THERE was a full house at last week’s 52nd annual dinner of Great Ayton Cricket Club, which was once again held at the Masonic Hall in Stokesley.

And there was good reason why tickets had sold out weeks earlier as the club were officially celebrating a record-breaking season in the Darlington Building Society North Yorkshire and South Durham League’s Premier Division, during which they won two of the league’s four major trophies.

Great Ayton have only had six seasons in the top flight of league cricket – a brief one year appearance in 1940 when the divisions were temporarily restructured because of the outbreak of war, and the five years they have enjoyed since their final day promotion in 2003.

And while the amazing title winning year of 2005 will always hold a special place in their history, the fact that they won both the Hotel Tall Trees Macmillan Cup and the Surridge Sport NYSD Fifteens Premier Trophy, overcoming the mighty Middlesbrough side in both finals, cemented 2008 into Great Ayton folklore as the year they achieved their first ever major cup wins.

Guest of honour at the dinner was former England, Middlesbrough and Leeds United footballer Alan Peacock, who entertained the audience with tales of his playing exploits in the 1950s and 60s, and also presented club awards to the successful players.

Special awards were made by the NYSD League President to Great Ayton’s Dave Pennock (manager of both sides) and Chris Batchelor (White Rose skipper) for their key roles in helping the league also create history in 2008 when they became the first league to win both the national inter-league title and the Yorkshire under 21 championship in the same season.

And to round off a perfect night of celebration for Great Ayton, there was further good news with the announcement of the resigning of their two outstanding professionals for 2009, Riaz Afridi and Chris Batchelor.

Pakistan Test player Afridi enjoys iconic status in the tiny village having taken over 300 wickets in his first three seasons with the club, while ex-Yorkshire player Batchelor, still just 21, continued to blossom throughout 2008 as several glorious innings’ demonstrated.

Great Ayton Awardwinners 2009

The main individual award winners were:First Team:

Player of the Year – Ian West.

Batting – Matt Wilkinson.

Bowling – Ian West.

Second Team:

Player of the Year – Peter Renvoize.

Batting – John Russell.

Bowling – James Cook.

Third Team:

Player of the Year – Seamus Doughty.

Batting – Seamus Doughty.

Bowling – Tom Brooks.

Under 17s:

Player of the Year – Tom Crown.

Batting – Tom Waters.

Bowling – Paddy McReddie.

Best under-21 player: Tom Crown.