By Tara Murray
Sydenham-Hillside all-rounder Anthony Alleyne has claimed the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s highest honour, the Roy Paxino Medal.
The new Storm coach claimed the medal as the best player in the senior division on Friday night at the association’s awards night.
Alleyne claimed the medal ahead of Airport West St Christophers Ben Walkden, with Deer Park’s Aaron Ayre and Fawad Ahmed along with St Albans’ Akila Isanka finishing equal third.
Alleyne said it was nice recognition to claim the Paxino Medal.
“It is a great honour,” he said. “I think over the past few seasons I’ve done well and I’ve been rewarded for consistency.
“I’m just thrilled. It’s reward for my teammates and club members as well.”
Alleyne said he wasn’t expecting to come home with the top honour.
He said once he looked at the stats it showed that contributed with both the bat and ball.
Alleyne made 690 runs at nearly 50 for the season, while also taking 31 wickets across all formats.
“I performed with both the bat and ball,” he said. “It was disappointing that we didn’t go on this season and finish it off.”
Alleyne was also named captain for the senior division team of the year.
He said it was such a great honour to be in the team with the likes of Ayre, Michael Hill, Ahmed and Isanka.
Storm teammate Cam West was also named in the team of the year.
“Cam had a great season in terms of coming into the team and setting us up at the top of the order” Alleyne said.
“We hope he continues to do that for us.”
It’s been a big off season for Alleyne, who has signed on as the Storm’s coach for the next three seasons. He’ll step down as skipper with Dylan Knight taking on that role.
Alleyne said he was looking forward to the challenge of next season. The Storm finished third this season.
“Hopefully I can be consistent again and have those numbers again,” he said. “We’re planning to go to work and work on the basics.”
In other results at the VTCA awards night, Caroline Springs’ Caitlin Pretty claimed the women’s best and fairest award. She previously claimed the same award in the 2022-23 season.
She was named in the team of the year alongside teammates’ Alisha Fowler and Miriam Hussain and Sydenham-Hillside’s Amber Andrews.
Burnside Springs United’s Shohan Rangier claimed the Russell Pollock Shield player of the year.
Skipper Mathew Sanders and Melton Centrals’ Steve Robertson were also named in the team of the year.
In the Evans-Clark Shield, Melton South’s Praveen De Silva capped off a premiership season as the division 4 player of the season.
He was named in the team of the year alongside teammate Saman Muthuwdige
In the Roy Picone Shield, Caroline Springs’ Farrukh Shahzad and Rukshan Fernando were named in the team of the year.
