Walter Lawrence Trophy Winners!

Sussex batsman Scott Styris, whose 37-ball century was the fastest hundred of the season, was sadly unavailable to receive his award at the 2012 Walter Lawrence Trophy presentation dinner in The Long Room at Lord’s on October 16. However, guest speaker Jim Carter, the actor who plays Carson the butler in the critically acclaimed television series Downton Abbey and who is chairman of Hampstead Cricket Club, was on hand to present the Trophy to the evening’s effervescent host, John Barclay, Chairman of Cricket for Sussex.

No stranger to silverware! Actor and guest speaker Jim Carter (right), presents
the Walter Lawrence Trophy to Chairman of Cricket for Sussex
John Barclay, who accepted it on behalf of winner Scott Styris.
Photograph by Matt Bright

Now in its 78th year, the Walter Lawrence Trophy – supported by Veuve Clicquot – is open to all domestic county competitions as well as One-Day Internationals, Twenty20 Internationals and Test Matches in England.

Styris, who also wins £5,000, smashed no fewer than 9 sixes and 5 fours in his unbeaten hundred against Gloucestershire in the Friends Life t20 quarter-final at Hove on July 24, making it the fastest ever century – from balls faced and non-contrived bowling – in the history of the competition.

The veteran all-rounder, who has represented New Zealand in 29 Tests, 188 One-Day Internationals and 31T20 Internationals, said: ‘I am absolutely delighted to have won the Walter Lawrence Trophy this year. I was told by the Sussex boys that it is something that players cherish and everybody tries to win each season. A 37-ball century was far beyond anything I expected. I have had a look at some of the other guys who have won it, players like Ian Botham and Viv Richards and, from a New Zealand perspective, Chris Cairns and Ken Rutherford, who are all good strikers of the ball, so I am very pleased to have my name on the Trophy’.

Charlotte Horton was the inaugural winner of the Walter Lawrence Women’s Award launched this season by the trustees of the Walter Lawrence Trophy, supported by Veuve Clicquot. The 26-year-old opener scored an unbeaten 177 to earn the accolade, awarded to the batsman who makes the highest individual score in a season from the ECB Women’s County Championship, the ECB Women’s County T20 Cup and all England Women’s matches played on home soil.

Head girl: Walter Lawrence Trophy Women’s Award winner Charlotte Horton
receives a silver medallion and a cheque for £1,000 from Matthew Fleming.
Photograph by Matt Bright

Scored off 157 balls, Horton hit 28 fours and 1 six in her innings for Derbyshire Women, helping her side to an 83-run victory against Northamptonshire Women in the LV Women’s County Championship, Division Three match at Derby on May 6. Charlotte received a cheque for £1,000 and an engraved silver medallion from former Kent captain, Matthew Fleming, who won the main Trophy in 2002.

The Walter Lawrence Trophy award for the highest-scoring batsman from the six MCC Universities was won by Oxford MCCU’s Freddie Coleman. The 20-year-old Scot scored 141 against Durham MCCU at The Racecourse on April 28, hitting 14 fours and 1 six in his innings, which was scored off 275 balls.

Hot stuff: Freddie Coleman, winner of the Walter Lawrence MCC Universities award,
receives his medallion and a cheque for £1,000 from MCC President, Mike Griffith.
Photograph by Matt Bright

Coleman is the first Oxford player to win the Award, which is for the highest scorer in an innings played against one of the other five MCCUs or against one of the first-class counties, and the seventh recipient since its inception.

The Edinburgh-born batsman, who has represented his country at all levels and has also played for Warwickshire 2nd XI this season, received a silver medallion and a cheque for £1,000 from MCC President, Mike Griffith.

Finally, James Halson became the second winner of the Walter Lawrence Schools Award, introduced last season for the highest score by a school batsman against MCC. He scored 132, including 12 fours and 6 sixes, for Reading Blue Coat School who, chasing an MCC total of 275, fell just short by 38 runs. James, who plays for the Hampshire Academy side, received £250 and a special medallion from ECB Chief Executive David Collier.

Top Coat: Walter Lawrence Schools Award winner, James Halson, receives his
medallion and a cheque for £250 from David Collier, the Chief Executive of the ECB.
Photograph by Matt Bright