Fund to help women’s cricket

Press, 23 November 1988, Page 37

Fund to help women’s cricket

Women’s cricket is to be bolstered by the formation of a Trust Fund, which has been established by the Canterbury Women’s Association. Women’s cricket in Canterbury has laboured behind its male counterpart in terms of gate takings and spectator inerest and the Canterbury association has decided to strike back and offer assistance to its players. “Last year it cost each player about $BOO to $9OO to play in the Canterbury team in Auckland for the Hansells Cup,” said Thelma Macdonald, the treasurer of the Canterbury association. “There was some sponsorship but they still had to pay quite a bit,” she said. "The trustees would like to be able to ease the financial burden of the dedicated players who are prepared to spend hundreds of dollars in one year for the honour of representing Canterbury in their chosen sport,” said Mrs Macdonald. The trustees include Mrs Macdonald Q.S.M., Miss Janice Stead and Mrs Shankland. Canterbury women’s cricket has flourished in spite of the hardships involved and Canterbury

has won the Hansells Cup for 10 consecutive years. “I think that it is time that people came, to recognise the time and money that has been spent to maintain a high standard,” Mrs Macdonald said. The fund will be used to assist travel funding, accommodation of representative teams, promotion of development and coaching teams. It will also be used to assist national representatives from Canterbury who have to meet some expenses of the national team. The trustees hope to have a capital fund of $30,000 in the first year and boost it to $50,000 within three years.

Former members will be targeted for an input and all donations can be posted to: The Canterbury Women’s Cricket Trust Fund, 45 Reynolds Avenue, Christchurch 5. The fund should also give the profile of women’s cricket a shot in the arm. Canterbury has traditionally provided a strong contingent for the New Zealand team and this year has proved no exceptin. Eight Canterbury players were included in the national squad and several of them have made considerable sacrifices over the years to represent their country. Lesley Murdoch, the New Zealand cricket captain and a national representative in hockey, has faced this dilemma throughout her career. “This week I had to go into town and buy some playing gear which cost me $130,” she said. “The

men’s team are given everything, and while we are not really envious of them it does place more obstacles in our way.” The New Zealand women’s cricket team leaves this week for the World Cup in Australia and, when it returns on December 19, the Canty players will be expected to pay $5OO for the honour to represent their province in the Hansells Cup in Wellington. “I love the sport too much to give it up because of those sacrifices, but money is a big considertion,” Murdoch said.

The New Zealand players were also expected to pay $250 each towards the World cup expenses. “The New Zealand men’s team is paid a daily allowance depending on its performances but we can’t get martyrish about it, we just have to play the best we can.”

Murdoch is a regular after dinner speaker and her message often targets the difficulties sportswomen face. “Last year the Canterbury association sent over 200 letters to potential sponsors and we got about seven replies,” she said. Netball recently received a boost when Bendon announced its sponsorship of the sport — but it has taken a lot. “Men’s cricket is assured of television coverage even if they don’t do very well — women have to prove themselves first.” "It is great that netball has a sponsor, they deserve it. But they had to become No. 1 in the world before it happened,” she said. The eight Canterbury players in the New Zealand team are: Murdoch (captain), Karen Gunn, Nicki Turner, Brigit Legg, Jennifer Turner, Sarah Illingworth, Debbie Ford and Kirsty Bond.