Genera Steps In To Help Deliver The 2019/20 Bay Of Plenty Cricket Junior Development Program

Posted: Thursday, 11 June 2020

BOPCA Season Review 2019/20

Genera Biosecurity, stepped in to ensure that the Bay of Plenty Cricket Junior Development Program went ahead during the 2019/20 cricket season.

The BOPCA Junior Development program facilitates the in-school delivery program, which introduces youngsters to the basic skills of cricket. Many of the participants have never picked up a bat or ball previously and enjoy the fun environment delivered by the qualified instructors.

The Genera Biosecurity financial support was instrumental in helping to deliver the hugely popular and successful Junior Cricket Festival days, which are delivered in the four Bay of Plenty Cricket regional centres.

Genera is a biosecurity industry leader using technological solutions to safeguard New Zealand. Genera is proudly a one hundred per cent New Zealand owned company.

“Upon hearing that the BOPCA schools grassroots cricket program was at risk, denying children across the Bay of Plenty access to the basics of cricket coaching, we agreed on the spot to fund the program”, said Genera Biosecurity founder Mark Greenwood.

The first two Genera Biosecurity Junior Cricket Festival Days, took place on Tuesday and Wednesday (5&6 November 2019) at Boord Park in Rotorua and Blake Park in Mount Maunganui.

The laughter and myriad screams of delight from the Year 5 and 6 youngsters, told the tale of the success of the Rotorua and Western Bay Festival days, where taking part in a fun environment and bonding with team mates took centre stage.

Much of the success can be attributed to the Bay of Plenty Cricket philosophy, where there are no tournament winners, with sportsmanship/spirit of the game achievements recognized along with spot prizes on the day.

The Bay of Plenty Cricket Festival days kicked off on Tuesday 5 November at Boord Park in Rotorua, with eight very enthusiastic teams. At the end of the day, Aorangi and St Michaels Schools were presented with the day’s Spirit of Cricket prizes.

Twenty-two teams took part in the 16th Western Bay of Plenty Mini World Cup at Blake Park on Wednesday 6th November. The most highly sought after prize presented each year is the best dressed team award.

This year the best team prize, went to Selwyn Ridge, who played under the banner of New Zealand. The team were kitted out in a full Black Cap playing strip including photos of their favourite Black Cap player on their hats.

The most improved trophy was given to Gate Pa School (Afghanistan), Tahatai Coast (Namibia) won the sportsmanship award, with Matua School (Australia) presented with the spirit of cricket prize.

The Genera Western Bay of Plenty Girls Super 6’s, was played out to the unique backdrop of the Blackcaps v England First Test at the Bay Oval on Thursday 21st November 2019.

A new record of 34 teams, took part in an amazing day of action and frivolity at Blake Park, with an abundance of laughter greeting the test match patrons as they made their way to the big game.

The Western Bay of Plenty Super 6’s, is the culmination of the GoGirl school visits by Bay of Plenty Cricket Women’s Cricket Officer Rebecca Yee and gives the youngsters the opportunity to put their new found cricket skills into action.

In addition to the two hundred youngsters taking part, many family and friends sat on the sidelines giving plenty of vocal support. To celebrate the historic occasion, tickets to the Black Caps verses England encounter were given to the youngsters to experience the live action of test cricket, at the conclusion of the Super 6’s.

Ten Taupo region Year 4/6 and five Year 7/8 teams, were extremely disappoints when the Taupo festival day set down for 13th November 2019, was cancelled due to inclement weather. The Eastern Bay of Plenty Super 6’s which took place on the 20th November 2019, attracted a record number of twenty teams spread through Year 3/ 4 and Year 5/6 age groups.

Bay of Plenty Cricket Development Manager Scott Steward said “The Eastern Bay of Plenty Festival day was an outstanding success, which was greatly assisted from the support received from Sport Bay of Plenty and the newly established Eastern Bay of Plenty Cricket Club”. “The support received, saw two youngsters from each of the participating schools receive a spirit of the game and most improved player prize”.

