GOLCAR’S brilliant opener Steve Whitwam has once again been named as the Drakes Huddersfield Cricket League’s top all-rounder – for the FOURTH year in succession!
It is the first time since the introduction of the Jack Gledhill Memorial Trophy, first awarded to the leading all-rounder in 1992, that anyone has lifted the trophy four times, let alone for four consecutive seasons.
Former Yorkshire and Warwickshire county man Paul Booth is the only man to have previously won the award more than once, lifting it three times, but on separate occasions while playing for Meltham, making Whitwam’s achievement little short of incredible.
The 26-year-old cracked 1,281 runs in the League and Sykes Cup during 2008 for an average of 75.35, which rose to 89.69 in the League only averages. He was also the highest run-scorer in the entire League.
And then to underline his massive contribution to Golcar’s season, the right-arm spinner picked up 67 victims, which made him the second highest wicket-taker in the League behind his own Swallow Lane teammate Tim Welsford.
In truth, no-one else came close to matching Whitwam, Delph’s Bilal Khiljee and Clayton West’s Paul van den Berg (both overseas men) along with Welsford, the only others to figure in both lists.
Little wonder that Whitwam, who several years ago trialed with Northamptonshire in the County Championship (but never had a glimmer from Yorkshire) is repeatedly a target for clubs in the Bradford League as well as other clubs in the Drakes Premiership.
Golcar and the Drakes League will be hoping to hold onto what is undoubtedly the ‘jewel’ in both their crowns.
Meanwhile, former Yorkshire Academy player, Craig Fletcher, from Elland, has won the Reg Haigh Trophy, for the most promising young cricketer of the year.
The son of former county man Stuart Fletcher, Craig scooped 41 wickets (ave 18.04) in his first full season with Elland’s first team, which included a best 5-62 haul against Clayton West, to follow in the footsteps of some impressive previous winners, including his dad, in 1983, Paul Booth (82), Elland teammates Richard Blakey (84), Jimmy Thornton (91) and Lee Baxter (93 and 95).
Other award winners decided by the League’s Executive included Kexborough’s Ian Giles, who has won the First Elevens’ Johnny Hunter Rosebowl, and Meltham’s Howard Palmer, who lifted the Second Eleven award, both in recognition of match-winning performances for their respective sides.
The Tom Walker Trophy for top groundsman goes to Clayton West’s Michael Sellers, while Shepley have been awarded the Greenwood Trophy, for the most improved ground.
Drakes clubs have been urged to get their ticket requirements in for the League’s annual dinner and presentation evening. They should be with executive secretary Trevor Atkinson by the weekend.
Several clubs have already put in their orders and places are going quickly.
This year’s event at the Cedar Court Hotel, Ainley Top, on Friday, January 16, features guest speaker Ronnie Irani, the former Essex, England and Skelmanthorpe all-rounder.
Clubs should by now have returned their voting forms (both on proposed league rule revisions, and the decision on whether to dismiss Primrose Hill) to administration secretary Judith France.
The results will be announced at the annual meeting, which will be held at the Huddersfield Hotel on Wednesday, December 10, starting at 7.30pm.
