Highlight of the Upper Airedale Junior Cricket League's presentation evening was the announcement of the four Young Cricketers of the Year.

These inaugural awards, in the league's fiftieth year, were given for all round cricketing ability, taking account of both runs scored and wickets taken.

The winners were: at Under 17 level Garry Owens of Skipton, Under-15 Paul Quinlan of Airedale, Under-13 Adam Yates of Earby and Under-11 Herbie Starkey of Cononley.

For Owens, who also took the Under-17 batting award, it was a wonderful year with which to conclude his junior career. Quinlan just missed out on the Under-15 bowling trophy but his excellent batting was more than sufficient for him to take the accolade.

With second places in both batting and bowling lists Earby's Adam Yates might have wondered if he would pick up any silverware. His fine all-round skills deservedly brought him the Under-13 award.

Most successful of all was the diminutive Herbie Starkey who annexed the Under-11 batting and fielding prizes in addition to his Cricketer of the Year award.

After an entertaining electronic presentation for the winners, League Secretary Derek Hurren was delighted to confirm that well in excess of 200 fixtures had been completed during the 2004 season, comfortably a league record.

He added: "The league is definitely on an upward curve and we'll be working hard to make sure the trend continues in 2005."

This year's top batsman at under-17 level was Skipton's Garry Owens, one of three batsmen to average over 40 in the Keighley Cup2000 League. With 348 runs Garry just pips James Proctor (Steeton) and top run-scorer (401) Andy Foulds of Upper Wharefedale.

With the ball the Upper Wharfedale club supplied the bowling winner in Steven Doane who averaged 7.85 from his season's 26 wicket haul.

In the Ian Dyson Electrical Under-15 League the leading batsman was Anthony Geraghty who was dismissed just once in the entire league season for the phenominal average of 210.00. Anthony who plays for the Oxenhope club has also finished top of the pile as a bowler with 12 wickets at average 4.00 just ahead of top wicket taker (27 wkts) Paul Quinlan of Airedale.

In the Pearson Homes Under-13 League Upper Wharfedale had a clear winning batsman in Jake Starkey with an outstanding average of 91.00. Starkey's nearest challenger was Adam Yates of Champions Earby, who also finished leading wicket-taker but again runner-up to team mate Rory Robinson (2.83) in the bowling average category.

Cononley provided the best batsman and the best bowler in the Cartasport Leisure Under-11s league with Herbie Starkey with 82 runs and amazingly never out, and James Liptrott with six wkts at 2.50.