Ballina Bears Cricket Club Explained

Ballina Bears
Nickname:The Bears
Colours: (from 1995)
(1989-1995)
Founded:~1902 (The Bears from 1989)
Sport:Cricket
League:LJ Hooker League
First Season:1989/90
Ground:Fripp Oval

The Ballina Bears Cricket Club are a club based in the Ballina district on the Far North Coast of New South Wales, Australia.

The club has existed since at least 1902, under various names associated with local watering holes. The club became a stand-alone entity (the Bears) in 1989, with Adam Bailey as founding President.[1] [2] [3] With the establishment of the LJ Hooker League in 1994/95 the first-grade side now competes at a regional level, with the lower grades still playing in Ballina competition.[4] The first-grade side also plays annually against the Tintenbar club for the "David Dawson Shield" — named in honour of David Dawson, a regular and popular 1st grade player, who died in July 1994.[5] [6] [7] [8]

In 2014, the club celebrated its 25th anniversary and a Bears Best Team was named.[9] The players selected were: Greg Weller, Todd Campbell, Peter Hall*, Justin Moore*, Nathan Anson, Andrew Gordon, David Schweitzer (WK), Sam Adams, Jason Holmes (Captain), Shane Jacobs, John Weller and Phil Alley.[10] Those with an asterisk (*) represented NSW Country while playing for the Bears.[11] [12] Club stalwart Geoff Jacobs was also recognised by being named the first "Immortal Bear".[13] [14]

The Bears have won the LJ Hooker League on 4 occasions: 1995/96,[15] 2008/09,[16] [17] 2011/12 (joint)[18] and 2013/14.[19]

The following Bears players have been "LJ Hooker League Player of the Year": Shane Jacobs (1996/97) and Sam Adams (2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13).[20]

In January 2019, the NSW State Government announced $40,000 in funding to rebuild the picket-fence at Fripp Oval.[21]

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Hall, p.205.
  2. Web site: Club History . The Ballina Bears . 25 March 2019 . en .
  3. Web site: Cricketing legends join Ballina Bears for 25th anniversary . . 24 March 2019 . en . 23 December 2014.
  4. Web site: Attewell . Paul . 20 years of Far North Coast LJ Hooker League . . 23 March 2019 . en . 12 March 2005.
  5. Web site: Sproule . Amanda . Bears get paws on Shield . . 23 March 2019 . en . 14 December 2009.
  6. Web site: Match in memory of David Dawson . . 23 March 2019 . en . 14 November 2013.
  7. Web site: Attewell . Paul . Bears captain is in for the long haul . . 23 March 2019 . en . 20 October 2018.
  8. Web site: Attewell . Paul . Bears face an early batting challenge . . 23 March 2019 . en . 27 October 2018.
  9. Web site: Cricketing legends join Ballina Bears for 25th anniversary . . 24 March 2019 . en . 23 December 2014.
  10. [:File:Ballina_Bears,_1989-2014_Records.pdf]
  11. Web site: Craig . Mitchell . Bears trio make FNC cricket's Team of the Year . . 24 March 2019 . en . 29 March 2016.
  12. Web site: Craig . Mitchell . It's aye aye captain at Ballina Bears . The Northern Star . 24 March 2019 . en . 25 February 2017.
  13. Web site: Spinks . Steve . Bear's unsung hero . . 23 March 2019 . en . 31 March 2009.
  14. [:File:Ballina_Bears,_1989-2014_Records.pdf]
  15. Web site: Ballina wins cricket final thriller . . 24 March 2019 . en . 30 March 2009.
  16. Web site: Ballina wins cricket final thriller . . 24 March 2019 . en . 30 March 2009.
  17. Web site: Sproule . Amanda . Victory stays with Bears captain . . 23 March 2019 . en . 18 November 2009.
  18. Web site: Craig . Mitchell . Ballina Bears take out LJ Hooker League cricket premiership . . 23 March 2019 . en . 24 March 2014.
  19. Web site: Craig . Mitchell . Ballina Bears take out LJ Hooker League cricket premiership . . 23 March 2019 . en . 24 March 2014.
  20. Web site: FNC LJ Hooker League - Former Cricketers of the Year . The Northern Star . 25 March 2019 . en . 16 April 2014.
  21. Web site: $40,000 to fix 'eyesore' . . 25 March 2019 . en . 7 January 2019.