BOOMING Hunters the Estate Agent York and District Senior Cricket League reached a milestone last night.

The 44th annual dinner at York Racecourse topped the 500 attendance mark for the first time.

That's a reflection of the huge growth of the league which now boasts about 2,500 registered players.

Next year it will expand from six to seven divisions with three new teams making the league's make-up to 50 clubs and 80 teams.

The newcomers will be Studley Royal (division two), Sewerby (division three) and Londesborough Park II (division six).

But last night 506 guests reflected on the glories of summer 2001 as awards were presented by guest speaker, Allan Lamb, the former England batsman.

Dunnington's Premier Division Trophy was accepted by their wicketkeeper Paul Miles, the former York RL player.

His club completed a superb treble by also landing the League Knockout Cup and the Champions Challenge Trophy.

Dunnington players featured strongly among the top individual awards.

Their former West Indies Test batsman Collis King proved he had lost none of his ability after switching clubs from Stillington.

He won the premier division Des Wyrill Trophy batting award with an aggregate of 824 runs at an average of 82.40.

He also headed the bowling average with his 36 victims obtained at just 11.44, the first time the 'double' has been achieved.

But that was not enough to land him the Alan Shipley Secretary's Cup premier bowling award as he did not get the required 50 wicket qualification. That honour was collected for the third successive year by Thirsk's Barry Petty with 68 wickets, six more than Dunnington pace man Joe Grant, who bowled far less overs.

Grant's clubmate Hamid Khan continued Dunnington's domination by collecting the Bill Pool Memorial Trophy as the best young player after his aggregate of 764 runs.

Clifton Alliance's Australian ace Darren Reeves, who amassed 1,183 runs, received the Tony Frith Trophy for being the best overseas player.

The leading premier division wicketkeeper was Heworth's Mark Lynch, whose 34 victims earned him the Brian Shirley Trophy.

The Doug Mackay Trophy for the most stumpings was gathered by Duncan Renton, of Dringhouses, who, remarkably, had 14 stumpings and a dozen catches.

A new award, the Lol Morse Memorial Trophy, for the best representative player, went to Whitkirk's Tom Glover.

Lol Morse, who died in January after 31 years on the league's committee, was a driving force behind the league's representative sides.

Castleford won the Albert Pattison Trophy for the most improved club while awards donated by the York Umpires' Association for the most sporting clubs went to Thirsk, Sessay and Clifton Alliance II.

John Fox of Rowntrees won the Malcolm Ripley Trophy for being the best scorer.

Senior League award winners:

League champions: Premier Div: Dunnington, Div 1: Beverley Town, Div 2: Hull Zingari, Div 3: Hornsea, Div 4: Yapham, Div 5: Pickering II.

Knockout Trophy and Champions Challenge: Dunnington

Edward Readman Memorial Trophy: Carlton Towers. Man of the match: Stuart Coleman (Carlton Towers).

Most sporting club - Premier Div: Thirsk, Div 1: Sessay, Div 2: Clifton Alliance II.

Most improved club: Castleford.

Best young player: Hamid Khan (Dunnington).

Premier Div batting: Collis King (Dunnington).

Premier Div bowling: Barry Petty (Thirsk).

Premier Div wicketkeeper: Mark Lynch (Heworth).

Most stumpings: Duncan Renton (Dringhouses).

Best overseas player: Darren Reeves (Clifton Alliance).

Best scorer: John Fox (Rowntree).

Best representative player: Tom Glover (Whitkirk).

Indoor League champions: Div 1 Sheriff Hutton Bridge, Div 2: Woodhouse Grange, KO Cup: Rowntree.

Updated: 10:30 Saturday, October 20, 2001