Sixes event shifts north

NOT TO BE: Rod Bannister, professional player Christi Viljoen, Petera Hudson and Latu Unga during the original launch of the 2016 Cricket Nation Freedom2play C6s in late March. Unga was modelling the tournament's playing strip. PHOTO/FILE

The organisers of the Freedom2play C6s cricket tournament have upped stumps and moved the concept to Auckland.

Originally the brainchild of Whanganui partners Petera Hudson and Rod Bannister, the concept was set to launch between January 1 and 3 at Wanganui Collegiate School, but a lack of support from the River City has prompted the move.

Bannister said he now had other priorities, leaving Hudson to run with an idea they trialled in Whanganui several years ago.

The invitational tournament had its public launch by the partners at the Stellar Bar in late March, shortly before the World Cup final hit the big TV screen.

They even unveiled the playing strip for the Super Sixes tournament - which consisted of an elite grade for former top-class players, plus Premier 1-2 men's and women's, and a 40+ Masters division.

At the time they said increased excitment around the sport would help pull teams to play, with Sixes cricket having been popular in the 2000s. It was to be the equivalent of sevens rugby.

Helping them in their plans was Queenstown lawyer Russell Mawhinney, former president of Hong Kong Cricket which hosted the International Sixes from 1992-2012.

Their competition ambassador, former Black Cap Mathew Sinclair, who missed the launch in March, had told them the Sixes was his favourite event to attend.

"All you need to do to keep the event here is to get local support from businesses."

Well that did not happen and Hudson confirmed yesterday the concept had been moved to Auckland where a major sponsor was being courted.

"It's sad, but we haven't received any support from Whanganui, so we've taken it to Auckland," Hudson said.

"Whanganui is my home town and my wife and I love it here and will continue to do anything we can to promote it. Unfortunately, the C6s won't happen here. We trialled it here three or four years ago and there wasn't that much support then either - it's disappointing.

"We have yet to set a new date for a launch. We haven't decided if would be best before the season starts or at the end of a season," Hudson said.