Ballina Bears Cricket Club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ballina Bears Cricket Club are a club based in the Ballina district on the Far North Coast of New South Wales, Australia.
| |
| Nickname | The Bears |
|---|---|
Sport | Cricket |
| Founded | ~1902 (The Bears from 1989) |
| First season | 1989–90 |
| League | LJ Hooker League |
| Home ground | Fripp Oval |
| Colours | (from 1995) (1989–1995) |
| Website | Official website |
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](subscription required)
