Tadcaster Magnet bowler Paul Downey's career-best 9-58 earned him Hunters the estate agent York and District Senior Cricket League monthly awards for August and September.

His haul against Ripon in division one edged out Pickering II skipper Andrew Grayson, who took 8-43 against Bubwith.

The batting award went to Whitkirk's Craig Shipton, who recorded the highest score of the season when he made an unbeaten 174 against Crayke.

With a third of the season's fixtures taking place in August and September and the added effect of seven match days which were blessed by good weather, batsmen prospered and 44 centuries were scored.

Shipton's massive score was the third highest ever made in division one and easily outstripped the remainder of the field, Simon Kellett's 138 against Easingwold being the nearest challenger.

Mark Barber of (Ripon) and Mark Hutchinson (Crayke) added seven-wicket hauls to their centuries to equal a feat achieved only once before in the league's history, when Stephen Booth became the first player to score a century and take seven wickets in a match in 1988 for Thorpe Arch and Boston Spa against York RI

The unbeaten 101 off 26.4 overs made by 15-year-old James Banks (Hovingham) against Dringhouses is thought to have made him the league's youngest centurion.

Leading batting performances for August/September

174no Craig Shipton Whitkirk v Crayke (Div 1).

138 Simon Kellett Dunnington v Easingwold (Premier Div).

136no John Williamson (Londesbrough Park) v Osbaldwick (Div 4).

133no David Simpson (Heworth) v Dunnington (Premier Div).

132no Brian Leckenby (Duncombe Park) v Driffield (Div 1).

132no Ian Lake (Selby) v Carlton Towers (Div 5).

Leading bowling for August/September

9-58 Paul Downey (Tadcaster Magnet) v Ripon (Div 1).

8-43 Andrew Grayson (Pickering) v Bubwith (Div 3).

8-49 Kirk Powell (Dunnington) v Thirsk (Premier Div)

8-54 Simon Roe (Beverley Town) v Pickering (Premier Div).

8-71 Dave England (Goole Town) v Tadcaster Magnet (Div 1).

Updated: 10:19 Tuesday, October 07, 2003