Karen Kyle is the driving force behind cricket in Rotorua. Photo / File
Karen Kyle is the driving force behind cricket in Rotorua. Photo / File
For any sport to survive, there needs to be officials and administrators working tirelessly in the background, often with little recognition.
Rotorua Cricket co-ordinator Karen Kyle is one of those people. Co-ordinator doesn't come close to describing the work she does behind the scenes for the game she loves.
At the weekend her efforts were recognised when she was named the winner of the Alan McBride Trophy for Service to Junior Cricket.
Rotorua Cricket Association chairman Steve Pittman wrote a summary of Kyle's efforts to be read out at the awards which said she, with her husband Kenneth and their four children, "are all cricket mad".
"Karen joined the Rotorua Cricket Association's junior committee in the second half of the 2014/15 season as a parent wanting to make a difference and grow cricket.
"Her impact was immediate, especially around ensuring there was balance between making sure kids could participate and have fun as well as succeed and perform at a high level," Pittman said.
Kyle stepped into an administration role and she has gone above and beyond to help grow the game at senior and junior levels in Rotorua, Taupō and Tokoroa.
"Her ability to create relationships and advocate for Rotorua Cricket has been of great benefit to Rotorua Cricket and other organisations," Pittman said.
"Karen was the driving force behind Rotorua Cricket's strong alliance with NZ Blind Cricket Association with donations and making sure they can host a round of their Domestic Summer Series in Rotorua every year."
Rotorua's Karen Kyle Won the Alan McBride Trophy for Services to Junior Cricket at the Northern DIstricts Cricket Awards. Photo / Supplied
Kyle said receiving the award was a special moment, but she did not do any of it for personal recognition, it was all for the love of the sport.
"I almost cried [when receiving the award], I don't usually cry in public so it was obviously special. I think when you're sitting in a room full of players, people forget it's the people behind the scenes who help put the players in that spotlight.
"It was nice to be in a room full of people who have received it before and know you're up there with them."
She developed a love for sport through her mum, who routinely followed a range of different sports, but it had always been cricket Kyle enjoyed most.
"My mum's a walking book of knowledge when it comes to sport. I think because I was brought up by a solo parent and she was involved in so much it was just the norm for us.
"With cricket, it's not just a team sport, it's individual as well. I think that's what makes it so interesting. When I was a teenage girl I had my idols [in the Black Caps] and so I would race home to watch them."
She said the main reason she did all she did for Rotorua Cricket was because she loved seeing others enjoy the sport.
"I don't do it for my children, I don't do it for myself, I do it for the enjoyment of seeing other people happy - whether it's kids or adults.
"When you're in a role like this, you have to be a certain person, you need to be neutral to a point and doing it for the right reasons."
Rotorua Cricket senior match chairman Mike Holmes said the best way to describe Kyle was as "the driving force behind Rotorua Cricket".
"They have selected the right person, very much so. She does so much work behind the scenes, for junior and senior cricket."
One example Holmes gave was Kyle's work on the match cancellation committee.
"That entails getting out at 7am on a Saturday and physically checking the grounds, seeing that they're not too wet or whatever. It's not just a case of sticking a foot out of bed and saying it's raining, she physically goes there.
"She goes above and beyond - when she does a job she does it properly."
Cricketer of the Year Awards Nicola Browne Award: Katie Gurrey Daniel Vettori Award: Ish Sodhi
High Performance Awards Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Player of the Year: Kate Anderson Burger King Super Smash Player of the Year, Spirit: Katie Gurrey Burger King Super Smash Player of the Year, Knights: Daryl Mitchell Plunket Shield Player of the Year: Ish Sodhi Ford Trophy Player of the Year: Joe Carter
Service Awards Service to Cricket Award: Murray Child Allan McBride Trophy - Service to Junior Cricket: Karen Kyle District Association Volunteer Groundsman of the Year: Simon Dodds
Playing and Officiating Awards District Association Player of the Year: Freddy Walker Northern Premier League Player of the Year: Kate Anderson McCaw Lewis Māori Player of the Year: Oliver White Young Female Cricketer of the Year: Emma Baker Young Male Cricketer of the Year: Thorn Parkes Umpire of the Year: Ash Mehrotra Emerging Umpire of the Year: Thomas Nabbs
District Association and Club Awards Northern Premier League T20 champions: Power Northern Premier League 40-over champions: Power Eric Petrie Cup: Greerton Cricket Club Basil McBurney Trophy: Bay of Plenty Cricket Brian Dunning Cup: Bay of Plenty Cricket Fergus Hickey Rosebowl: Hamilton Cricket Association
