Dion Stovell joined an exclusive group after being chosen as this year’s Bermuda Healthcare Services’ Calvin “Bummy” Symonds-Dennis Wainwright Safe Hands Award recipient.

The Somerset all-rounder earned the award for his outstanding exploits in this year’s Cup Match in which he held three catches, including one off his own bowling, stroked 52 and produced a match haul of seven for 67 with his off spin.

It is the second time he has secured the award in two years, and now joins a small group of players to have achieved the feat on two or more occasions.

Stovell, who retired from the annual two-day classic after playing a prominent role in Somerset’s historic victory this year, was presented with the trophy and $2,500 during an award ceremony held at Bermuda Healthcare Services today.

“First of all I’d like to thank everybody who has nominated me for this award. Mrs Wainwright, Mrs Symonds, I’d like to say thank you for your continued support of Cup Match throughout the years,” he said.

“Obviously I’m thankful to win this award; it’s my last year I’m going to win it and actually going to play Cup Match, so this is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I would also encourage the youth to put on a good show to try win this award.

“I think winning awards is always special. But I never play to win awards, I play to win. So at the end of the day winning an award to help Somerset retain the trophy or win is just as special.”

The 41-year-old was surprised to have been chosen as this year’s award recipient.

“I was surprised to be honest because obviously we had some good catches,” he said.

“I thought Jaiden Manders [Somerset colt] was good up on the bat. Even though he dropped one, I was still kind of surprised because being up on the bat is not easy in Cup Match, and I thought for his first year as a colt he done extremely well.

“But to win it in my last year is something that I am going to cherish and go out on a high. I’m thankful.”

Somerset defeated the challengers by an innings and 90 runs at Somerset Cricket Club to eclipse the previous record for the largest victory in Cup Match of an innings and 66 runs achieved by St George’s in 1962.

“At Somerset we have a standard of how we want to approach and go about playing the game, and I think winning is more important than trying to retain the trophy,” Stovell said.

“Going out winning 2 to 1 in mine and Malachi Jones’ last year, I guess was just meant to be.”

The holders’ historic triumph owed much to the superb bowling of Stovell and fellow spinner Derrick Brangman, who claimed 15 of the 20 St George’s wickets between them.

“Derrick and I always have a bowling plan on how we exploit the wicket,” Stovell said.

“We have that connection of how we go about bowling; who we bowl to and field placing and all that.

“Even with Malachi, who I thought played extremely well on his last year. His batting and bowling were good and just his mindset alone on the field. It’s a great sight to see and to play alongside Jones.”

Also attending the award ceremony was Natalie Wainwright, wife of late St George’s Cup Match star wicketkeeper Dennis Wainwright, Valerie Symonds, wife of legendary St George’s captain Calvin “Bummy” Symonds, BHCS medical director Dr Mahesh Reddy and Vincent Hollinsid, brother of BHCS founder and executive chairman and former Premier Dr Ewart Brown.