national initiatives at the Hadleigh club, including sessions for their All Stars, five to eight, then the Dynamos who are eight to ten-years-olds. She is also a founding member and Ladies team vice-captain, does the admin for junior section, runs the children around and is married to David. who also plays for the club.

"I practically live at the club," she said. "I love being part of seeing these develop. Seeing children who six years ago would only now just be starting their development, are already at higher levels."

Claire with Hadleigh CC's head of cricket (Picture credit: Nub News)

Claire was nominated by the cub's head of cricket Simon Manthorpe who has been impressed with Claire's devotion to the club.

Simon said: "Claire covers so much on and off the pitch at the club, not just with the junior section but with the Ladies team as well. In addition she has also taken on the newsletter.

"When I looked at our structure, and the other coaches, and while they all do important jobs, Claire spins so many plates and ultimately when I looked at the criteria, that did it fo rme.

"She is there Friday's, Saturday, and Mondays coaching, then there is all the administrative work. Her drive and keenness marked her out."

Junior coaching session Picture credit: Hadleigh Nub News)

Claire is confident some of the youngsters have the ability and confidence to go on and play at higher levels, and sees no reason why they should not aspire to being World Cup winners like the England Women's team.

The world is their oyster," said Claire. "We have the very lowest age level and girls coming through to under 15s who are now in the Suffolk squad, and on win the Essex team, which is an even higher standard.

"One thing we do at Hadleigh is we do not have just a girls' team, we have mixed team. For example last season, our under-13s team reached the county finals as mixed team and every other team was just boys."

Hadleigh CC's Beyond the Boundary newsletter can be found here.

Award winner Claire Levitt (Picture credit: Hadleigh Nub News)