Curtis selection culmination of a 12 year dream

Sam Curtis couldn't keep the smile off his face on Christmas Day after receiving a long-awaited phone call on Christmas Eve confirming his selection in the Central Districts side. Curtis, 27, had been working towards his selection for 12 years and felt relief that "all the hard work and determination has finally paid off".
"I'm just over the moon. It was the best Christmas present ever."
Curtis finishes his captaincy of the Wairarapa side for the season in their final match against Taranaki on home ground, which begins next Friday followed by a day's rest before he meets up with Central Districts to play his debut match against Wellington on January 15.
Though he was in the provincial squad last year he says the Central Districts call-up is "a huge step in my career".
"It's awesome for the area as well. It's been a long time since Wairarapa has had two players picked."
Wairarapa pace-bowler Seth Rance was named on standby for Central Districts despite Curtis saying, "everyone expected him to be a shoe-in for the team".
"I really feel for Seth because he has honestly been the best-performing Wairarapa player this season and it's just a shame he missed out. He is young, though, and will get another chance for sure."
In the past three years Curtis has averaged over 45 runs throughout the Hawke Cup and admits to a lot of hard work and intense training to be where he is.
Captaining the Wairarapa side this season has been "mentally and physically exhausting", with a particularly young and inexperienced team.
"I've had some great mentoring from people like Dermot Payton and Doug Bracewell and I've tried to bring that in as captain of the Wairarapa side."
Curtis works for Wairarapa Cricket Association as their development officer and coaches Wairarapa schoolchildren through the six-week Milo cricket programme from August to April.
He has no plans to leave Masterton, having already played cricket in Scotland, Curtis says he loves his job and "being selected for the Central Districts side has fulfilled his ultimate goal".
"Of course I'd love the opportunity to play one first-class game for New Zealand but at the moment I'm chuffed with where I am."
Curtis said he never made a representative team until he was selected for the Wairarapa under- 16s but with "determination, passion and hard work it is possible to go the distance".
"It just shows anyone can get there and that's what I always tell the kids I'm coaching. From my point of view the best thing about mine and Seth's selection is that Wairarapa now has a look-in for Central Districts and because we're producing some good players at the moment we won't miss out as much," he said.
Curtis is expecting a good turnout for his Central Districts debut at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval next week and says, "playing at home means there will be a little more expectation of me".
For now Curtis is enjoying the moment and says the support he has received is outstanding.
"The whole experience is very humbling."