Volunteers are essential to the effective running of the game of cricket and ever year hundreds of people give up their time to help grow the game at grassroots level.
Because of this dedication to grassroots cricket, New Zealand Cricket is proud to announce the recipients of the 2009/10 Development awards.
Each Major Association made a nomination for each of the five categories. The final winners are:
Best Club Cricket Initiative – Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club (Auckland)
Best Women’s Cricket Initiative – Grafton United Cricket Club (Auckland)
Best Youth Cricket Initiative – John McGlashan College (Dunedin)
Best Junior Cricket Initiative – Te Kowhai School (Hamilton)
Service to Cricket Award – Peter Bennett (Morrinsville)
Best Club Cricket Initiative
A Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club thought outside the oval and swapped the grass for an ice rink. The club organised New Zealand’s first ever Indoor Ice Cricket Match, which included support of Heart Children New Zealand. Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club members as well as current and former BLACKCAPS made up the teams, including; Shane Bond, Tim Southee, Dion Nash, Sir Richard Hadlee and Andy McKay in a 10 over a side match. The event was organised by 150 community volunteers and 800 members of the local community packed into Paradise Ice Rink in support of the unique cricketing event in the promotion of our national summer game. $17,000 was raised towards Heart Children New Zealand from the event from a post match dinner on ice for 200 people and an auction.
Best Women’s Cricket initiative
Grafton United Cricket Club in Auckland has won award for running a 4 week Women’s Quick Six module. The programme was designed to encourage non-cricketers to try out the sport in a social and friendly environment and provide basic coaching of fundamental skills. The module has established a keen group of women cricketers who have already established an interest in continuing to play. Grafton United hope to make this 6 team competition an even larger one in 2010/11.
Best Youth Cricket Initiative
Through the dedication of a number of parents, Dunedin’s John McGlashan College created a cricket academy for approximately 40 players to win the Best Youth Cricket Initiative. The parents were able to source funding so that the players could receive pre-season and in season coaching by various Otago Cricket coaches. A result of this academy also saw a significant increase in teams at the College along with some great on field successes including representing Otago at both the NZCT Junior Boys and Gillette Cup national finals tournaments.
Best Junior Cricket Initiative
Te Kowhai School in Hamilton wins the Best Junior Cricket initiative after getting cricket up and running at the school in 2009/10. The success of the initiative can be put down to the dedication and passion of parent and board of trustee member Garth Mihaka. Garth has taken this country school from having no teams to now having 7. He has also established 2 girls’ teams in a city that has struggled to get two teams in total. This has happened almost totally through his dedication and enthusiasm for the kids and the game. What is most remarkable is that Garth is confined to a wheelchair, not that he sees this as a disability.
Service to Cricket Award
Peter Bennett wins the Service to Cricket award after years of service to cricket in the Waikato Valley. Since 1958 Peter has undertaken many voluntary roles within Waikato Valley. His roles have included; coaching and managing teams, secretary, treasurer, and president at a number of cricket associations, as well as managing grounds. Peter began preparing wickets as a fourth former at Morrinsville College in 1958. After returning several years later he took up wicket preparations again and has continued as the Morrinsville groundsman ever since. Peter has also been responsible for the fundraising and installation of thirteen artificial cricket pitches to provide better facilities for junior players. The value of Peter’s contributions cannot be measured. He has made a huge difference to an enormous number of young cricketers and their families. Peter has also been recognised with life memberships at Tatuanui Cricket Club, Morrinsville Cricket Association and Waikato Valley Cricket Association.
The five winners of the development awards as well as the recipient of the Sir Jack Newman award (to be announced later this year), will be invited to attend New Zealand Cricket’s annual awards dinner in Auckland at the start of the 2010/11 season.
