At the recent Annual Grahamstown Cricket Board’s (GCB) Awards Ceremony, Southwell First and Station Hill were crowned as First and Second league winners respectively. The Awards Evening took place at the Ski-Boat & River Club in Port Alfred on Friday 25 May. 

The Prestigious Awards Evening was well attended by estimated 100 plus guests, which included players, supporters, club officials, GCB officials, former players and former officials of the game.

Adding emotion to the occasion, the Station Hill Cricket Club presented blazers to three veteran players who recently retired – Andy Jones, Wayne Gaseba and Nathan Hilpert. They will stay on in supporting roles at their club and will assist in running the club going forward.

The President of the GCB, Leon Coetzee, delivered the key note address and thanked everyone for their presence and all the individual and league winners. He also thanked all clubs for their commitment for the past season. “We are one of the best, if not the best affiliated club in the EPCB (Eastern Province Cricket Board) and I’m proud to say that cricket is well and alive in the GCB,” said Coetzee.

He added that cricket was not just a battle between bat and ball, but had the inevitable element of a wave of emotion that comes over the players, whether they win or lose. Coetzee then mentioned the need for new umpires and scorers, particularly women, before congratulating the umpires on their good season.

Southwell Cricket Club were honoured for their consistency and were crowned both overall First and Bathurst First league champions. Salem won the Central Albany First league and were also Runner’s Up for the overall First league, which earned them the Club of the Season Award.

Among the individual prize winners, Nicholas Zimmerman (Salem) was the Best Batsman, Francois Van Rooyen (Manleys) the Best All Rounder, Leard King (Salem) the Best Bowler and Brandon Handley (Cuylerville) the Rural Player of the Year.

Full List of Award Winners:

 Most Wickets Fast Bowler 1st – Leard King (Salem)

Most Wickets Slow Bowler 1st – Warren Tarr (Cuylerville) & Devon Sykes (Salem)

Best All Rounder 1st – Francois Van Rooyen (Manleys Flats)

Most Wickets Fast Bowler 2nds – Alvin Marney (Station Hill)

Most Wickets Slow Bowler 2nds – Matt Liesenberg (Station Hill)

Best All Rounder 2nds – Thanduxolo Shotana (Rainbows)

Best Batting Aggregate 1st – Nicholas Zimmerman (Salem)

Best Batting Aggregate 2nds – Thanduxolo Shotana (Rainbows)

Rural Player of the Year – Brandon Handley (Cuylerville)

1st League Winners – Southwell

Runners Up 1st League – Salem

Bathurst 1st Winners – Southwell

Central Albany 1st Winners – Salem

2nd League Winners – Station Hill

Club of the Year – Salem

Senior Umpires Award – Ant Bowdler and Barry September

Rookie Umpire Award – Chesley Daniels

Senior Scorer Award – Julia Painting

President’s Award for Service to Cricket – Andrew Marshall and James Stirk