DALLAS Armitstead went to the Grassmere Cricket Association presentation night aware he would win one award.
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The Purnim batsman made the most runs in A grade, a sublime 649 at an average of 49.92 which would earn him the batting aggregate trophy.
What he didn’t anticipate was winning the competition’s best-and-fairest award. His delight at clinching the top honour was matched by his shock.
Armitstead polled 16 votes in the count at Davidson Oval on Thursday night to edge out Hawkesdale batsman Darren Webb, who finished with 15.
Wangoom batsman Brett Tory and Purnim paceman Luke Ryan tied for third with 13 each, the count surprisingly not dominated by all-rounders.
“I knew I got the runs, that’s why I thought I was there, to get that award. A lot of people had mentioned I might be a chance,” Armitstead said.
“You probably are if you make the most runs, but I didn’t think I’d win it. It was very much a surprise.
“We’ve probably got the best bowler in the league (in Ryan) as well, he took the most wickets.”
The GCA best and fairest marks the second time Armitstead, 40, has earned the top individual honour in a cricket association.
He was a joint winner of the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association cricketer of the year award in 1999-00 while at Wesley-CBC.
Armitstead stayed with Wesley-CBC until 2006-07 before spending time away from cricket.
He again donned the whites in 2008, this time with Purnim. But he has only taken the sport seriously again in the past two seasons.
Armitstead put his productive season down to making training more regularly and the occasional good fortune — something opening batsmen relish.
“Luck has a bit to do with it sometimes in cricket, things have to go your way,” he said.
He was full of praise for the volunteers who are the backbone of Purnim — Rodger Henderson, Greg Bull and Jeshua Ross, among others.
“It’s a fantastically run club, a lot of people do a lot of work out there, Rodger Henderson and those sort of guys.
“Bully and Jesh, it’s amazing the amount of work they do, even Tony Beks cutting the grass every Thursday night.”
The laid-back atmosphere of the GCA was also a reason why he enjoyed his cricket this summer.
“I said that last night, it’s a fantastic league. You play each game and sit around and have a few beers with the other team for an hour or two,” he said.
“It made it enjoyable. You don’t get in the car and go home, it was an afternoon out as well as a night out.”
Earlier in the evening, Woolsthorpe all-rounder Shannon Richardson took out the B grade best-and-fairest award.
Richardson tallied 726 points, edging out Yambuk’s Jamie Squires (717) and Wangoom’s Chris Arthur (561).
And Yambuk batsman Troy Richardson claimed the top honour in C grade, polling 19 votes.
He finished one vote ahead of Hawkesdale’s Kevin Cameron, 18. Yambuk’s Mark Bellman was third with 15.
Among other accolades, Hawkesdale couple Jeff and Jane Glare won the Rodger Henderson award for service to cricket in the GCA.