SO that was the season that was. There have been highs and there have been lows – but I reckon that in years to come people will look back at 2011 as one of the good ones.

Lowerhouse were unexpected and welcome winners of the Lancashire League crown and their perfect home record will also take some beating. To bounce back after being bowled out for 47 on the opening day is a real effort and they will party all winter.

Baxenden’s Ribblesdale League title was also unexpected. They were tipped to be top five for certain – but Babar Naeem’s 100-plus wickets upped the ante for Bash and if anyone gets 100 wickets you deserve the league.

So then feel sorry for Todmorden pro Qaiser Abbas and Ramsbottom skipper Jon Fielding, who both claiming 100 wickets in the Lancashire League yet failed to win the big prize.

The Worsley Cup, the Lancashire League Twenty20 and the Ron Singleton Colne Trophy went the way of Ramsbottom – but the one they wanted got away.

Ribblesdale Wanderers won the Ramsbottom Cup on a magical day at the perfect cup final venue, Padiham CC’s Arbories, while Settle stunned Whalley to win the Twenty20. But Richard Palmer’s men had a good year to finish fourth.

And in the Northern League Chorley were brilliant in reaching third place after last year’s last. They were in the title mix until the penultimate weekend and deserve their return to the Lancashire Cup.

It was Darwen’s centenary season and despite not having the best of times on the field thanks mainly to the rain, the Towers had plenty to celebrate in the shape of Alex Davies.

The 17-year-old was a run machine at the top of the order and also got picked for Lancashire in the CB40 game at Colwyn Bay and can look forward to many more big days.

It might be stretching the facts to call it a vintage summer – but I’ll tell you what, it’s been a good ‘un.