Will Gidman has capped a superb debut season with Gloucestershire by being named the club’s Player-of-the-Year.
The award was made at last night’s annual Presentation Evening at the Wise Campus, Filton College, which included both the professional and youth squad awards for the season.
The joint presentation evening is a very important part of the season and recognises the importance of the County's age group cricket.
Awards were given out to all age groups, for Most Improved, Best Performance and Player-of- the-Year. A full list of these is included below. The Academy players were also rewarded, with Craig Miles winning the Collis Cup for Academy Player of the Year.
Will Gidman achieved the rare distinction of the all-rounder’s double, scoring more than 1,000 runs and claiming 50 wickets in the LV=County Championship.
The 26-year-old brother of Gloucestershire skipper Alex Gidman only signed for the club last winter after four seasons with Durham in which he was not given a single Championship game.
Will said: “It has been a special season for me. I tried to put achieving the double out of my mind and just concentrate on each game, but now it is an achievement I am very proud of.
“My years at Durham coincided with them having a very strong side and I was pretty low down the pecking order. Gloucestershire have given me a great opportunity and I owe a lot to the team and the coaching staff.”
Jon Lewis won the Bowler-of-the-Year award, having taken 65 first class wickets in his final season with Gloucestershire, and was also honoured with the announcement that the club will official retire his number 18 club shirt this season.
Jon said: “I think only Jack Russell has been honoured in that way by the club before so I feel very proud. I have never thought of the shirt as my own and have tried to earn it again with every performance.”
The Ray Parsons award for Young Player of the Season was presented to Richard Coughtrie, who became first choice wicketkeeper in Championship cricket and scored 632 first class runs, many of them made in tough situations.
Batsman-of-the-Year was Chris Taylor, Gloucestershire’s leading run-maker in first class cricket with 1,139 runs.
County caps were handed out to eight players who had made their first class debuts for the club this season, a reflection of the club’s emphasis on youth and a vibrant new team.
Season highlights awards were presented to various players, including Kevin O'Brien and Hamish Marshall for their world record Twenty 20 partnership of 192, set against Middlesex Panthers at Uxbridge.
The final award of the night was the Marston's Player's Player-of-the-Season, which is voted for by the professional squad. It was presented to Will Gidman by Julian Risbey.
Youth Awards:
Under 11
Player of the Year - Will Sharp
Most Improved Player of the Year - Cole Pierre
Performance of the Year - Matt Brewer
Under 12
Player of the Year - Harry Wormwell
Most Improved Player of the Year - Tom Seabrook
Performance of the Year - Ollie Forbes
Under 13
Player of the Year - Ben Hopkins
Most Improved Player of the Year - Ben Slade
Performance of the Year - Tom Probert
Under 14
Player of the Year - Prevan Nayanah Rajh
Most Improved Player of the Year - Harry Arthur
Performance of the Year - Patrick Grieshaber
Under 15
Player of the Year - Tom Smith
Most Improved Player of the Year - Max Kelly
Performance of the Year - Fin Dixon
Under 16
Player of the Year - Ben Ringrose
Most Improved Player of the Year - Chris Willoughby
Performance of the Year - Tim Dannatt
Under 17
Player of the Year - Robbie Shurmer
Most Improved Player of the Year - Ryan Adams
Performance of the Year - Christian Purchase
Girls Under 13
Player of the Year - Zoe Cullum
Most Improved Player of the Year - Meg Long
Performance of the Year - Naomi Forecast
Girls Under 15
Player of the Year - Joanna Cull
Most Improved Player of the Year - Hannah Cockram
Performance of the Year - Amelia Andrew
Girls Under 17
Player of the Year - Fi Morris
Most Improved Player of the Year - Carys Allen
Performance of the Year - Fi Morris
Senior Women
Player of the Year - Alex Macdonald
Most Improved Player of the Year - Rosie Tregear
Performance of the Year - Fi Morris
