THE Mewies Solicitors Craven League have won the Yorkshire Cricket Board’s lifetime achiever award twice in three years.

Following on from the success of Denholme’s Jack Greenwood, who went on to take the ECB national award in 2013, Bradley’s Richard Webster has won the 2015 county gong.

His citation reads: “Someone who has been involved with his club since the 1960s and who is a ‘true one-club man’ and a successful cricketer who is fourth on the club’s honours list for the most centuries.

“Since retiring, he has been treasurer, secretary, chairman and coach – a real jack of all trades.

“For the last 15 years, he has given his life to the ground. He spends four to six days per week maintaining the pitch and surrounding area religiously.

“He does this not only for the club but also the village. Even recently, when his health has been deteriorating, he is working on the ground for hours on end.

“He has also been a really important fund-raiser for the club over the years, raising money for items such as an artificial wicket and a new garage. He even has time to be the Craven League treasurer.”

Webster finished ahead of Woodhouse Grange’s Fred Mason, who has been a mainstay of the club from 1959 to the present day.

The Craven League had another winner in Sutton’s David Holdsworth for Services to Groundsmanship.

Holdsworth has been connected with Sutton for 40 years – ten as treasurer and over 25 as groundsman and secretary, during which time he has changed Sutton’s wicket from having a bad reputation to being one of the best in the Craven League.