CHARLOTTE EDWARDS and Derek Underwood, Kent president, were guests of honour at the Kent Cricket Board Women and Girls’ Cricket Awards dinner.

They were joined by more than 200 guests as Kent celebrated their successful 2006 season, on board the SeaFrance Berloiz Superferry as it sailed from Dover to Calais and back.

Kent women and girls, sponsored by SeaFrance and Sportsmatch, won three out of four national county titles.

In addition to the senior women’s county championship, they won the under-13 and under-15 finals, and only Yorkshire denied Kent from achieving the Grand Slam title in the under-17 national final.

Edwards and coach Alan Duncan presented 16-year-old Emma Plush, from the Mote Ladies, with her county cap for making her senior county championship debut after starting in Kent’s under-11s in 2000.

Penny Arnold announced her retirement from senior county cricket, and was presented with a silver salver by Edwards to recognise her years of service.

The Bergman Osterberg shield was presented to Charlotte Edwards for the most outstanding performance of the season.

In her final county championship match, she took four for 15 and three catches, and hit 67 not out as she led Kent to a first County Championship victory.

Derek Underwood presented the Golden Jubilee Award to John Flitton for his outstanding contribution to women’s and girls’ cricket.

In five years as manager, he led under-15 teams to two Ampleforth Festival wins, two national under-17s finals, and he also organised the tour to South Africa in 2004.

Presentations were also made by sponsors Kent Youth Cricket Trust, Kent CCC Supporters club, the Cricket Society, the Lord’s Taverners (West Kent), and the Kent and Sussex Lady Taverners.

The raffle and auction raised more than £2,000 toward future cricket developments.

Bill Laidlaw, SeaFrance sales director, said: "It has been a privilege to be part of Kent women’s and girlls’ cricket, and it has been a fantastic year."

David Sear, Kent cricket development manager and event organiser, said: "What we have achieved in England women’s and girls' cricket is unprecedented.

"We are not going to rest here. We know that other counties are gunning for us. We will just have to work harder to stay on top."