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26th November 2008 In an exciting partnership for the Central Highlands Region, Cricket Willow is for the third year offering a young cricketer a part scholarship to play a season of club cricket in Yorkshire, England from April to September 2009.
Under the part scholarship, a Central Highlands Region cricketer will spend a season with Houghton Main Cricket Club in the South Yorkshire League. This club playing in the Premier Division for 2009. Thanks to the generous support from Houghton Main Cricket Club, the Central Highlands Cricket Region and the Tinetti family at Cricket Willow, the scholarship will also include the following:
· A return airfare to the UK to the maximum value of $2,500
· (note: player may have to cover costs if over and above $2,500)
· Assistance with employment and accommodation while in the UK.
· Club Membership
· Jabaroo cricket gear valued at $1000.
The selected player will be required to –
- Gain own flight insurance (approx $400)
- Cover luggage charges (could be up to $800)
- Gain a working visa (approx $80)
- Gain a passport
- Book own flight
- Buy a Houghton Main tracksuit top (₤25)
- Recommended have ₤400 money in cash on arrival
- Gain international drivers license (for manual car)
- Assist with clinics & promotion of cricket before departure
The patron of the scholarship is Geoff McRae, a former chairman, long-time administrator and Life Member of the Central Highlands Region Board. Geoff has made a tremendous contribution to cricket in regional Victoria and has overseen the development of many young cricketers in the Central Highlands Region.
Cricketers from the Central Highlands Region aged between 19 and 23 years are invited to submit an expression of interest by Friday 12th December 2008 addressed to Central Highlands Region Board, PO Box 604W Ballarat West, 3350. The expression of interest must include the following:
1. A brief summary of:
(a) your cricketing achievements.
(b) your future aspirations for cricket, study and employment.
(c) why you would like to spend a season playing cricket in the UK.
2. A current resumé with details of your schooling & employment history.
3. Contact details for two referees.
4. A signed agreement from your parents or guardian to confirm financial commitments can be met.
The expressions of interest will be assessed on merit by a Selection Committee made up of the Region Board, Cricket Willow and the Regional Cricket Manager. The main selection criteria will be cricketing ability, leadership qualities, maturity and sportsmanship.
The successful applicant will be announced at the Central Highlands Region Pathways Presentation Dinner on Friday 2nd January 2009. Following the announcement it is expected that the successful applicant will be available to assist with several initiatives to promote cricket in the Central Highlands region in early 2009.
For further information please contact Regional Cricket Manager Campbell Waring M: 04278 39548 Email: cwaring@cricketvictoria.com.au . Leigh Brennan 2008 winner 2008 Cricket Willow UK Scholarship Winner Leigh Brennan played cricket for Houghton Main CC in Yorkshire, England. Please see below for Leigh's updates -  Leigh's Houghton Main results mid Aug 08.doc (32.00 KB )
Leigh's Houghton Main Results end of May 08 (29.00 KB ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The winner of the second Cricket Willow UK Scholarship for a regional cricketer has been announced with former Rupertswood and now North Melbourne cricketer Leigh Brennan being awarded the scholarship.
The announcement of Brennan was made in front of the 200 strong crowd at the Central Highlands 2007/08 Dinner and Cap Presentation on Friday 4th January 2008 at Midlands Golf Club in Ballarat. The fantastic initiative from Cricket Willow in which the recipient is offered a young Central Highlands cricketer a scholarship to play a season of club cricket in Yorkshire, England from April to September 2008.
Under the scholarship, Brennan will spend a season with Houghton Main Cricket Club in the South Yorkshire League. Last year’s winner Shane Koop (from Carisbrook/North Melbourne CC) helped the club to be promoted to the Premier Division for 2008.
Thanks to the generous support from Houghton Main Cricket Club and the Tinetti family at Cricket Willow, the scholarship will also include the following:
· A return airfare to the UK to the value of $2,500.
· Assistance with accommodation and employment while in the UK.
· A full kit of Jabaroo cricket gear valued at $1,000.
· Club membership with Houghton Main CC.
The patron of the scholarship is Geoff McRae, the recently retired chairman of the Central Highlands Region Board. Geoff has made a tremendous contribution to cricket in regional Victoria and has overseen the development of many young cricketers in the Central Highlands Region and was last night, along with his wife Nola, awarded Life Membership of the Central Highlands Cricket Region.
Cricketers from the Central Highlands Region aged between 19 and 23 years were invited to submit an expression of interest in December 2007 with a number of impressive applications received. Brennan’s outstanding application in particular showed the passion and love he has for the game of cricket, showed impressive leadership skills and his goals of playing in England and playing Premier first cricket consistently.
Brennan, a medium/fast bowler, is currently a member of the 2nd XI for the North Melbourne Cricket Club, having a very consistent season to date and has been selected in teams first XI for Premier League Twenty 20 match. Last season his efforts were hampered after a severe leg injury suffered during the football season.
He played all his junior cricket with Rupertswood Cricket Club also played junior representative cricket for the Gisborne District Cricket Association, as well as winning numerous Club & Association awards and has been a product of the Central Highlands Pathway sides at U18 and U21 level, as well as representing the VCCL U21. He was also a net bowler to the World XI in 2005 during their one-day series against Australia.
Recently graduating with a Bachelor of Human Movement / Bachelor of Management from the University of Ballarat, Brennan completed a leadership placement at his home club, the Rupertswood CC, to facilitate the Milo Have-A-Go Program, develop and review club policies and managing commemorative “Birth Place of the Ashes” games.
Brennan is a Level One Cricket Coach and also is currently working casually with Cricket Victoria in the Central Highlands region – conducting various cricket clinics, such as Milo clinics, Kanga 8 clinics and carnivals as well as assisting coaching current Pathway players during the “Emerging Highlanders” winter program.
It was the aspects of Brennan’s keenness to continue to develop as a leader, as a person and as a cricketer to match his personal goals which really shone out within his application.
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