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Mark Keaney

Mark Keaney stands down as RCA Chairman

A changing of the guard took place at the recent Rotorua Cricket Association AGM with Mark Keaney standing down as the RCA Chairman.

Mark was elected to chair the Rotorua Cricket Association at the start of the 2010/11 season, with Rotorua Cricket in the doldrums. The Rotorua Association financial health was in poor shape, player numbers had declined and the majority of the previous RCA Board members resigned at the Annual Meeting.

However Mark’s standing in the local junior cricket community saw him assemble a new enthusiastic team of volunteers, with Mark quickly picking up the leadership mantle. The new pro-active Board quickly got to grips with the problems facing Rotorua Cricket, with Senior and Junior committees formed to administer the playing side of the Rotorua game. 

Representative age-group cricket became a priority for the future development of the game, with Mark taking a leadi, gave the Rotorua regions promising youngsters the opportunity to experience rep cricket, often for the first time.

 Mark’s enthusiasm saw him take a leading role in the development of the Bay of Plenty Cricket Lakeland age group program. The Keaney name was prominent as a coach and manager of the Lakeland Primary and Junior Secondary sides from 2008 up to the 2012/13 season. 

Prominent Bay of Plenty Lakeland players who came under the Keaney influence in his time with the Lakeland age-group teams, included Shayde Perham, Shannon McSkimming, Jonty Keaney, Rohan Gosai and Alistair Blackett  

The name of Mark Keaney, will be long remembered in Rotorua Cricket circles for his management of the Rotorua Association in an inclusive and democratic manner. However he is not lost to the game continuing to stay involved in cricket as a Northern Districts Board member.