Dannevirke: Upgrade likely to bring success to school

Campbell Ingram is congratulated by Dawid de Villiers on his selection for the Manawatu Under-15 representative cricket team. Photo / Christine McKay

At 14, Dannevirke High School pupil Campbell Ingram is the youngest member of the Manawatu Under-15 representative cricket team.

Now, a $20,000 revamp of the school's cricket facilities is paving the way for more top performances.

Campbell has been playing cricket since primary school and has come up through the representative ranks, playing under-13 and under-14 cricket for the Manawatu.

With a dream of one day becoming a Black Cap and a stint at the high performance cricket academy in Palmerston North, the high school's new state-of-the-art practice facilities and two all-weather artificial wickets were a big boost for the game, he told the Dannevirke News.

"It's good and will help all our cricketers," he said. "We also have a new bowling machine."

With cricket booming at the high school, principal Dawid de Villiers said the new facilities were "a big thing".

The sports fields have undergone a major transformation, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Eastern and Central Community Trust, with an artificial wicket on the top and bottom fields and a new practice complex.

"We hope to have everything finished by this Friday and fully operational next season," Dr de Villiers said. "And it's been good to have a big part of this job taken on by locals, with just the specialised work completed by an out-of-town team."

Having local contractors work on projects at the school whenever possible is part of Dr de Villier's philosophy.

"Where we can, we like to contribute to our local economy and I think this school is doing its bit to help the financial well-being of our town," he said. "With 85 per cent of the income generated here going back into the community, from an annual turnover of $5 million that's a big boost to Dannevirke."

A batsman/wicketkeeper, Campbell models his style on that of Black Cap captain Brendon McCullum, but it's been the Dannevirke High School cricket coach, Bruce Hooper-Smith, who has had the biggest influence.

Last season, Campbell's high school team won the Premier 3 grade in the Manawatu competition, a tough ask for the Year 9 player, but one he was well and truly up to, Dr de Villiers said.

"Cricket has come into its own here at our school, with Campbell taking part in the representative tournament in Levin in December and Year 13 player Thomas Kuggelijin selected for the Manawatu senior team, taking four wickets in their last game," he said.

The school's sports fields transformation, including the installation of artificial practice facilities, will help reduce wear and tear on playing surfaces and will also provide additional resources for the school's physical education classes. "This is a brilliant complex," Dr de Villiers said. "It not only means we can have two teams playing at home but, if it rains on a Friday, we can still play on the Saturday."