Tara Murray
It’s a new beginning for St Anthonys Cricket Club, which has changed its name to Harkness Cricket Club.
The Gisborne and District senior club revealed the new name and a new look logo ahead of the season.
Club president Marc Turner said it was something they had considered for a number of years.
The club is based in Harkness which is behind the decision to change it to that.
“One of the main things is that people say where do you play? “ Turner said. “The name came from when we played in the Churches competition, which we haven’t been playing in for many years.
“We played against teams like St Johns, St Andrews.
“Some people didn’t want to associate with a catholic club and that hurt us. We thought we’d do a revamp and hopefully try and get a few sponsors and a few more players.”
Turner said speaking to the playing group it had been all positive.
He said they still wanted to keep the traditions of the past and they didn’t want to forget the past despite a new name.
Turner said they were hoping to connect with the community more with the name change.
It’s been a tough few years for the club, but Turner said they were hoping they were starting to come out the other side of it.
“We haven’t had a sponsor so it’s been hard, but we are starting to get back on our feet,”he said.
“Bar sales have been our main source of income, but our playing group has changed so we’re not selling as much.
“We’ve had the support of the players and a few more numbers, it’s looking like it could be getting better.”
Last season on field, Harkness had two teams.
It’s first XI lost the Jensen Shield grand final, while its second XI was ineligible to play in its grand final following a tribunal decision.
Turner said they were hoping to have three senior sides this season in a boost for the club.
Meanwhile, the fixture for the top two grades of the GDCA season has been revealed.
Both grades will start with a one-dayer on October 5.
Broadford will play in McIntyre Shield for the first time since joining the competition, while Diggers Rest Bulla has been relegated to Johnstone Shield.
Johnstone Shield will have a new team this season, with Seymour-based Eastern Hill, joining the competition.
The division will have seven teams again, with Riddell dropping down into the Jensen Shield.
Anyone interested in sponsoring Harkness can contact the club.
