The cup overfloweth at Takapuna District Cricket Club. Not only has this season seen the celebration of their 75th jubilee, but they have taken top honours at both regional and national levels. On 19 March, New Zealand Cricket announced that TDCC had won the national Club of the Year award. At the Auckland Cricket Association awards on 23 March, TDCC won multiple awards, including the Simmonds & Osbourne Shield for top-performing club.
The Simmonds & Osbourne Shield reflects such wins as Takapuna Premier Men’s win of the Jeff Crowe Cup (one-day competition) and the Hedley Howarth (two-day competition), as well as Takapuna Premier Women’s win of the Pearl Dawson Cup. New Zealand Cricket remarked on TDCC’s thriving junior programme. Club President, Susanne Martin, says that the junior programme is one part of the club’s ‘pathways’, a holistic view of the sport and all its components. “Our pathways approach is a way to stay connected and be of value to our members across a lifetime, by building programmes to fit players' needs, whether they’re four years old or 84 years old.”
The club is intent on being welcoming and accessible to all parts of their diverse catchment, across ages, genders, abilities and cultures. That easy accessibility is why the club enjoys a busy social grade. Andy Ross, Club Chair, says, “If you’re a newcomer, we’ll welcome you into the club, whatever your level of experience, and find you a place where you feel that you fit, and can grow and enjoy the game.”
The pathway to coaching and umpiring has also been a focus. Youth players who help to coach at the junior programme, Kookaburra Cup, can sign up for coaching or umpiring training and then be mentored for certification. Amongst the TDCC individuals honoured at the ACA Awards was Brad Cachopa, who won the Merv Wallace Bat for Coach of the Year, recognising his impact on helping players reach their potential. Brad’s win highlights the evolution possible within TDCC, where he has grown from a youth player into giving back to the club in a more senior capacity.
For a down-to-earth club with strong community values, Takapuna’s roll call of international cricketers is quite astounding. Justin Vaughan, Chris Pringle, Lou Vincent, Andrew McKay, Paul Hitchcock, Andre Adams, Lauren Downs, Izzy Gaze, Arlene Kelly and Max O’Dowd all call TDCC their home club. With TDCC’s support, today's Kookaburra Cup players may also have exciting cricket paths ahead of them.
If you’d like to find out more about Takapuna District Cricket Club, head to takapunacricket.co.nz
