Layla Tipton scooped the Player of the Year Award for Durham Women’s Academy – the Northern Jets – at the End of Season Women’s and Girls’ Presentation Evening, organised by Durham Cricket Board.
Tipton was awarded by her Northern Jets Head Coach James Lowe for her consistent performance during the season with “bat and ball”.
For Durham Women’s First XI, it was Laura Ellison who grabbed the Player of the Year trophy after a season resulting in promotion to Division Two in the ECB Women’s County Championship.
The Presentation Evening, organised for the first time for ten years, was put together by Durham Cricket Board as a way to celebrate the progress of women’s and girls’ cricket this season and to thank players, parents and coaches for their commitment to the game in the summer.
Players from all levels of the pathway structure attended the Presentation Evening – including cricketers from the teams which took part in this summer’s revamped Women’s T20 League, Northern Jets players and Durham Women’s Senior Team.
Awards were given out to the best players of Women’s T20 League teams as well as best batter and bowler for the Jets and County Women.
Lizzie Scott was named Batter of the Year for the Jets for her 236 runs in just eight games, while Madeleine Atkinson received Bowler of the Year for her consistent performance through the summer, bagging 14 per cent of team wickets.
Player of the Year Tipton said: “Getting this award means a lot – it makes you want to develop more and motivates you to keep progressing through the Jets and hopefully progress to higher stages.”
Commenting on her award, Scott said: “It’s nice to have that recognition. It inspires you a bit more to keep going and to take up more opportunities.”
Northern Jets Bowler Atkinson added: “I think it’s really great (the award) and it shows that people can progress from what we’re doing with the Jets.”
For Durham County Women, Rachel Hopkins was awarded Batter of the Year with 336 runs scored for the team this season. Rachel Petherick, who took 24 per cent of team wickets in the 2018 season, grabbed the Bowler of the Year award after being instrumental in the Women’s promotion decider against Oxfordshire, taking 2-9 in 10 overs.
County Women’s Player of the Year Ellison said: “I don’t think I was expecting it (the award) but it was good to contribute in every area. At the start of the year, having changed from top of the order to middle order, I didn’t really know what to expect so just being able to contribute every game has been the highlight for me.”
Talking about the Batter of the Year award, Hopkins said: “Coming into the season to a brand new team, I suppose I had something to prove but the girls have been amazing. We’ve been in some difficult situations but we’ve come through in the end and it’s been a fantastic time to be a part of the team so I’m pretty chuffed.”
The presentation evening also saw winners of the Women’s T20 League Philadelphia Cricket Club receive their trophy, after finishing top of the table this season ahead of runners-up Leadgate Cricket Club and third-placed Shotley Bridge Cricket Club.
Philadelphia Captain Tipton accepted the trophy for her team, making it the second receipt of the night for her.
The celebration event was organised after a year of change for the Women’s T20 League in Durham which impacted all levels of the women’s game – the League was fully revamped following a poor 2017 season, when only a single game was played. In 2018, 52 games went ahead resulting in more practice and competition for players at club and county level.
Durham Cricket Board Women and Girls Cricket Development Officer Marsha Davies said: “The progress we have made this past season with the female game has been incredible and we wanted to thank everyone involved in making this happen.
“The Presentation Evening was our way to show the players, coaches and parents that their contribution drives the game forward and without it, we wouldn’t be in the position we are in.
“Their commitment to the women’s structure in Durham – whether at club, academy or county level – has contributed to more games, better competition and an improved standard across the county and we are over the moon with that.”