The NW has congratulated national award winners Mary McElwee and Bready Cricket Club following last night's Cricket Ireland annual Awards ceremony.

In a truly memorable year for the Magheramason club they claimed no fewer than 11 North West trophies across the divisions including league and cup doubles in both men's and women's leagues.

A thriving underage system was also among the silverware and that coupled with Bready's superb work in the community during lockdown saw them named the Club of the Year.

Chairman, Norman Allen, paid tribute to the backbone of the club and said a lot of work had gone in off the field over the past few years.

"We've always had a handful of superb volunteers but over the past few years we've worked hard to expand that and it is making a real difference. We've now got a team of dedicated workers and a really strong committee and that is shown in how well run the club has become."

"In the past we might have had a couple of coaches looking after the underage set-up but now we have at least one and usually two coaches working with each of our dedicated age groups."

"The women's set-up has improved dramatically too and that's shown in the season they've just had."

"We've been acknowledged as well for the work done in helping out with lunches etc in the local community. Bready is very much a community club and that was definitely in evidence over the past couple of years."

Also honoured last night was Mary McElwee who was named Official of the Year.

Mary was club scorer with that excellent Limavady side of the 1990's and following the demise of the Roesiders from the senior ranks, went on to score with Drummond and then Ballyspallen.

It has been with IACUS however that Mary has really come to prominence- whether at Interprovincial or International level and she is now widely regarded as one of the best in the business. From a reporting aspect, Mary is one of the most helpful as well- often prepared to pull the car in on the way home to provide score details from the odd remote outpost.

NWU&SA Chair Vinny O'Hara offered his congratulations to Mary today and said she was a thoroughly deserving winner.

"The Umpires and Scorers are delighted for Mary who is a key member of our Association. She has been involved in scoring for the past 30 years and brings the same level of professionalism in everything she does, regardless of the type of game."

"She is a very helpful individual and is now rightly recognised as top level in her work."

"I want on behalf of the association to extend huge congratulations to Mary on this award.