Cricket: Camp ticks fun and fiscal boxes

Black Cap Doug Bracewell recalls getting up to mischief at Riverbend Camp nights. PHOTO/FILE

Black Cap Doug Bracewell doesn't remember much about playing during his preteen days at the annual Riverbend Cricket Camp in Hawke's Bay but he does recall having a hoot with the boys.

"I was young so it was a long time ago but I remember getting into quite a lot of trouble at the actual camp," said Bracewell who use to live in Tauranga and travelled with a formidable side that included the likes of Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson.

"We used to have pillow fights and all sorts with all the other teams that stayed at the campsite so they used to be a lot of fun," says the 26-year-old who may be out of action for the rest of this summer after injuring his knee while playing for the table-topping Central Districts Stags during their McDonald's Super Smash T20 campaign last month in New Plymouth.

Bracewell, who moved to Napier with his former test cricketer father Brendon Bracewell in his teens, vividly recalls inaugural camp organiser Ray Mettrick waking their team up at midnight to discipline them with a run in the cold.

The Stephen Hill Motors Hastings-sponsored camp, which starts today, is now a far cry now from its humble beginnings in 1979.

While organisers still champion all the values of frivolity, within the boundaries of acceptable behaviour, as well as coaching and development, the camp is anything but a laugh fiscally.

Apart from gaining sponsorship, the camp brings close to $5.5 million to the twin cities, according Hawke's Bay Cricket Association CEO Craig Findlay who took over from Mettrick as co-ordinator in 2001.

"That's what it works out to with 130-odd teams we'll see a lot of money come into the economy with all the out-of-town teams," says Findlay of more than 100 sides from outside the province to compete in seven grades over 22 days. The campsite is at Havelock North and Napier Boys' High School but parents and family members will live at hotels, motels or other families will billet them.

Findlay reckons families have already started booking accommodation for next year after heavy demand caused by the Colgate Games in athletics and other events such as the international T20 and the rowing regatta.

"It becomes a cricket holiday for some of these families," he says, pointing out some people he played against as a youngster for Taradale are now returning with their children."

Findlay welcomes a little rain before the camp, saying the groundsmen at both councils will allow for sometime for the fields and wickets to recuperate.

The tournament will employ every cricket ground in the two cities and an effort will be made for Forest Gate Domain, Ongaonga, to host a couple for CHB teams.

Last summer Findlay said only half a day was lost to rain, which is probably the average for the tourney since he was co-ordinating it.

"We have 41 teams from Wellington here and they have only played two Saturdays before Christmas over there, whereas in Hawke's Bay we have lost none although the men may have lost a couple."

Seeing the smiles on kids' faces, he says, is in itself an accomplishment.

"If you get a duck in the morning then you get another chance to bat in the afternoon whereas on a normal weekend if you get a duck you have to wait for a whole week to do it - that's the beauty of the camps," he says.

The numbers have ballooned to 1650 this summer but Findlay has refrained from placing a ceiling by breaking a Year 7 or 8 grade into A and B sides

The camps have been a breeding ground for several first-class and New Zealand cricketers with Ross Taylor, Jamie How, Jeetan Patel, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Peter McGlashan, Doug Bracewell, Kane Williamson, Ben Stokes (England), Sara McGlashan and Sophie Devine to name a few.

"The cricket was also quite good at the time because there was a lot of competition around and we had a strong team that went unbeaten for a few years in a row," says Bracewell, always relishing the opportunities to gauge their worth against peers from around the country.

While names escape him the allrounder recalls some youngsters who went on to become elite cricketers from his time.

CAMP DETAILS

For 2017 tourney:
■ Boys' Year 4/5: Today to Saturday (17 teams).
■ Boys' Year 8 development: Sunday to Wednesday, January 11 (20 teams).
■ Boys' Year 9-10: Monday, January 9 to Thursday, January 12 (13 teams).
■ Boys' Year 7a: Wednesday, January 11 to Saturday, January 14 (17 teams).
■ Boys' Year 11-13: Sunday, January 15 to Wednesday, January 18 (6 teams).
■ Boys' Year 7b: Sunday, January 15 to Wednesday, January 18 (18 teams).
■ Boys' Year 6a: Wednesday, January 18 to Saturday, January 21 (18 teams).
■ Boys' Year 6b: Sunday, January 22 to Wednesday, January 25 (18 teams).
■ Boys' Year 8 representative: Monday, January 23 to Thursday, 26 (8 teams).

Note: Section A will be for the better district and club teams while section B is for development sides.

NUMBERS GAME

■ Teams: 135, up on 123 teams last year and 108 in 2015.

■ Hawke's Bay: 32 teams (31 last year).

■ Wellington: 40 teams (38).

■ Northern Districts: 36 teams (30).

■ Central Districts: 18 teams (14).

■ Auckland: 9 teams (10).

■ Players: 1620 all up.

■ Coaches/managers: 246 of them will either start or continue in the roles.

■ Games: 377.

■ Days: 22, up from 17 traditionally.

■ All North Island colours: 26 regions - Auckland, Cambridge, Central Hawke's Bay, Dannevirke, Hamilton, Hastings, Havelock North, Horowhenua-Kapiti, Johnsonville, Manawatu, Matamata, Napier, Onslow, Porirua, Poverty Bay, Rotorua, Taradale, Taranaki, Taupo, Tauranga, Tawa, Upper Hutt, Wairarapa, Wellington, Whakatane.

HONOUR'S BOARD

■ Those who: Score 30 runs, take three wickets or execute three fielding dismissals.

Go to: www.hbcricketcamps.co.nz for details each night.

WHERE

■ Camp venues: Riverbend in Havelock North, Napier Boys' High School for the older boys.

■ Grounds: Anderson Park, Cornwall Park, Flaxmere Park, Frimley Park, Havelock North, Hereworth School, Karamu High School, Windsor Park (all Hastings).

Marewa Park, Nelson Park, Park Island, Petane Domain, Taradale Park, Napier Boys' High School (all Napier).