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History of Don Tanner Shield

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The Don Tanner Shield is presented to the winner of the SAVCA Over 60’s Grand Final each season.


Don Tanner had a lifelong involvement with cricket playing and coaching in numerous competitions in several countries around the world.




His travels eventually saw him settling in Adelaide in 2004 finishing

his distinguished international career with SA veterans cricket.


Don grew up in England before being sent to India for safety

reasons when WWII broke out in 1939. He was first introduced to

cricket at St Pauls School in Darjeeling.

Returning to England in1946, Don attended Cranleigh School in

Surrey representing the First XI in 1948-49.

 

Upon leaving school, Don was recruited into the British Army

Intelligence Corps in London in 1949. His world-wide travels in that

role took him back to India in1952 where he played for the Madras

Cricket Club, eventually becoming a member of the Management

Committee.

 

In 1956 Don moved to Peru where he represented the Lima Cricket Club. He was selected to represent Peru in a ‘Test’ match against Chile in 1958, a game that to this day has not been repeated. Don won the Man-of-the Match award making 78 in the first innings and sealing victory for Peru by taking 7/15 in the

second innings.

 

In 1960 Don moved to Canada where he was prominent in growing

the game in Vancouver and Vancouver Island. He played,

captained and filled the role of Club President over a 12-year

period. This included local premierships, as well as captaining

British Columbia in several Inter-provisional championships. He

also captained British Columbia against an MCC touring team and

twice again when playing them in England.

The main entrance to the Cricket Club in Vancouver Island is

called the ‘The Tanner Drive’.


Don always enjoyed playing, but was also well aware of the need

to introduce new players to the game. He established an Under 18

Canadian Championship and became heavily involved in

coaching.


His work was recognised through Life Membership of his Club,

later his state and then the Canadian Association.

 

As part of his winding back, Don enjoyed many years with the

‘Golden Oldies’ playing in such places as Vancouver,

Christchurch, Birmingham, Sydney, Cape Town, Sunshine Coast

and Colombo.

 

In 2004, Don moved to Adelaide and began playing in the then

Over 60’s Cricket Association - the oldest player in the group.

In 2006 he represented Australia in Melbourne playing for an Over

75’s team against a touring England side.

Don played veterans cricket before retiring as a player in 2013,

aged 84, but continued his ongoing association with the game as

an umpire.


Don was a popular player and leader epitomising the Spirit of

Cricket in the early development of SAVCA into what it has

become today.



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