Kent Girls ride the waves

Kent Cricket Board Women and Girls celebrated their 2005 season in style by holding their annual presentation awards dinner on board the SeaFrance Berlioz superferry as it sailed from Dover to Calais and back.

SeaFrance's £56million state-of-the-art flagship, which back in June provided the setting to launch a three-year SeaFrance Sportsmatch sponsorship of Kent Women's and Girls Cricket, played host to an audience of over 200 players, parents and guests in the smart Le Parisien suite.

Charlotte Edwards, England's captain for the Sri Lanka/India winter tour, and her team-mates Lydia Greenway and Jo Watts were among the Kent gathering who were treated to luxurious French cuisine and wines, followed by a superb musical powerpoint show with wonderful images of last season.

The glowing performance included a BBC Sportsround DVD tribute to The Mote Ladies, who were celebrating their 10th anniversary. Also re-lived in pictures was the England women's Ashes-winning team, parading through London to the sounds of 'Jerusalem'.

Special guest, Alison Mitchell, BBC's Five Live reporter, did a 'Parkinson style' interview with Kent's England trio. All then made presentations to Kent Under 11, Kent Under 13 and national champions, and Kent Under 15 - Taunton and Ampleforth double festival winners.

Pauline Weeks and Jan Brittin (former England player and now Kent senior coach) presented the senior awards, including a county cap to 16-year-old Laura Thompson from the Mote Ladies.

This was a defining moment for the Kent Cricket Board's women's and girls development programme because after six years Laura became the first girl to make her championship debut having started in Kent's Under 11 in 1999.

Presentations were also made by sponsors Kent Youth Cricket Trust, Kent CCC Supporters Club, The Cricket Society and The Lord's and Lady Taverners (West Kent).

Charlotte Edwards' England shirt was auctioned © Getty Images

The evening ended on a high note with Bill Laidlaw, Sales Director of SeaFrance, auctioning the England shirts of Charlotte Edwards, Lydia Greenway and Jo Watts for a combined total of nearly £1,000.

Laidlaw said: "I have been involved in many sponsorship deals in my time, but nothing has given me more pleasure than our current support with Sportsmatch of Kent Girls and Women's cricket. They are so enthusiastic, highly talented and I am sure that 2006 will be another fantastic year."

Graham Lund said: "I bought Charlotte Edwards’ unique '123' Test shirt on behalf of the Lord's Taverners and proceeds from its re-auction will go towards helping disadvantaged children."

Ray Jelfs, Under 15 manager, commented: "I so much enjoyed the presentation evening. A great deal of hard work must have gone in to make it such a slick and enjoyable evening.

“I have not heard of anyone who did not have a good time, parents or players. The parents of the Under 15 girls were all complimentary and cannot wait for next year!"

Katy Ling, Under 15 player, added: "The girls’ do was great fun but next time can you make it longer because I did not want the evening to end!”

David Sear, Kent Cricket Development Manager and event organiser, said: "It was an adventurous gamble to have our awards do on the ship, considering that the wind the day before was gusting at 50mph, but it all paid off in the end.

"The pictures, the music and all the girls, their parents and guests helped to create great atmosphere in a setting that was like being on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise!

“It was a truly fabulous evening. There was even time to do a bit of duty free shopping. I think everyone went away happy."

Award Winners

Under 11
Best Fielder - Charlie Welsh
Most Improved Player - Laura Bassant
Best Bowler - Jess Denniff
Best Batsman - Deveena Pithia
Captain’s Award - Zoe Sturgess

Under 13A
Most Improved Player - Dee Tress
Best Bowler - Hannah Mowbray
Best Fielder - Deanna Cooper
Best Batsman - Jennifer Hamer

Under 13B
Most Improved Player - Claudia O'Connell
Best Fielder - Lily Summers
Best Bowler - Caitlin Campbell
Best Batsman - Rebecca Johnson

Under 15
Most Improved Player - Francis Wilby
Best Bowler - Jennie Jackson
Best Fielder - Hannah Jelfs
Best Batsman - Karen Baker
Captain's Award - Emma Plush
Players’ Player - Karen Baker

Maiden Centurion Awards
Under 15 - Karen Baker (112 v Cambridgeshire)
Under 13 - Jennifer Hamer (109 not out v Dorset)

Under 17
Most Improved Player - Hannah Simmonds
Best Fielder - Hannah Jeffery
Best Bowler - Clare Flitton
Best Batsman - Lois Nethersell

Senior Development Award - Laura Thompson
County Cap - Laura Thompson

Senior Women
Batting Award - Charlotte Edwards
Bowling Jean Clark Award - Marsha Davies
Fielding Award - Lydia Greenway
Player of the Year - Charlotte Edwards
Bergman Osterberg Union Shield - Dee Tress