11:38am Thursday 8th October 2009
By Martin Jarred
BATTING star Afaq Ahmad was the big winner at the HPH York Vale Cricket League annual presentation evening and dinner.
The postgraduate’s blistering performances helped University of York Staff to the division one title for the first time and he collected the Les Kirkby Trophy for the most runs with his 694, an aggregate that also helped him top the averages with 86.75.
In addition, he won three Press Performance of the Week Awards – the only man ever to do so.
Rich Grimes retained his Les Kirkby Trophy for the most wickets with 47 – five more than last year – and was an integral part of the all-conquering Stockton & Hopgrove team which won the division three title and the Prendergast Memorial Trophy. Grimes also topped the division three bowling averages with his skipper, Rich Kerrison, taking the batting honours.
There was also a special presentation to S&H legend Tony Kerrison, 66, the league’s all time run-scorer, who received a standing ovation from the 236-strong audience at the Royal York Hotel, as he accepted a framed montage of himself in batting action.
At the other end of the age scale, Hemingbrough’s Tom Collins, 15, won the Drax Power Young Player of the Year Award.
He made his mark in division one by scoring 414 runs, including an unbeaten 73 against Barmby Moor in the HPH Cup final. For good measure, the Yorkshire ‘B’ XI captain chipped in with 14 wickets.
Also short-listed were Ashley Cattle (Woodhouse Grange) and Jacob Green (Bishopthorpe).
Selby’s Malcolm Bowden won the Harry Smith Wicketkeeping Award for most victims, taking 25 scalps.
The Scothern Construction Ground Award winner for the club whose pitches and ground showed continual improvement went to Ovington, while Copmanthorpe and Bishopthorpe shared second spot in the rankings.
The evening also included a race night, raffle and auction which raised £460 for York Against Cancer.
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