Durham Association of Cricket Officials Scoring Officer, Performance Pathway and North East Premier League Scorer Sam Blacklock was awarded the 2018 Shepherd-Frindall Young Scorer of the Year at ECB ACO’s National Conference at Lord’s on Saturday.
Sam, 21, who scores for Durham Under-15 County Age Squad and appoints all scorers to county age groups for Durham Cricket Board, was announced as an award winner by BBC and Sky Sports Presenter Charles Dagnall, who was hosting the day.
Sam grabbed one of two awards from the National Conference, celebrating 10 years since ECB ACO was created.
Sam said: “I didn’t have a clue about the award, I went to the conference because I find it a great day and you get to see your scoring colleagues who you really only see once a year.
“Charles Dagnall began by saying, this scorer has dedicated many hours of scoring to his county and his passion for scoring has developed over the years – at this stage I thought it could have been anyone.
“When he mentioned it was a 21-year-old scorer in Durham that was winning it, I couldn’t believe it.”
In addition to regularly scoring for Durham Cricket Board’s Performance Pathway, Sam scored for Durham’s new competitions this summer – Super 4s and RedBull Four6 – while at league level, Sam scores for his home Eppleton Cricket Club.
Already in his nine years of scoring, Sam has scored key competitions and events such as Bunbury Festival.
Sam added: “I score because I enjoy it, I am lucky that I get to travel around scoring but you don’t do it to win awards, you do it purely for the enjoyment.”
Sam has been the Durham Cricket Board Association of Cricket Officials Scoring Officer for two years and organises scoring courses in Durham, providing a clear pathway for young scorers.
Durham Cricket Board Director of Cricket Development Graeme Weeks said: “This is a massive achievement and I was very pleased to know that Sam has been honoured at a national level for his commitment to the game.
“Having won a Durham OSCA (Outstanding Service to Cricket Award) in 2014 for Young Volunteer, Sam has been consistently proactive in taking up opportunities and getting involved both at club level and county level and I think that this award is a testament for his work but also reflects on Sam’s contribution outside the scorebox.
“Sam has played a key role for our Association of Cricket Officials and has raised awareness of opportunities for scorers and umpires in our county. His efforts have resulted in a great increase of scoring and umpiring candidates and without his input, we wouldn’t be in the position we are in.
“Sam fully deserves the recognition for driving scoring forward across Durham and we are pleased for his achievement.”