Richard Robinson was unusually emotional at the JCT600 Bradford League dinner at the Cedar Court Hotel.

The experienced Keighley all-rounder received a surprise Special Award – not only for becoming the first player to reach 16,000 runs in the league but also for his work as a groundsman within the league.

“I can’t believe it. It was a great shock,” said the popular left-hander, who has now scored 16,352 runs – 434 ahead of Mark Gilliver – since first playing in the league in 1986.

Robinson tends to the grounds at Undercliffe, his former club Baildon and, of course, Keighley – and he also used to look after Park Avenue.

Hanging Heaton stalwart Nat Lawrence was the evening’s premier award-winner, receiving the Sir Leonard Hutton Trophy for outstanding service to the league.

Several members of his family were there to see him pick it up – his son David, daughter Joanne Gilbert and grandson Ben Gilbert – as well as Hanging Heaton’s first-team skipper John Carruthers, who had flown in from Florida that morning.

“It has been a nightmare keeping this award a secret,” said the club’s league representative Andrew Hunt.

“Nat was instrumental in bringing Bradford League clubs back into the Heavy Woollen Cup in 1996.”

League president Keith Moss said in his citation: “He has been at the heart of his club for the 31 years they have been in this league and has been a very effective cricket secretary.

“He has also been junior secretary and has coached what must be hundreds of players who have gone on to success.

“He is a hands-on man and can always be seen at his club every Saturday, whether it is a first-team match or a second-team match, ensuring that things run smoothly.”

Yeadon cricket secretary Patrick Macartney may have died the previous weekend aged only 54 but the club were determined that the Bradford League annual dinner would be a celebration of his life, rather than a wake.

“It is the way he would have wanted it,” said Yeadon chairman Duncan Sloane.

Yeadon helped things along by winning three awards – Ben Elvidge as Young Spin Bowler of the Year, Ryan Mooney (second XI Division One batting) and Damon Gormley (first XI Division Two bowling).