The ANZ New Zealand Cricket Awards held this week provided the perfect opportunity for NZC to recognise some outstanding contributions by members of the cricket community. Read about the award winners below:
Secondary School Girls’ Young Cricketer of the Year – Bella Armstrong
With inspirational performances with bat and ball Bella Armstrong led Epsom Girls’ Grammar School to their first Secondary Schools Girls’ title.
Bella had an incredible tournament, finishing well ahead of her rivals in the run scoring department, ending the tournament with 238 runs to her name including three half centuries. She also led the way with the ball in hand claiming 6 wickets across the tournament this outstanding 4/7 in the final game to help secure the title for Epsom Girls.
Secondary School Boys’ First XI Cup Young Cricketer of the Year – Ben Hartland & Ben Lockrose
Two Ben’s couldn’t be separated for the First XI Cup Young Cricketer of the Year. Ben Hartland had an outstanding tournament leading Christchurch Boys High to their fifth title in the last six years. Hartland led the team expertly and dominated the tournament 346 runs across five games including a best of 101 and three fifties.
Ben Lockrose was also outstanding for Otago Boys’ High School. Lockrose was the leading wicket taker with 11 wickets across the tournament with a best of 4/19. Lockrose also made useful contributions with the bat during the tournament scoring 104 runs in four innings.
Club of the Year – Queenstown Cricket Club – award received by Daniel Gibbons
The Queenstown Cricket Club has proven to be one of the most successful clubs in Central Otago, with growth leading to the fielding of nine junior teams, three senior teams, 10 Superstar Cricket teams.
The club attracts large numbers to its six-a-side T20 competition on various week nights, has heavily promoted its “Girls Smash” experience, and has an all-female team playing regularly in its junior competition.
Volunteer of the Year – Brendan Marshall
Brendan Marshall has been the catalyst for the revival of West Coast Cricket in the last 12 months.
Brendan’s enthusiasm had an immediate impact - with more cricket played in the district over the past 12 months than the past six years combined.
Brendan has worked closely with neighbours Buller, creating opportunities for West Coast players to play longer formats of the game in Buller. The eventual goal being for West Coast to return to the Hawke Cup.
Official of Year – Bob Bruhns
Bob Bruhns has scored for Allenton and Mid Canterbury for decades and is not only their scorer but chief record-keeper and statistician. It all began more than 38 years ago when Bob scored his first game between Canterbury Minor associations and a Young England team.
Bob achieved one hundred Hawke Cup games in February 2017. Unless scoring for Mid Canterbury in official games, Bob turns up without fail to score the Allenton games. His commitment and dedication to the game is astonishing!
Cricket Development Officer of the Year – James Carr
James has been influential in the success of the Girls Smash programme implemented throughout the Otago Region.
James managed to get 30, 6-a-side girls only teams playing over the six-week long competition. As a result, Southland delivered the most players and teams in Otago for the “Girls Smash” programme.
In addition, James had further success with both the Superstar Cricket and Superstar Cricket Academy programmes, highlighted by two new centres in Te Anau and Winton.
Best Female Engagement Strategy – Northern Premier League (NPL) – Andrea Friar
New Zealand Cricket are supporting Major Association to grow female cricket and Northern Districts have taken a lead by creating the Northern Premier League.
The league was developed to fill the gap for talented female cricketers who were looking for quality competitive cricket.
The NPL consists of four even teams. In the first year of the competition, 4-40 over matches were played , with 74 players recruited largely from Northern Districts. Junior clinics were held prior to each round and 63 girls attended. Four female head coaches were recruited as well as three female assistant coaches.
Outstanding Contribution and Services to Coaching – Ian Gordon
Ian Gordon has been the driving force for junior cricket at Eastbourne Cricket Club, and for female cricket at the Hutt Districts Cricket Club for over a decade.
Starting in 2000 at Eastbourne, Ian was a junior coach for six years before moving to Hutt District Cricket Club where he coached the Girls Youth team until 2015.
Under his watch, the Hutt Club was able to grow the Girls Youth base to two teams and sustain a competitive senior team.
In 2015/16, Ian progressed into the Hutt Districts Premier Women's coaching role where he continues today. His side creating history as they won both the clubs first 2016/17 Maureen Peters T20 Plate, and the Joy Lamason One Day Trophy.
Outstanding Contribution to Cricket – Peter Devlin
Peter Devlin’s impact on cricket within Canterbury Country and Canterbury has been invaluable over a long period of time.
Major achievements include helping driver the development of Mainpower Oval; building development staff roles into the Associations set up, and being the face of cricket within Canterbury Country.
Regarded as a leader amongst the Canterbury-wide associations, Peter has accepted any position or challenge that the Canterbury Cricket Association or the other districts have thrown at him. Up until last season, Peter was also the Mid Canterbury Cricket Association administrator, maintaining and managing the associations affairs.
Sir Jack Newman – Malcolm Benge
A hugely influencing figure within the local community, Malcolm’s main role has focused on club administration where he has fulfilled many official and newly-adopted roles as Deputy Chair for the Junior Cricket Upper Hutt committee.
Throughout his long involvement with the club, Malcolm has highlighted the club's growth; helping it expand from 20 junior teams in 2010 to 33 in 2017.
Further to this, the club has started, and successfully fields, two all-girls teams - one primary and one college aged - which provides a pathway for local girls.
Malcolm also undertook many administrative roles for the club and local school, Hutt International Boys School.
For Malcolm, no task has been too great or too small.
