THERE was a double helping of income Drax at the HPH York Vale Cricket League's annual awards dinner.

Having hit 1,070 runs, all-rounder Steve Smith (Drax) was presented with the coveted Les Kirby trophy for most runs scored in the season, while his club-mate John Patrick (Drax) lifted the equivalent bowling trophy with a season's haul of 46 wickets.

Steve Fraser (Stockton and Hoprove) pouched the Harry Smith wicket-keeping award with 25 dismissals.

And there's a budding crop of talents on the way up among the Vale ranks.

Yorkshire and England women's cricket team opening bowler Katherine Brunt paid tribute to the league's young guns at the dinner held at York Racecourse.

Michael Smales, aged 15, took the accolade of Young Player of the Year sponsored by BYB Sports for an outstanding personal performance in a season which brought cup successes for his club Hemingbrough.

The Barlby High School all-rounder scored 608 runs, with a top score of 104 not out, and took 30 wickets in helping Hemingbrough first team to win league championship and knockout cup honours.

Also short-listed were Scott Reeves, 14, who scored 500 runs and collected 26 wickets for Bishopthorpe, and leg-spinner Patrick Gilbert, also 14, who, having played cricket for the very first time this year, took 32 wickets for Tadcaster Magnet to help secure promotion to the fourth division.

Burn, Burton Salmon and Thixendale received praise for their improved grounds and picked up cash awards donated by Scothern Construction in recognition of their hard work.

Drawing the presentation ceremony to a close, league secretary Shane Hargrave commented on a remarkable season in which 95,373 runs were scored compared with 75,000 the previous year.

He also commented that it was encouraging to see an increasing number of youngsters making their mark in senior cricket.

And with the possibility of new teams joining next season, he remarked how fortunate it was to have loyal sponsors whose vital support enabled the league to keep moving forward.

Roll of honour

Champions

Div 1: Drax
Div 2: Hemingbrough
Div 3: Barmby Moor
Div 4: Melbourne
Div 5: Hemingbrough II

Cup winners

HPH Cup: Drax
Scothern Construction Cup: Hemingbrough
Guy Mitchell Cup: Askham Bryan YPO
Prendergast Memorial: Drax II
Evening League: Copmanthorpe

Best averages

Batting

Div 1: Trevor Brittain (North Duffield) 72.0
Div 2: Rob Murray (Stillingfleet) 46.3
Div 3: Steve Warner (Burton Salmon) 73.3
Div 4: Chris Parker (Askham Bryan YPO II) 51.6
Div 5: John Waterhouse (Hemingbrough II) 67.9

Bowling

Div 1: John Patrick (North Duffield) 9.2
Div 2: Rich Grimes (Stockton and Hopgrove) 10.2
Div 3: Dave Watson (Thorpe Willoughby) 9.5
Div 4: Carl Paterson (Selby) 11.8
Div 5: Mark Allitt (Hemingbrough II) 8.1