Last week, the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, in collaboration with Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, hosted the annual Gloucestershire County Age Group Awards evening.
The event was a celebration of the 2024 season, where players, families, and coaches gathered to enjoy the achievements of the young cricketers from the Boys’ and Girls’ Pathway.
The evening was made even more special with the presence of Vitality Blast champion David Payne and World Cup-winning England batter Fran Wilson, who presented the awards.
Each County Age Group presented two awards: the ‘Performance of the Year’ and the ‘Player of the Year’. Below are the award winners for the Girls’ Pathway:
U11s Girls Award Winners
– Performance of the Year: Flori Parish
– For her remarkable unbeaten 50* in a crucial match, sealing victory against Northants.
– Player of the Year: Ella Harrison
– An all-rounder, Ella showed composure with the bat, intent with the ball, and finished the season as the U11 girls’ all-time top run-scorer.
U12s Girls Award Winners
– Performance of the Year: Frankie Halliday
– Frankie delivered an exceptional bowling performance, taking 4 for 11 (all bowled) against Warwickshire in just 2 overs, alongside other outstanding figures throughout the season.
– Player of the Year: Freya Wilson
– Freya’s batting was extraordinary, scoring 285 runs at an average of 57. Her six not-outs and match-winning innings, including a 51* against Hertfordshire, made her a key player for the team.
U13s Girls Award Winners
– Performance of the Year: Sophie Compton
– Sophie bowled a hat-trick against Somerset, dismissing the final three batters to secure a key victory.
– Player of the Year: Eloise Maggs
– Eloise enjoyed an outstanding season with 256 runs at an average of 43 and a strike rate of 94.46. Her three half-centuries and fearless fielding cemented her place as a standout player.
U15s Girls Award Winners
– Performance of the Year: Lily Sheppard
– In the final game of the season, Lily saved her best performance for last with figures of 1 for 5 off 1.2 overs, a display that couldn’t be overlooked.
– Player of the Year: Lucy Bull
– Lucy’s remarkable season included 410 runs, 12 wickets, and exceptional fielding (2 catches and 2 runouts). Her all-round contribution to the team made her an invaluable player.
U18s Girls Award Winners
– Performance of the Year: Jen Rivers
– Known for her consistent and metronomic bowling, Jen’s 5-17 against Hampshire, including 4 wickets in a single over, led to a dramatic collapse by the opposition, ensuring a memorable win.
– Player of the Year: Sophie Smith Graham
– In her first year in the U18s, Sophie took 16 wickets, including two 5-wicket hauls – 5-16 against Devon and 5-6 against the same side in a later match. She also contributed with two half-centuries and finished with the second-highest batting average.
Gloucestershire Girls Young Cricketer Overall Player of the Year 2024
– Winner: Josie Drury
– Josie’s all-round performances were exceptional. She claimed 14 victims (8 catches and 6 runouts), finishing 5th in total runs scored and 2nd in leading wicket-takers, with best figures of 5 for 8. Her achievements made her the ECB U15 National Leader for the number of victims and a truly deserving winner of this prestigious award.
At the Awards Night, a special moment was reserved for John Harris, who was honoured with a Special Recognition Award by the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation. The award was a heartfelt thank you for his outstanding contribution of over 20 years to the Girls Pathway. John’s immense knowledge of the game, combined with his warm and caring nature, has been invaluable in shaping the Pathway’s success. His dedication and passion have left a lasting impact on the many young cricketers. The Pathway is incredibly fortunate to have him, and we look forward to many more years of his guidance and expertise.
The evening was a great celebration of the hard work and dedication shown by all the young players. A special thanks go out to the players and their families for their support, the clubs who hosted the fixtures, the umpires and scorers who enabled the games to take place, and the age group coaches for their time and effort throughout the year and Astra Security our performance partner. We now look ahead to Winter 2025.