PAUL COLLINGWOOD’S career is witnessing a remarkable Indian summer, and the Durham skipper’s enduring ability was underlined last night when he claimed three awards at the club’s Player of the Year dinner.

The 41-year-old was the star of the show at Gateshead’s Hilton Hotel, with Durham’s annual awards ceremony taking place on the same day that Graham Clark and Michael Richardson signed deals that will keep them at Emirates Riverside for the next two seasons.

Collingwood was named Player of the Year, as voted for by Durham’s members, by a huge margin, and also claimed the Players’ Player of the Year and Batsman of the Year honours.

The evergreen all-rounder has enjoyed a hugely successful season with the bat, smashing Durham’s first Natwest T20 Blast century against Worcestershire and celebrating another three County Championship centuries.

He passed 1,000 Championship runs for the season, averaging 49.40, and also finished as the Jets’ top scorer in the T20 Blast.

The new Breakthrough Player of the Year award, which replaces the Young Player category, went to Cameron Steel, who became Durham’s youngest double centurion at the age of 22 in August.

Steel scored 899 first-class runs, at an average of 40-86, and claimed his maiden first-class century against Northamptonshire.

Graham Onions claimed the Champagne Moment of the Year award, with his record-breaking 519th first-class wicket for Durham topping a poll of supporters.

The Bowler of the Year was Chris Rushworth, who took 58 wickets across all formats, with a best of 5-52 against Glamorgan. Paul Coughlin was named Fielder of the Year.

Batsman Gareth Harte was named Second XI Player of the Year after a prolific year for Neil Killeen’s side that featured a score of 183 in the Championship win over Northamptonshire.

The Community Player of the Year award when to Brydon Carse, in recognition of his support for Durham CCC’s Foundation throughout the season.

With a succession of players having left Emirates Riverside, Durham officials will be pleased to have tied down Richardson and Clark to deals that will run until the end of the 2019 season.

Clark emerged as one of Durham’s stand-out players this season, scoring his maiden century against Glamorgan in June and going on to notch nine more half-centuries across all formats. The 24-year-old was Durham’s third highest first-class run scorer, averaging 36.61.

Richardson will head into his eighth year with Durham next season, having made his first-class debut at Chester-le-Street in 2010. The 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman made nine half-centuries this season, averaging more than 30 in the Championship, and also struck his maiden one-day century against Yorkshire at Headingley.

“I’m very happy both players have signed fresh terms as they will each have a big role to play as we look to compete for the promotion spots next season,” said head coach Jon Lewis. “Both have a good range of skills that can be utilised in red ball and white ball, and in 2018 they have a chance to show what they can do as key members of the first team.”