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WC Bull Memorial Trophy
This trophy was presented for annual competition by Mr. John Bull to perpetuate the memory of the grand service given to Balmain by his father, W.C. Bull, as a player (including First Grade) and outstanding administrator at all levels of the game. Mr. Bull joined Balmain in 1901, was elected to the Management Committee in 1904 and was appointed Honorary Secretary of the Club in 1909, a post he held until 1939. He was made a life member of the club in 1922 and succeeded his father as President in 1939, a position he held until his death in 1957.
Mr. Bull was a delegate to the NSWCA for 46 years and a member of the executive Committee for 36 years. He was elected a Life Member of the NSWCA in 1937. Mr. Bull managed an Australian side to New Zealand in 1928 and was Treasurer of the 1934 Ashes team to England.
This trophy was given for competition between players in Grades 1 to 5 and is competed for on a point’s basis covering batting, bowling and fielding.
Kerry Marshall Award
First awarded in 1999-2000 this award was renamed in 2002-03 the Kerry Marshall Award. Kerry was a foundation member of the women’s club when they joined with the Balmain District Cricket Club in 1982. Since 1982, in addition to playing with the Club, has been President of the women’s division, coach and selector. Kerry represented NSW during the 1980s.
The Fred Bennett Memorial Trophy
To perpetuate the memory of a very great Balmainian, the Club Committee commissioned a memorial trophy in his honour. Frederick William Bennett joined Balmain in 1938 and serviced the club for an amazing 57 years until his passing on Australia Day, 1995. He was an excellent wicketkeeper batsman who made his First Grade debut in the 1940/41 season, just prior to joining the 2nd.4th Australian Army Regiment with which he served in new Buinea and the SolomanIslands reaching the rank of Lieutenant. After rejoining Balmain in 1945, Fred continued his First and later Second Grade career with considerable success, culminating in his leading our Second Grade side to the premiership in 1953/54.
Fred was appointed to the Club Committee as Assistant Honorary Secretary in 1946 and held this position until appointed Honorary Secretary in 1949. For the next 27 years, Fred did a remarkable job looking after the Club as its major custodian. In 1976 he took over the Presidency from Cliff Winning and held the position until his passing. His administrative skills were widely recognised and led to his appointment to the NSWCA where he served in many capacities including Chairman for nine years from 1954-55.
Fred served on the Australian Cricket Board from 1967-1988 and was its chairman from 1983-87. He managed several Australian Touring sides in this period from 1969-81 and was recognised by all as a great bloke and great administrator. He was regarded by the players as one of the best Managers ever to take a team away. Fred was honoured with three Life Memberships, Balmain District Cricket Club in 1956, the New South Wales Cricket Association in 1959 and the MCC in 1980. To complement these honours, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1980 for his services to sport.
The Committee, in commissioning the trophy, acted as it believed Fred would have wished in presenting it for the Outstanding First Grade Player.
It was decided that the Committee would award this trophy on the basis of assessment in the following categories: playing performance, citizenship, conduct, training attendance and general contribution to the Club.
HV Todd Tanner Memorial Trophy
HV ‘Todd’ Tanner was a contemporary and very dear friend of WC Bull who was Honorary Secretary from 1920-1939 and President from 1939-1956. Todd Tanner joined Balmain in 1920, was elected to the Management Committee in 1921 and, on numerous occasions, acted as its Chairman. His services to the Club in this capacity continued until his death in 1956 without his missing a Committee meeting. Todd Tanner was a delegate to the NSWCA and other cricket bodies on behalf of the Club for many years and was elected a Life member in 1935.
His greatest cricketing achievement was the taking off all 10 wickets for 32 runs in a C&S match in 1920, closely followed by 145 runs (still a record), during which he clouted many sixes into Snail’s Bay at Birchgrove.
He was one of the most ardent supporters of Poidevin-Gray and AW Green Shield Cricket. So, in keeping with what would have been his wish, the Club put forward this trophy to perpetuate the memory of a wonderful servant. It was decided that all players under 21 years of age as at 1st October who play in our grade sides would be eligible for the trophy. The same point’s formula utilised for the WC Bull trophy applies.
The Archie Jackson Memorial Trophy
The 1932-33 Committee of the Balmain District Cricket Club decided to ensure that the name of a great Balmain, NSW and Australian cricketer should forever be perpetuated in our Club history by arranging for, and providing to the Club, a magnificent Shield to be presented annually to the Balmain team finishing the season with the highest number of Premiership points.
Archie Jackson was Balamin’s youngest Interstate and International Representative, who succumbed to tuberculosis at only 23 years of age in February, 1933. In 1926-27, after showing tremendous promise as a schoolboy, he amassed, at the tender age of 17, a First Grade affregate of 870 runs in only 12 innings (2 not outs), including five centuries at an average of 87.00. He was chosen the same season to play for NSW for whom he scored two centuries and three fifties. Test Match representation came in February 1929 in Adelaide (Fourth Test) when he recorded a top score of 162 on debut v England – an innings which brought him cricketing immortality. Archie played for Balmain from 1924 to 1932 scoring 11 centuries, represented NSW on 23 occassions scoring 1858 runs at an average of 54.64 and played eight Tests, scoring 474 runs at 47.40.
From 2004-05 it was decided that this trophy would be presented to the Balmain Grade team finishing the season in the highest position in their competition.
