Presidents Report 2010 / 2011

Presidents Report 2010 / 2011

First of all, let me thank you all for attending tonight’s AGM. After coming off a good 2009 / 2010 season in which we won 1 senior grand final, myself and the club as a whole were ready to go another step forward in 2010 / 2011 season. We were able to better last year’s effort in which we played finals in all 4 grades in senior division, winning 2 grand finals being 1st Grade & 4th grade. Our 1st grade side was to make the grand final again playing against our old foe in Marist, but unlike the last 2 seasons it was Colts who came out the victors, after trailing by 40 odd runs on the first day it was our skipper in Paul Reynolds that playing a match winning innings on day 2 that secured the 1st grade flag. It was a great effort by all, we have now played in our 4th grand final in a row & just shows how hard they are to win. For our 2nd grade it was another fantastic year, finishing the home and away in four place and accounting for Harvey in the 1st final, then a narrow loss in the preliminary final to Capel. Congratulations to all players for a great effort. Our 3rd grade also had a terrific year making the 1st semi final with a team made up of 3 or 4 players the wrong side of 40 & a host of talented juniors, it was specially pleasing watching our younger players improve over the year with many taking the next step into the 2nd grade. It was a trying year at the selection table, sometimes having up to 5 – 6 changes per week, but with the Great Spirit shown we were able to reach the finals. And finally to our 4th grade, who made the grand final again for the 5th time in a row, having won 3 of the previous 4 finals this year they atoned for last years loss with a great win. With stand in skipper Paddy Hurley leading the way, after season long captain Peter Waghorn could not find a place for himself in the Grand Final.

There is no doubt that we have a host of talented players many of which are still teenagers playing senior cricket for the Colts Cricket Club & and in the past year have formed the nucleus of our 1st grade premiership team. This just does not happen by itself & thanks must be paid to Troy Wilson & Paul Gardiner in bringing those players along over the last couple of seasons.

As always there are many people to thank in running a club the size of Colts, firstly to Paul Gardiner & Phil Nuttall for their help in organising and arranging coaches for our juniors last year is much appreciated. Their support throughout the year in helping me administer the club was fantastic. Secondly to Chris Michell as treasurer, he has done a great job this past year. This is not an easy job I know so thankyou for a job well done. Next Justin Riley for driving our sponsorship for the year landing some great Major sponsor’s for the club, which include Barr & Standley, Flexi Staff, Nexus, Burlington Hotel, One Steel, Eastman & Co, Hydraulink, TFM, Bunbury Cricket Centre & this season the Colts Life Members. And to all our other committee people including Matin Shaw, Paul Wilson & Nathan Brennan thank you for your time and effort over the season, your support was needed and much appreciated.

The last year has seen some major improvements to the facilities at the recreation ground, which include re-netting of the training nets & concrete added to run ups & filling in the gap between the wicket. Also the Storerooms were added & the concrete apron at the front of the clubrooms was also done. These projects were a joint venture with our co-tenants, but fair to say that our club was the driving force behind the whole project.

Saying that special thanks again to Paul Gardiner with organising & administrating, Chris Michell with the accounts & Ross Newton with project management of the building.

Also the last season saw the BDCA host the Australian Country Cricket Championships with Colts Cricket Club being a host club, all reports back from the Organising Committee were of the highest standard, so again there are some thankyou’s required firstly to Lil Miguel for her work during the championships in helping provide lunches and also for her assistance through out the year. Also many thanks to the Shaw Family, Martin, Kylie & Elle, to Trudy & Tricia Mangano, Maria & Dom Papalia, Paul Wilson & of course Paul Gardiner for their efforts over the carnival.

Last season also saw Colts Cricket Club start its In2cricket programme, the 8 week season started in Early November and had 30 participants. The feedback we had over the programme & during our trophy presentation was very positive and many thanks to the organisers in Chris Michell & Ritchie Brown, Ritchie was also our Senior training Co-ordinator & chairman of Selectors for the season.

And now with the season fast approaching we have to focus on the New Year and with the help of the new committee I’m sure that we can have another successful year for the Colts Cricket Club.

Thank you to all.