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on the tour and once we returned to New Zealand. This informa on is for the boys to process and I will be eager to see if the boys use any of the informa on, or use the trip as a pla orm to progress their cricket.
The matches were a mixture of formats with a Two Day Match, Two 40 Over Matches and Two T20’s. We played Academy teams and a secondary school
in our 5 matches. The grounds were good with all the wickets having li le or no grass and the out elds were pre y good and well grassed. Our nal T20 was played under lights which was a real highlight for the team.
Results of the matches were a draw in the Two Day match and a win in one of the
40 Over matches and one of the T20’s.
All of the boys developed over the trip
and had good performances. It wasn’t
easy, and stamina and concentra on were really tested by both the condi ons and the a acking nature of the way they play cricket in New Delhi. It was also fascina ng to see the range of ages we played. In India, age doesn’t mean much, if you are good enough, you play. Their boys are playing cricket 12 months of the year and training or playing 6.5 days a week! I could only
see that occurring for a few boys in New Zealand.
Hayden Hart and Jed Mockford ended the tour on 10 wickets each and they also had our top scores with 53 and 66 runs. Blake Harper, Hayden, Gareth Turnock, Hamish Gray and Clark Sutherland all scored 30s. Alec Mathieson and Jordan Tooby opened the bowling in most matches and they took 10 wickets between them. Ben Jennings took 4 wickets for 16 runs in one of the 40 over matches at St Stephen’s.
Outside of the cricket, we travelled down to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, which was a highlight for many of the group. A long day, 3am through to 8pm, but was worth it. It is hard to describe what it feels like to be in the presence of such an iconic building. The boys were also treated as superstars at the Taj. In their travelling uniforms they were seen as “A New Zealand Cricket Team”.
We also visited a Gem and Handicra s shop and then a Marble shop, which was interes ng to see. There may have also been a carpet purchased by our team manager!
Another trip in the bus took us North East to the SI Cricket Factory. This was a small company who were able to show us how
to make bats and Benji and Jed had bats made for them while they watched. SI were really great to us and the boys who went were able to pick up some real bargains! Grade 1 bats for $125, huge wheelie bags for $40 and gloves for $25. It was certainly a highlight and something that we would do early on any future trips.
On the last night we all travelled to The Kingdom of Dreams to visit Culture Gully, where you can have a meal and buy products from around India. They also have Bollywood Shows each day, which was
really fun and a great way to nish the trip.
We also had a lot of fun at the markets close to the hotel and we travelled to some of the landmarks in the city. The parents were also able to go on a trip to Old Delhi and the Spice Markets, while we trained one day. Ant Sutherland, we think, saw every landmark in New Delhi! He was up and away each day and was a Metro expert by the end of the trip!
Thanks to all the boys and the parents
who came on the trip. It was a fantas c experience with an awesome group of people. Things can’t be perfect when travelling from NZ to a city such as New Delhi, but I believe we got most things right and the things we didn’t will go under the ‘Experience’ heading. There are things that only our group will understand and there are some things that are s ll ‘Too Soon’
to talk of! Seeing the development of the boys, the comments and sights on the long bus trips, the ‘Cracker Mile’ and the way the group worked together were all highlights for me! Some may not return, I will be back!
Ian Mockford
Cycling & Bikes
OTAGO/SOUTHLAND SECONDARY SCHOOL ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Otago/Southland Secondary School Road Cycling Championships were held recently, in atrocious condi ons. Results were:
U13 Boys’ Time Trial -
Magnus Jamieson (2nd)
U13 Boys’ Road Race –
Magnus Jamieson (1st)
U17 Boys’ Road Race –
Mitchel Fitzsimons (1st)
U17 Boys’ Time Trial –
Mitchel Fitzsimons (1st)
U19 Boys’ Road Race –
Corbin Strong (2nd)
U19 Boys’ Time Trial –
Corbin Strong (2nd)
Road Cycling Champs –
Southland Boys’ High School (3rd)
NATIONAL TRACK CYCLING COMPETITION
Team Pursuit (3rd) – Mitchel Fitzsimons, Jacob Willis, Navarh Brotherston and Hunter (from JHC)
Sprint team (3rd) – Mitchel Fitzsimons, Navarh Brotherston, and Quinn Naylor
Madison (2nd) – Navarh Brotherston and Mitchel Fitzsimons
Madison (4th) – Jacob Willis and Quinn Naylor
Points Race (3rd) – Mitchel Fitzsimons Match Sprints (2nd) – Mitchel Fitzsimons
SOUTH ISLAND SECONDARY SCHOOL CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Southland Boys’ High School cycling team produced great results at the SISS Cycling championships in Timaru. There were 230 cyclists entered from 57 schools all over the South island. Overall the SBHS Team placed 5th which was a fantas c result for a small team of 9. Well Done Boys!