Teen claims another cricketer of the year award

Teenage cricketer Jonah Cameron and veteran cricketer Paddy Paul won multiple awards as the Gunnedah Cricket Club handed out its 2024-25 season awards at major sponsor the Railway Hotel last Saturday night.

Awards for most runs and most wickets were handed out in each of the four grades, in addition to major awards.

The format was new while there were some new trophies, due to this season being the first in which Gunnedah fielded teams in the Tamworth District Cricket Association (TDCA) competition.

Cameron was named cricketer of the year, after winning the same award in the Gunnedah Junior Cricket Association which had its presentation at Club Gunnedah eight nights earlier.

Cameron, who played in all four senior grades, also won awards for most wickets in second grade and most wickets for the club.

Paul meanwhile won awards for best batting average and best bowling average for the club, as well as most runs for the club and most runs in fourth grade, and most wickets in third grade.

Izaak Merlehan and Keaton Walters won two awards each, with Merlehan taking the most wickets in first grade and most catches in the club while Walters scored the most runs in second grade and was named junior cricketer of the year.

Eight nights earlier, Walters was named sportsperson of the year at the junior cricket awards.

Club awards were named after Gunnedah cricket identities Peter Cantrell, Tim Grosser, Geoff Doubleday, David Marshall, John Flannery, Mike Silver and Mick Brady, with all bar Cantrell on hand to present the awards named in honour of them.

The award named in honour of John Flannery was for volunteer of the year, who happened to be Flannery’s wife Debbie.

Nick Herring was named clubman of the year while the president’s award went to the club’s vice-president Richard Avendano.

Avendano and the club president, Sam Doubleday, were thanked for their work while they also thanked sponsors and others for their input.