Congratulations to Marta Marzal of the Cataluyna Cricket Association and John Dye (chairman of the ECCL) on winning ICC Regional awards for best photo of the year, and volunteer of the year respectively.
Below is the full press release from ICC Europe of all the eight winners in the different categories…
The Pepsi ICC Development Programme award winners for the Europe region have been announced by ICC Europe for 2013 with Cricket Scotland winning the award for ‘Best Overall Development’ after having an extremely strong year in a number of different areas.
These included the Summer Squad in its second year, Cowal Highland Games in partnership with Cricket Factory, the Women’s programme which has strengthened even more in 2013 and 74 come and try events across the country with 3128 attending with the most visual being at the Scotland v Pakistan ODI. The continual development of coach education and umpire education, as well as a stronger emphasis on indoor cricket.
Cricket Ireland’s successful year has culminated in three awards in the ‘Best Cricket Promotion and Marketing’, ‘Best Women’s Cricket Initiative’ and the ‘Lifetime Service’ award.
The ‘Best Cricket Promotion and Marketing’ award was awarded for the Ireland v England ODI marketing campaign as the largest and most successful cricket match ever hosted in Ireland with an attendance of 10,000 and broadcasted globally by BSkyB. The ‘Best Women’s Cricket Initiative’ was for the Girls and Women’s Cricket participation programme in the north of Ireland.
The Ulster Development Initiative included working with a variety of partners to ensure sustainability and success at all levels involving schools, clubs, regions and the international environment – and it has been an unqualified success in 2013.
Finally, the Lifetime Service award has gone to Mary Sharp. As a volunteer she has served cricket in many capacities, including, President of Pembroke Cricket Club for three seasons, the current Honorary Secretary of the Leinster Cricket Union which as a demanding role she has fulfilled with outstanding loyalty, enthusiasm and diligence for many years.
The ‘Photo of the Year’ is awarded to Spain’s Marta Marzal which was taken at a Street Cricket project event in Girona, Cataluyna and highlights the idea that you are never too young to enjoy cricket.
‘Volunteer of the Year’ went to Spain’s John Dye he has worked tirelessly in his role of Chairman of the East Coast and Central League. His role required him to co-ordinate the league for the Premier Division and the Development league from Valencia to Almeria and across to Madrid.
Best ‘Junior Participation Initiative’ is awarded to Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond for the Schiedam Cricket Stad, ‘city of cricket’ project which involved working with multiple organisations together to promote the sport of cricket in Schiedam. Cricket was run on the Johan Cruyff and Richard Krajicek courts with local business contributing through financial sponsoring in a week’s programme introducing street cricket, cage cricket, girls and women’s cricket
The ‘Best Spirit of Cricket’ was won by Guernsey Cricket Board for Table Cricket initiative in local care homes and disability organisations. The success of the venture has been phenomenal and to date have worked with over 300 people across the island including the Headway Group, the Alzheimer’s Society and the Cheshire Home.
Pepsi ICC Development Manager Nick Pink is delighted with this year’s awards nominations received, “Another year of strong contenders shows the improvement in development across the region/
There are lots to learn from within the content of the awards and the importance of showing what’s happening within each member” said Pink.
All winners will now be put forward for Pepsi ICC Development Global Awards.
The winners are as follows:
Best Overall Cricket Development Programme- Cricket Scotland
Best Junior Participation Initiative- Schiedam Cricket Stad (City of Cricket)- KNCB
Best Women’s Cricket Initiative- Ulster Development Initiative- Cricket Ireland
Best Cricket Promotional and Marketing Programme- The RSA Challenge Ireland v England – Cricket Ireland
Photo of the Year- Marta Marzal- Cricket Espana
Lifetime Service Award- Mary Sharp- Cricket Ireland
Volunteer of the Year- John Dye- Cricket Espana
Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative- Table Cricket- Guernsey Cricket Board