Gearing up for off-season practice
Mum and daughter get ‘lovely surprise’ from ANZ Cricket Grant programme
Mother and daughter senior grade cricket teammates Gabrielle and Fiona Read have just received an off-season training boost with the arrival of a full set of new gear each from the ANZ Cricket Grant programme.
ANZ's cricket grant programme gives New Zealand cricket players, teams and schools the chance to apply for new gear to help them with their game. Unlike their love for the game, Gabrielle and Fiona's old gear was hanging on by a thread. “I'd completely forgotten about the application, but it was a lovely surprise,” said Fiona. “It's really great to see the effort being put into women's cricket. The support we're getting is really cool,” said Fiona.
Gabrielle, a 17-year-old Year 13 student, had a standout season playing for Freyburg Cricket Club in Palmerston North, finishing the season as top wicket taker and winning the most improved player award.
She travels weekly with Mum Fiona from Levin to play in Palmerston North because there is no senior grade women's team in Levin. Mother and daughter will use their new gear to improve their skills during the off season training with Dad Karl.
There is a strong Foxton connection
as Karl Read was a former Horowhenua-Ka¯piti representative who played his club cricket for the Manawatu¯-Foxton club for many years.
When the family aren't training together this off season, they'll be
studying their favourite game on the television for new tactics. “We're cricket nuts,” Fiona said. ANZ head of sponsorship Sue McGregor said: “We love sport here at ANZ and the positive life lessons it provides. Providing quality gear to
young players is a step towards helping them achieve their sporting dreams and it's wonderful to play a part in that.
“We've enjoyed reading applications from good sports like Gabrielle and Fiona's. When we heard their story, we knew how much this new cricket gear would help them.”
ANZ has so far given more than $1,000,000 to help teams and players all over New Zealand achieve their cricket dreams.