CHIPPING Norton Rugby Club had a great deal to celebrate at WODC's Annual Sports and Arts Annual Awards Evening held at Witney Lakes Resort on Monday evening.

Councillor Roger Curry, chairman of the District Council, paid a moving tribute to Tony Cripps, who was posthumously awarded The Chairman's Award.

The award is made "to an individual or group who deserve special recognition for their achievements".

Tony's widow, Kaye Cripps, collected the award and was clearly moved by the standing ovation from all who knew Tony and his enormous contribution to the club.

Councillor Hilary Biles, cabinet member for Health, Leisure and Tourism and the Arts, then acknowledged the club's "significant contribution to sport" in West Oxfordshire by awarding the club "Sports Club of the Year".

Ian Rumble, club president, rarely lost for words, collected the new trophy. and said: "Tony was our foundation stone and his legacy will be that he built the club with such pride, passion and belief and inspired so many more down the years that the club will continue to grow, serving the local community, in the face of all future challenges."

Both awards will be on show at the next vice-presidents' match day luncheon ahead of the last home game of the season versus Phoenix on Saturday April 12.

The awards will be presented to the whole club at the awards dinner on May 17, along with, hopefully, the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier League Championship trophy.

It wasn't such a successful weekend on the field as the Greystones outfit lost their first league game of the season last Saturday when second in the table Bicester recorded a 10-9 success.

The result leaves the losers four points clear the top of the table with three matches remaining.