Bay Of Plenty Cricket Recognised At NZ Cricket Awards Night

Posted: Monday, 3 April 2017

Black Cap Captain Kane Williamson, who graduated from the Bay of Plenty junior cricket pathway and BOPCA Women’s Development Officer Rebecca Yee, were honoured at the ANZ New Zealand Cricket Awards night on Thursday (30 March 2017) evening in Auckland.

The Black Cap captain in all three forms of the game, received New Zealand Cricket’s highest accolade, being presented with the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal given annually to the New Zealand Cricket Player of the Year.

Kane walked up to the podium on three separate occasions on a night that celebrated the best in cricket in the country. Kane also received the T20 International player of the year and the Redpath Cup for first class cricket batting honours during the season.

Bay of Plenty Cricket CEO Chris Rapson said “It goes without saying that everyone involved with cricket in the Bay is extremely proud of Kane’s achievements at the highest level. Many of us have had the opportunities to watch him play from the time he was involved in schoolboy cricket through the various stages of the Bay of Plenty cricket pathways, to the fine international sportsman he is today”. “Throughout his time in the game it has become apparent that Kane has special qualities as a cricketer, as a leader and as someone who seeks to further the interests of the team; ahead of his own interests. We think that the latest recognition of his career to date is well deserved and most appropriate”.

During the evening Bay of Plenty Cricket Women’s Development Officer Rebecca Yee received the NZC Community Cricket Best Female Engagement Strategy Award. The Community Cricket Best Female Engagement Strategy recognizes an approach that encourages females to participate in cricket, provide opportunities for participants to improve their skills and lead into further female cricket opportunities.

GoGirl is a girl’s only cricket program launched in January 2013 by Northern Districts Cricket, through the auspices of NZ Cricket and is a partnership with Sport NZ Kiwisport Program. The GoGirl program is aimed at Year 5 & 6 girls, to draw the youngsters to the game by way of a standalone girl’s introduction program.

The Bay of Plenty GoGirl program is delivered by BOPCA Women’s Cricket Development Officer Rebecca Yee. The GoGirl program sees Rebecca delivering six lessons at each of the registered schools, covering the basics of batting, bowling and fielding. In addition to Rebecca’s hands on approach, she has been instrumental in organizing the hugely successful Rainbow World Cup and other Bay of Plenty girls cricket festivals during the season.

“It was significant that Rebecca Yee was also recognized at the NZC Annual Awards evening for the work she is doing in the Bay of Plenty, developing the girl’s game in the region. Her tireless and consistent delivery of the programmes she champions, puts her head and shoulders above her peers and she is making a very big difference in the sporting lives of the of the girls and young women here. We look forward to expanding the programmes that Rebecca is leading in order to expose them to the widest possible Bay of Plenty audience” said Chris.

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