Spin cycle nets Bishopthorpe’s Seager leading York Vale distinction (From York Press)

Andrew Seager claims York Vale Cricket League Young Player of the Year crown

11:55am Thursday 27th September 2012 in Sport By Martin Jarred

BISHOPTHORPE spinner Andrew Seager was crowned the HPH York Vale Cricket League Young Player of the Year at Saturday night’s awards dinner at the Royal York Hotel.

The 15-year-old, who took 19 wickets in the top-flight in the summer, received his award, sponsored by Drax Power, from the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Keith Hyman .

Runners-up trophies were also given to the other shortlisted finalists – Matt Durkin (Stockton & Hopgrove) and Ollie Varey (Malton & Old Malton).

The first members of the new Hall of Fame – Neil Atkinson (Kelfield) and Tony Kerrison (Stockton & Hopgrove) – were also presented with certificates and an engraved glass clock each by the Lord Mayor, a former Vale League player with Heworth , to mark their outstanding service.

Atkinson has played for Kelfield in the Vale League for 40 years, starting at the tender age of 11, making his debut in the same side as his cousin, Jeff.

Neil’s dad, Maurice, was Kelfield’s captain and Neil’s son, 18-year-old Jacob, played alongside his father in this season’s promotion-winning Kelfield side.

Neil was a prolific batsman, picking up several awards and famously hit two centuries, both not out, home and away, in the same season against Yorkshire General.

Kerrison has scored more runs in the Vale League than any other player – a mammoth 30,000 runs-plus.

He hung up his batting gloves at the end of the 2009 season at the age of 66 after scoring 28 centuries for his only club, Stockton & Hopgrove, for whom he made his debut in 1958.

Kerrison also took 250 wickets and held about 450 catches in his Vale League career.

The new Club of the Year award went to Thorpe Willoughby and was presented by Ian Scothern, of sponsors Scothern Construction.

Thorpe received a trophy and a cheque for £400 with the money earmarked to go towards putting another club member through the Level 2 coaching course to help to increase the number of junior players.

The Thorpe club, which prides itself on junior coaching, already has three qualified junior coaches.

It also earned funding for a set of portable rain covers and other equipment – a move which paid big dividends in a wet summer as only one home Thorpe Willoughby game fell foul of the weather in contrast to the majority of other clubs.

The club is currently putting together plans for an enclosed two-lane net facility which they hope to have in place by the start of next season.

Charles Walker, a partner with main sponsors HPH, presented divisional and individual awards and the HPH Cup, which went to Hirst Courtney.

The awards night, which was attended by about 200 people, was hosted by Radio York presenter Adam Tomlinson, who is a player with the Thorp Arch & Boston Spa club.