The sounds of laugher and good cheer could be heard a considerable distance from the Bay Oval on Wednesday 11 March 2020 - as 19 Western Bay of Plenty Primary Schools took part in the eighth annual Genera Rainbow Cup.

The Rainbow Cup, where many of the teams dress up in different colours reflecting the rainbow, is the culmination of the GoGirl Cricket program delivered by Bay of Plenty Cricket in Bay Schools, during term four and term one of the school year.

The GoGirl program is aimed at Year 4 - 6 girls, to draw the students to the game by way of a standalone girl’s introduction program.

Twenty eight teams made the annual tournament a very bright event, with the majority of the participants dressed up in their most colourful costumes. There was universal approval from players and the numerous supporters on hand, making sure the event was a great day out, in a cricket festival based upon participation.

Bay of Plenty Cricket Women’s Cricket Officer Rebecca Yee said “The Rainbow Cup is a big event on our calendar and we appreciate all the support from schools in continuing to make it such a success”. “It was fantastic to see all the girls out there on the Bay Oval having such a great time”.

The Matua Bee’s and Pyes Pa School took out the coveted ‘Best Dressed’ prize with very colourful outfits. “It was great to see Brookfield School win the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ award at their first Rainbow Cup, a reward for some great sportswomenship on the day” said Rebecca.

Three ‘Future Spirit’ prizes were given out to Stella Muir (Greenpark) Grace Miles (Matua) Hollie Ormsby (Te Puna), who showed the potential to make representative teams when they are older.

Other winners at the Western Bay of Plenty Cricket Festival were Pongokawa School winning the most improved prize, Tauranga Primary earning selection as the best prepared school , while Pahoia School, Te Puna School and Golden Sands School Purple were adjudged to have the best vocal support on the day.

Unfortunately the Genera Junior Cricket Development Program came to a premature end, with the Rotorua, Eastern Bay of Plenty and Taupo BOPCA Festival days cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Genera Biosecurity Junior Cricket Development Program – Festival Days Prizegiving

Genera Rotorua Festival Day – 5 November 2019

Fairplay Awards – Aorangi School & St Michaels School

Genera Western Bay of Plenty Mini World Cup – 6 November 2019

Most Improved Team: Gate Pa School (Afghanistan)

Best Dressed: Selwyn Ridge (New Zealand)

Sportsmanship Award: Tahatai Coast (Namibia)

Spirit of Cricket Award: Matua (Australia)

Genera Taupo Cricket Carnival - 14 November 2019 – cancelled due to wet weather

Genera Eastern Bay of Plenty Festival Day - 20 November

Genera Western Bay of Plenty Girls Super 6’s 21 November 2019

Positively Cricket Awards - Pyes Pa School, Golden Sands School and Matahui School.

Future Spirit Awards - Ruby (Greenpark School), Mikayla (Gate Pa School) and Tiana (Whakamarama School)

Superstar Awards - Bailey (Tauranga Primary), Jan Marie (St Mary’s Rotorua), Chloe (Oropi School), Leonelle (Greenpark School, Shreya (Katikati Primary)

Players with Promise Awards - Bonnie (Pyes Pa), Danika (Bethlehem College), Livvy (Taumata School)

Genera Western Bay of Plenty Rainbow Cup - 11 March 2020

Best Dressed Matua School & Pyes Pa School

Most Improved Pongokawa School

Best at Practice Tauranga Primary School

Best Support Pahoia School, Te Puna School, Golden Sands School Purple

Spirit of Cricket Award Brookfield School

Future Spirit Prizes – Stella Muir (Greenpark) Grace Miles (Matua) Hollie Ormsby (Te Puna)

Genera Rotorua GoGirl Festival Day - 18 March (cancelled due to Coronavirus pandemic)

Genera EBOP Junior Cricket Festival – 24 March (cancelled due to Coronavirus pandemic)

Genera Taupo GoGirl Festival Day - 25 March (cancelled due to Coronavirus pandemic)

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