Colin Thomlinson Memorial Trophy
This trophy was donated by the family of the late Colin Thomlinson in honour of his memory and service to the Balmain Club. Colin played in an era when First Grade cricket was of a very high standard, but was deprived of competing permanently at that level because of the controversial nature of his excellent fastish off-break deliveries… but by no means was this a unanimous opinion. Nevertheless, Colin accepted these revesals like the great sportsman he was and continued to give to the Club yeoman service on and off the field right up to the time of his untimely passing.
It was determined that this trophy should be awarded to the First Grade bowler who topped the Club’s First Grade averages. To be eligible, the player must have taken a minimum of 15 wickets.
From 2001-02 season, it was decided that this award would be presented each year to the best bowler in 1st grade based on aggregate.
Jim Reynolds Trophy
Jim Reynolds was a long serving Vice President and Barracker-in-chief for our First Grade team wherever and whenever they played. This continued for many years and after The Sydney Morning Herald introduced the Bill O’Reilly Medal for the best performed First Grade player in Sydney, Jim Offered to present an award to the Balmain player who finished with the highest number of points in the competition.
Yorkshire
Logic Challenge Shield
The sponsor of Neill Elvidge (from Scarborough CC, UK) kindly donated this trophy in appreciation to the Club for having looked after Neill during the 1995-96 season. The Club Committee decided that it should be awarded annually to the player deemed the Most Outstanding Club Trainer. Such player to be the one who attends practice regularly and puts in at all times.
This Trophy was replaced in 2004/05 by the Bill Donaldson Memorial Trophy.
Athol Aria Memorial Trophy
Presented to the Club in honour of a senior Vice President, Athol Aria who served the Club spledidly in numerous auxilliary, ‘behind the scenes’ capacities. He know Drummoyne Oval like ‘the back of his hand’…one of his pet phrases, because he was also closely associated with the Drummoyne Rugby Club. His valuable service dates back to the days when it was customary to charge admission for First Grade matches and Athol was invariably on deck to collect the money.
Certainly, one of our Club’s staunchest loyalists.
The award of this trophy is based on a points system for battling, bowling and fielding in the Poi Devin – Gray Shield competition.
Nerida Walker Award
The trophy was first awarded in the 2002/03 season in recognition of the commitment made by Merida Walker in establishing the Club’s Brewer Shield side during the 1990s. Nerida has been a member of the Club since the late 1980s and has made a valuable contribution both as a player and administrator.
Andrew Jones Trophy
This trophy is donated annually by Ron Jones, Vice President and father of our former champion First Grade bowler, Andrew, the recognise a vital feature of cricket generally referred to as fielding. To emphasise the importance of the facet of the game, the award is restricted to AW Green Shield players on the recommendation of that team’s manager.
From 2004/05, it was decided, however, that this trophy be presented to the Most Valuable players in the AW Green Shield team.
Belinda Clark Trophy
This trophy, whilst first awarded after the 1997-98 season, was renamed the Belinda Clark Trophy in 2002-03 to recognise the significant contribution made by Belinda Clark the club’s most decorated women’s player. Belinda has been captain of Australian teams since 1994 and also captained NSW from 1993-94 until 2000-01. She is currently captain of Victoria.
This award is presented to the most promising junior women’s cricketer.
Ed McCardell Memorial Trophy
This trophy was presented by the Balmain District Cricket Club management committee to perpetuate the memory of another of our Club’s ‘behind the scenes’ indispensable toilers, particularly at the First Grade level. He was closely associated with our late President, F.W. Bennett OBE, in many of the latter’s sporting goods enterprises and used a variety of his talents, including First Grade team manager, to ensure as high a degree of off field efficiency as possible. His all round efficiency was also recognised by the NSWCA which appointed him manager of a number of minor representative teams. The Trophy is awarded annually for consistent displays of unsolicited service, citizenship and service beyond the call of duty or obligation.
Colahan/Mitchell Trophy
Named after Ann Mitchell OAM and Carlene Colahan who were driving forces behind the women’s teams, this trophy is presented annually to the representative of the women’s teams who has contributed most off field to the smooth funning of these teams.
From 2004/05, it was decided that this trophy be presented to the Outstanding Women’s First Grade player.
President’s Trophy
This trophy was introduced by Club president Clifford Winning in 1959, when he was closely associated as Selector, Coach and Manager of A.W. Green Shield Teams. The award takes the form of whatever the donor considers appropriate to the status and talents of the winner determined by applying the accepted points formular. This tradition was carried on by Clifford’s successor as President F.W. Bennett OBE during his 19 year tenure and was continued by ensuing Club Presidents. This trophy was not presented after the 1998-99 season, being replaced by the Bill Donaldson Memorial Trophy.
Bill Donaldson Memorial Trophy
The family of the late Bill Donaldson donated this trophy during the 1999/2000 season. Bill Donaldson was one of Balmain’s greatest and longest serving, playing with the Club from 1937 to 1961. Bill was a prolific run-scorer with two double centuries and 11 centuries to his name. He made the highest individual score ever in Balmain 1st Grade with 246 not out in 1947/48 and has the highest average in 1st Grade with 135.16 also in 1947/48. Bill also scored tow centuries for NSW, both coincidentally against WA.
From 2004-05 it was decided that trophy would be presented to the Most Conscientious Trainer, replacing the Yorkshire Logic Challenge Trophy. The Winner is the player who attends practice regularly and puts in at the all times.
Cliff Winning Trophy
This trophy was named in honour of Cliff Winning who was a loyal servant of the Club from 1927 and is presented to the Player’s Player; the player’s voting for the one who they think has represented the ideals of the Club throughout the season. It is indeed an honour to win this trophy.