Held at Orange City Bowling Club last Wednesday and attended by 68, the night highlighted the best performed players in representative cricket and each of Orange’s grades, along with the ODCA’s major awards.

Kinross gun Charles Litchfield took out Orange’s most prestigious award, cricketer of the year, for the second consecutive year, after a stunning season which netted him his first Mitchell Cricket Council opens cap, and selection in the Western Zone and NSW Country Colts teams.

CYMS, Mitchell and Western Zone quick Curtis Free took out the representative player of the year gong, before the ODCA’s two newest awards were presented - the inaugural umpire of the year, and Peter Weston memorial spirit of cricket shields.

The former - voted on by first grade captains and the city’s umpires - went to Ian Findlay. The umpires also voted on the latter, presented to the team they felt most embodied the spirit of cricket on the field, awarding it to Centrals.

Free also swept Orange’s open representative awards, taking home the Bluebaggers’ best and fairest and players’ player gongs. Cavaliers gloveman Matt Corben did the same for Orange’s colts side.

The ODCA also established a player of the year award for each grade, based on pre-finals performance.

Cavaliers’ tweaker - also the top grade’s leading wicket-taker - Brad Wright took home the first grade award after snaring 23 wickets and scoring 134 runs.

His clubmate Ed Currall (363 runs and 29 wickets) won the second grade player of the year gong, and Gladstone gun Ben McAlpine (424 runs and 25 wickets) won the third grade award.

 CYMS’ Matt Van Schaik (307 runs and 19 wickets) was Centenary Cup’s best, while clubmate Sam Dwyer (226 runs and 11 wickets) won the Carl Sharpe Medal for the Royal Hotel Cup player of the tournament.

The presentation night also featured awards for the leading run-scorers and wicket-takers in each grade, along with the best individual performances in each grade with both bat and ball.