A MAN who has given over 60 years' service to one club has won the Foster's Halifax League's inaugural Simon Lees Trophy.

The award, donated by Lees' family – which includes Yorkshire batsman Alex – went to Tom Thorpe of Copley.

The citation read: "He has been a committed and dedicated groundsman for 30 years, consistently producing among the best wickets within the area – despite the increasing club demands.

"He is a long-standing committee member, taking an active role in all the club's development projects and ground improvements, and also a junior manager and successful first and second-team player and captain."

The award was presented by Tim Bresnan – on behalf of Headingley team-mate Alex Lees, who was away with England Lions – and Alex's brother Tom and uncle Adam.

Thorpe, whose sons Toby and Oliver are also making headway in the game, received a standing ovation from the 230-strong audience at the league's prize presentation dinner at the Venue in Barkisland.

Bresnan also brought along the LV= County Championship trophy, which was won by Yorkshire in the summer.

Henry Olonga, the first black player to represent Zimbabwe and an accomplished singer, was the guest speaker and finished off with his rendition of Nessun Dorma.

Noted local comedian Pete Emmett was master of ceremonies and league press officer Geoff Wright, whose wife Val had died only three days earlier, presented a bat signed by Paul Collingwood for auction, which raised £150 for Overgate Hospice.

A minute's silence was also observed in memory of Australian Test cricketer Phil Hughes.

Premier Division champions Jer Lane picked up three awards for their section – wicketkeeping (Graham Sivyer, 26 victims), bowling (Sam Wilson, 12.55 average) and most wickets (Wilson, 56).

Queensbury won four awards – the Lindley Moor Trophy for most points in the last six matches of the Division One season, bowling (Amjad Ali, 12.98) and second teams' Division Two wicketkeeping (Ben Brian, 17 victims) and bowling (Jack Richardson, 14.36).

Low Moor Holy Trinity and Clayton each won a Division One award – Carl Harrison (wicketkeeping, 27 victims, also taking the Laurie Plumb Trophy for most victims overall) and Joe Brown (fielding, seven points).

Wibsey Park Chapel (wicketkeeping, Chris Brown, 22 victims) and Shelf (fielding, Leigh Butterfield, seven-and-a-half points) lifted Division Two trophies.

Lightcliffe picked up two Sunday Section awards via Kevin Booth for wicketkeeping (14 victims) and Jack Booth (jointly with three points for fielding).

Stones were presented with the Roy Smith Sportsmanship Trophy.