FUN was had, money was raised, food and drink were consumed, bellies were wobbled – and in the middle some cricket broke out.
The second RidgeRunner Niseko International Cricket Tournament was declared a smashing success with more than ¥1 million being raised to the benefit of the Tyler Foundation and Hokkaido International School.
Postcard perfect Niseko autumn weather welcomed cricket teams from across Hokkaido and Japan to the Niseko Soccer Village at Hanazono.
RidgeRunner director Simon Jackson said the standard of cricket was high and it was great social weekend.
“We’ve had lots of emails from people who were here who said it was a great event and had a fantastic weekend, and many e-mails from those who couldn’t make it but said they would come next year,” he said.
“The weather was great and we’re looking forward to doing it all again next year.
“Apart from raising money for charity , the event helps spread the word about what a great place Niseko is in summer.”
The event took place over two days with four teams taking part in friendly – although at times heated – competition.
Special guests at the competition were Australian cricket legends fast bowler Dennis Lillie and wicket keeper Rod Marsh who shared umpiring duties.
The eventual winner was Sapporo’s Ezo Cricket Club (Australia, America, India) who defeated Niseko’s mixed international team (New Zealand, Australia, England, Canada).
In equal second place was the mighty Otaru Lions made up largely of local cricket-mad Pakistanis, and surprisingly going without a win was the Paddy Foley’s team (England, Australia) who flew up from Tokyo especially for the event.
The fundraising part of the event was the charity dinner dance and auction held at the Niseko Village Green Leaf Hotel at Higashiyama on the Saturday night.
Takadai Meadow’s Dennis Van Den Brink and The Brick’s Waza put on a grand feast and Yukia’ s Belly Dancing Troupe put on a sensational performance for the 130 guests.
The highlight of the evening was the auction with items donated by local businesses which included cricket memorabilia, wine, golf games, physio treatments, dinners and magazine advertising.
Donations for the auction were made by Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh, The Tyler Foundation, RidgeRunner, Takadai Farm, Niseko Village, Niseko Physio, Niseko Cuisine, Metropolis, Japan Inc, The Australian Consulate Sapporo, Paddy Foley’s, Australian Meat and Livestock, Mugishutei, Peter Lehman Wines & Village Cellars, Jerry Halvorsen and Rod Kelly, while Powderlife donated a full page magazine ad for this winter.
Last year’s inaugural event raised almost Y700,000 and this year’s final tally is expected to double that.
Two thirds of the proceeds will go to the Tyler Foundation with the other third going to the Hokkaido International School, who will in turn donate proceeds from future fundraising events to the Tyler Foundation.
The Tyler Foundation is a Japan-based nonprofit organization supporting children with cancer and their families in Japan, founded by Kimberly Forsythe and Mark Ferris whose son Tyler was born in Japan and diagnosed with infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was less than one month old.
The Hokkaido International School based in Sapporo has an active scholarship program, and with the growing number of foreigners settling in Niseko plans to start a satellite school here for primary students.
The event’s major sponsor was RidgeRunner who covered the cost of the airline tickets, hotels, dinner and sports ground hire, helped by extremely generous contributions made by Hokkaido Tracks and the Otaru Lions. Japan based Australian banks CBA, NAB and ANZ provided the team T-shirts.
The event promises to be bigger and better next year with Rod Marsh hoping to convince an Emirates Airlines team from Dubai to make the trip.
Paddy Foley’s will once again fly a team up and it’s hoped teams from Yokohama and Hong Kong will also take part.