Work with junior sport earns praise

HUGE BUZZ: Wairarapa 'cricket tragic' and coach Simon Roseingrave is thrilled to receive the New Zealand Community Volunteer of the Year Award at the Wellington Sports Awards. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

A self-confessed Wairarapa "cricket tragic" has been awarded for his dedication to "the gentleman's game" - in the company of some of New Zealand's biggest sporting stars.

Simon Roseingrave of Masterton received the New Zealand Community Volunteer of the Year Award at the Wellington Sports Awards for his commitment to junior cricket in the Wairarapa region.

Roseingrave, who calls himself a "cricket tragic" for his love of the game, said receiving the award was a "huge buzz".

"It was really surreal to hear my name called out - I wasn't expecting it at all," said Roseingrave.

"I was going up on the same stage as people like Irene van Dyk, Steve Adams and [Chiefs player] Scott Waldrom, which was so cool.

"It was awesome to be there, a small town guy, amongst all these famous people.

"Needless to say, I didn't sleep much that night."

Roseingrave is currently local co-ordinator of Red Star Cricket, the largest junior cricket club in the region, junior cricket girls co-ordinator for Wairarapa, coach of the Wairarapa under-15 girls' representative cricket team, and a representative for the Wairarapa Women's Cricket Board.

Thanks to Roseingrave's effort in devising a marketing and promotion strategy to attract more girls to cricket, girls' participation in the sport has increased by an impressive 150 per cent in Wairarapa over the last two years.

At the awards ceremony, representatives from Cricket Wellington approached him, wanting to use similar ideas to promote the girls game.

"For me, it was just great to be there to represent and talk about Wairarapa cricket - as it's rarely discussed outside outside the region."

In his acceptance speech, Roseingrave thanked wife Rebecca for supporting and putting up with "all the hours" he put into cricket.

"Rebecca decided if she can't beat me, she may as well join me - so she's now coaching our son's cricket team," he said.

"I have put a lot of hours into it - but when you absolutely love cricket as much as I do, it's easier to put the time in."

While he is thrilled with his award, Roseingrave remains humble - and insists his contribution to Wairarapa cricket has been a team effort.

"There are so many high-calibre people who are involved with cricket in our area - so I'm not the only one," he said.

"The experience really has been amazing - I found out there are around 75,000 sports volunteers in the Wellington region, so even to be nominated is pretty cool."