Anthea Stringer: Canterbury Softball Association general manager comments on $400k grant

Canterbury softball has been awarded a $400,000 grant to help build a new indoor training facility at Cuthberts Green in Christchurch.
 
Canterbury Softball Association general manager Anthea Stringer told Lesley Murdoch the New Zealand Community Trust grant will go towards the cost of building the centre, which will be designed to give softball players of all levels a dedicated space to train and play in.

The training centre will feature three dedicated hitting and pitching lanes, complete with mobile nets that can be transformed into a versatile 35m x 15m space.

State-of-the-art Trakman cameras will provide comprehensive analysis for both pitching and hitting, catering to those seeking a high-performance training experience.

Clubs, schools, and community groups will also be able to access the facility, "transforming it into a centre for engagement, activity, and connection", Stringer said.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, it's probably very timely that we go down to
Kendarby Softball and general manageris Anthea Stringer. Good morning, Good morning,
here we go. Good thanks. Well, you've got some exciting
news about a new development down at Pages Road.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, we're pretty excited about the development that's going on here.
We're looking to have a high performance training center which
also links into the community. Also, the training center is
going to be fifteen x thirty five meter space, which
is it'll have netting that will split it off into
three different lanes which allows for pitching training or hitting training.

(00:38):
Those lanes can also be opened up and have the
space open for other events as well, which opens it
up to a variety of different sort of sports or
activities from the community.

Speaker 1 (00:50):
But it's got a lid on it, right.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
It's got a lid on it. Yes, it's got a
lid and it's got four walls, so you know, being
able to control the temperature and keep the elements out
during the winter month is going to be something that
we have had the privilege job a long time and
certainly a hub that we can promote our sport as
well as offering it to the community.

Speaker 1 (01:12):
Absolutely, so there any other facilities like this around the country, I.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
Don't believe specific to softball. There is one up in
Auckland that is very similar that is run as a
business and we certainly have had conversations with them as well,
just to have some learnings from them so that we
go in with our eyes wide open for this facility,
but certainly nothing in the south which is just you know,

(01:39):
it's going to create a nice training hub here in
Canterbury that allows that to be utilized by anyone throughout New.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
Zealand and here what's the timeline for getting it up
and running?

Speaker 2 (01:50):
So we are just waiting on that final signature from
the council with the building consent and we're hoping in
the next few days that'll get across. As soon as
that's across, we are looking to get this one moving
and around about six months we hope, which will be
perfect for us. We'll be heading into the winter with
a facility to be able to utilize.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
So what's it word? How much does it cost you?

Speaker 2 (02:12):
So it's going to be around about the one point too,
to be completely fitted out in the inside as well,
but the outside of the building obviously below that, it's
certainly a big cost, but you know, we've had such
generous money coming in and we've had this is a
vision from two of our very dedicated softball members that

(02:36):
have done a legacy donation. Mark McFarlan and Nicola Osier
started this one rolling and they gave us five hundred
thousand dollars which has been the thing to get this
one going. And we've just had the awesome news that
we are partnering with the NZCT also to their very
generous contribution towards this, which we're very thankful for with

(03:00):
four hundred thousands. So this is huge for us and
we really do appreciate the support that we're getting.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
I do have a conflict there because I am a
trustee on MZCT, but quite frankly, it couldn't go to
a better place.

Speaker 2 (03:10):
Anthia know, we appreciate it and we can't get it.
Can't wait to get it started, and we can't wait
to get this up and running for our community.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
Oh good stuff. On another note, what are your numbers
looking like for the season ahead?

Speaker 2 (03:23):
Oh, we've had we've had a huge increase across our
senior membership, which is it is great. It shows that
people are out there trying to get engaged in sport.
I believe other sports have had some increase as well
across the senior grades. It just shows what the communities
are really engaging out there and looking for that connection. Yeah,

(03:44):
we're really excited to get this one, you know, fully
underway with a couple of weeks in now, and yeah,
it's really exciting to see that it's growing within that
senior grade as well, which has been the one that
has seen the climb in past.

Speaker 1 (04:00):
Well, you must be doing some great work in there
at the office. What are your junior numbers like?

Speaker 2 (04:03):
Good, Yeah, we're around about standard with the junior numbers.
But in saying that, as the season starts, we're starting
to engage more people again, So we're actually looking like
it may start to grow as the season starting. That
crossover from sports can sometimes have a bit of a
lag because people are trying to finish a sport and
start into the next one. So sounds like we're actually

(04:25):
going to get a little bit of increase there as well.
You know, we're working really hard in our community engagement.
We were putting out a lot of different programs that's
creating a lot of opportunities for the community to be
able to engage in those programs.

Speaker 1 (04:38):
Look, I know you do a great job down there
at Pages Road at Software Headquarters and Anthea Stringer, thanks
so much for bringing us up to date exciting innovations
for you and go really well on the bell.

Speaker 2 (04:50):
Appreciate that. Thank you very much.

Speaker 1 (04:52):
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