Heworth youngster Tom Neal was crowned the Drax Power Young Player of the Year at the HPH York Vale Cricket League annual awards and dinner at the Royal York Hotel.

The 13-year-old took 28 wickets in the top flight at an average of 14.1 – impressive figures for a relegated side. He pipped the two other shortlisted nominations – Sam Jackson (Drax) and Ryan Waite (York).

Westow’s Andy Welford collected the Les Kirby Trophy for the most runs with an aggregate of 725 runs. The Les Kirby Trophy for the most wickets went to Gary Walker (York RI) with 48.

Wheldrake’s James Rouse won the Harry Smith wicketkeeping award for most victims, taking 22 scalps.

The Scothern Construction ground award winner for the club whose pitches and ground showed continual improvement went to Malton & Old Malton.

They received £250, while York RI won £150 as runners-up and Kelfield £100 for third spot.

The dinner attracted more than 220 people, the largest party from Hirst Courtney, who won the division three and Prendergast Memorial Cup double.

Division one champions Hemingbrough also did the double. In addition to their first title since 2007, skipper Matty Clark also lifted the HPH Cup. Doubles were the order of the night as Ben Johnson won both division two and the Mitchell Cup.

Divisional best batting and bowling averages winners were presented by newly-elected Selby MP Nigel Adams, a former York Vale League player with Drax.

A race night and raffle of prizes raised about £300 towards York Hospital’s £50,000 Heart of York appeal.


York Vale League roll of honour

Div 1: Hemingbrough; div 2: Ben Johnson; div 3: Hirst Courtney; div 4: Malton & Old Malton; div 5: Burn II; HPH Cup: Hemingbrough; Scothern Construction Cup: Stockton & Hopgrove; Guy Mitchell Cup: Ben Johnson; Premier Sports Cup: Wheldrake II; Prendergast Memorial: Hirst Courtney; Graham Headley Memorial: Ovington II .

Leading batting averages – div 1: Ray Adamson (Burn ) 58.44; div 2: Phil Smith(Kelfield) 54.40; div 3: Ben Smith (Bishopthorpe II) 50.78; div 4: Phil Holland (York RI) 37.38; div 5: Depak Selvaraj (York) 75.33.

Leading bowling averages – div 1: Ian Holmes (Bishopthorpe) 11.38; div 2: Pete Wood (Askham Bryan) 7.67; div 3: Sam Dunn (Hirst Courtney) 9.83; div 4: Jim Dawson (Malton & Old Malton) 6.68; div 5: Pat Durkin (Stockton & Hopgrove II) 9.16.

Les Kirby Trophy (most runs scored and most wickets taken): Andy Welford (Westow) 725 runs; Gary Walker (York RI) 48 wickets.

Harry Smith wicketkeeping award: James Rouse (Wheldrake) 22 victims;

Drax Power young player of the year: Tom Neal (Heworth); runners-up: Sam Jackson (Drax) and Ryan Waite (York).

Scothern Construction ground awards (for showing continual improvement): 1 Malton & Old Malton (£250), 2 York RI (£150), 3 Kelfield (£100).

Press performance of the week certificate winners: Ray Adamson (Burn), Perwez Akhter (Heworth II), Matty Clark (Hemingbrough), Tom Collins (Hemingbrough), Jim Dawson (Malton & Old Malton), Mattie Glew (Welton & Brough), Nick Hindle (Clifton Alliance), Ian Holmes (Bishopthorpe), Brian Howard (Hirst Courtney), Phil Jackson (Copmanthorpe II), Joe Lee (Askham Bryan II), Neil Metcalfe (Ovington), Ryan Partington (Copmanthorpe), Scott Reeves (Bishopthorpe), Phil Smith (Kelfield), Craig Theaker (Ovington II), Paul Thornton (Askham Bryan II), Gary Walker (York RI), Tom Young (Welton & Brough).