The Wellington School of Cricket held its Cricket Graduation Programme (CGP) mid-year graduation and induction function in the Norwood Room at the Hawkins Basin Reserve on Tuesday 28 June.

The occasion doubled as a graduation ceremony for the 2010/11 GGP class and as a induction function for the new class for 2011/12.

Sixteen students graduated from last year’s class and 15 were welcomed into the CGP for the year ahead.

The evening was attended by about 150 students, parents, WSC partners and distinguished guests. The evening was hosted by Wellington School of Cricket Manager Asoka Weerasundara and WSC staff and was MC’ed by Cricket Wellington Coaching Director and Wellington Blaze coach Mark Borthwick. Distinguished guests included Cricket Wellington Life Member Don Neely OBE , Cricket Wellington President Michael Quigg, Cricket Wellington Chairman Peter Garty, Cricket Wellington CEO Gavin Larsen and Wellington Firebirds captain Grant Elliott.

Unfortunately the New Zealand Institute of Sport, who will play a prominent role in this year’s intake in awarding the credits, were not present as they were involved with their inter-campus sports day in Auckland.

The passing out students that attended were: Alex Ridley, Conal Mackie, Daniel Shannon, Darren Dingle, Darshan Laxmidas, Declyn Thomson, Jackson Gattsche, Keelan Kanji, McGregor Kereama, Prad Bhagavathula, Sam Brandwood, Samuel Le Gros, Taylor Wenlock, Xavier McCluskey.

Above and below: A pleasing aspect to this event was the live background music, a selection of jazz and similar styled light music, that made for a relaxed and friendly atmosphere when guests arrived and mixed and mingled with each other

Above: Guest speaker Elliott spoke about the hard work required to succeed as a cricketer and dedication on and off the field to be the best you can be. 

Above: WSC Manager Asoka Weerasundara addresses the audience

Below: Don Neely (top), Grant Elliott (centre) and Michael Qiugg (bottom) congratulate 2010/11 WSC graduates

Above: Student of the 2010/11 Year McGregor Kareama with WSC coach Ivan Tissera (left) and WSC Manager Asoka Weerasundara.  Ivan, who presented the award to McGregor, stressed the difficulty the WSC coaches had in selecting the Student of the Year from the 2010/11 class due to the high calibre and commitment of all 16 students. But there had to be one winner and Mcgregor was chosen as this year's recipient.

Below:

The Graduating 2010/11 class (top)and the new intake of students for 2011/12 (below).   The WSC is especially pleased that three of the 15 students selected for the CGP for the 2011/12 course are girls, all aspiring future Wellington Blaze cricketers