In March the Grasshoppers will renew their friendship with the cricketers of South Africa, a bond that goes back to 1981 when the club made its inaugural tour to the Proteas, centred on Johannesburg and Durban. That trip was to start a remarkable series of tours that has taken its members all over the world and spanned two generations. It has only been possible through the huge commitment of its leading officers, headed in recent times by the popular Alan Waite. “Waitey” has been a Trojan to the cause, and although he has recently handed over the Chairman’s reins to Michael Ross, he will remain involved after he completes his record 14th tour.
The 2013 tour will be a little special in that only two of the 16 players have toured with the Grasshoppers before, and the composition of the group has placed a heavy emphasis on emerging young players and providing them with exposure in a completely different environment. And there’s plenty of talent on parade with players of the ilk of Lee Nelson, James Hall, Peter Eakin and Alistair Shields. The experience will come from tour captain Peter Shields of North Down and all-rounder Andrew Cowden of Civil Service North. Peter has an unprecedented record as a club captain in modern times, and he will have five of his fellow North Down members joining him, including Coach Gavin Rogers, a man with a strong South African background.
Alan will be Tour Manager and travels with his family on the trip of a lifetime. South African Rudi Bryson has meticulously prepared the schedule and Gavin Rogers completed the finer details on a recent visit. The 18-day trip starts with arrival at Johannesburg Airport and then a short coach ride to the famous Ingwenyama Sports Resort where the squad will settle and prepare for the matches. This resort is amongst the best in the world and has magnificent indoor and outdoor facilities. The four-day stay includes some sightseeing at a nearby Reserve and a round of golf before the short journey to Pretoria and the start of three One-Day matches. After the cricket there will be a special trip to the famous Sun City then a flight to Cape Town for another four matches.
The Cape Town part of the tour also involves sightseeing trips to Robben Island, made famous all over the world following the incarceration of Nelson Mandela, a cable car trip up and down Table Mountain and a wine tour to the famous Stellenbosch wine lands. During the tour Rudi has also organized talks and coaching by leading South African cricketers, past and present, as this tour has a strong cricket emphasis.
The full party is-
Manager - Alan Waite
Coach - Gavin Rogers
Chairman/Umpire - Michael Ross
Captain - Peter Shields (North Down)
James and Josh Hall, Lee Nelson ( Waringstown), Charles Beverland, Andrew Cowden (Civil Service North), Peter Eakin, Alistair Shields, Tim Carson (North Down), Ross and Craig Boultwood, Nathan Burns ( CIYMS), Craig Lewis (Derriaghy), Mark Irwin (Woodvale), Robert McKinley (Ballymena) and James McCollum (Lurgan).
Well done the Grasshoppers and best wishes for a terrific tour.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
