A DALES Council League award named after their president, former Yorkshire and England off-spinner Geoff Cope, has been shared in its inaugural year by Les Thompson and Bill Beckett.

The announcement was made at the league's annual dinner and prize presentation at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford.

Thompson, a founder member of New Wortley Cricket Club, was league fixture secretary from 1989-92 and league president from 1990-2000.

Beckett, also a member of New Wortley, was the league's umpire of the year in 1992 and 1999 and Dales Council Umpires' Association secretary from 1995-2000, and also their long-standing treasurer from 1998. He is currently president of the DCUA.

League chairman Steve Raistrick told the dinner: "Neither gentleman has been very well but both hope to attend next year's dinner as this will be the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the league."