Bermuda wins best cricket development programme

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26: Bermuda won three ICC Americas Cricket Awards for 2012.

The Bermuda Cricket Board picked up the Best Overall Cricket Development Award, The Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative and Gary Fray walked off with the ICC Lifetime Service Award.

Lloyd Fray, BCB president, said in a press release:  "The Best Overall Development Programme is the jewel in the crown of the ICC awards and is a fitting validation of our work from Pee Wee right up to the senior level.

“It is an award that we can dedicate to the many volunteers and lovers of our great sport that selflessly contribute to make our community a better place to live. Providing opportunities to the young people in Bermuda is our passion as we strive to make great cricketers and responsible citizens. We thank the ICC for their continued recognition of the high quality programmes that the BCB offer and the hard work of the Board members, volunteers and staff."

He was proud of Fray being recognized for his years of service.

"Bermuda's Gary Fray was awarded with the 'Lifetime Service Award'. Gary has devoted much of his life to sports administration and was instrumental in the integration between Bermuda's two segregated cricket governing bodies. Since the 1990's Gary has directly served on the Bermuda Cricket Board as Treasurer, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President and as Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee where he still continues to serve.

“Gary is a strong believer in the 'spirit of cricket' and the importance of life lessons that can be learned through the sport, he is a great leader who continues to donate much of his life for the love of cricket and is truly deserving of this award."

 The always fun BCB & Hiscox U11 Celebrity Festival was awarded with the 'Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative'. 

Mr Fray said: “This was the fourth year that the BCB joined forces with the Hiscox Insurance Limited to hold a Celebrity Cricket Festival to celebrate youth cricket. This year over $1,500 was raised at the Festival as it brought together both community and youth."

"We should recognise the major support and partnership that we have with Hiscox Bermuda. Since 2007 they have sponsored the U11 league, our most popular league. The Celebrity festival was the brain child of former CEO Rob Childs. Despite now living in the UK, Rob regularly flies back to enjoy this fun, family oriented community day. The event features a complete cross-section of the community and is now a major fixture in the domestic season. It is heartening to note that the U11 All-Star team regularly thrashes the adults!"

Ben Kavenagh, ICC Americas Regional Development Manager said: "The Pepsi ICC Development Programme Awards are a great way to recognize and celebrate some of the key achievements made by countries in the Americas region as we strive towards our goal of making cricket a bigger, better, global game. I would like to congratulate this year's winners and all persons and projects nominated for the 2012 awards.

The quality of Bermuda's nominations was exceptional again this year and it resulted in them being awarded with three different awards. Two of their three awards are a fitting recognition of their remarkable overall effort in Cricket Development in the region - 'the Best Overall Development Programme and the 'Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative'".