Harry Barker Reserve facts for kids

Harry Barker Reserve is a sports ground in Te Hapara, Gisborne, New Zealand. It is used for both cricket and field hockey. The reserve is named after Harry Barker, who was a mayor of Gisborne for many years.

The first recorded cricket match at the reserve happened in 1948. In this game, a team from Poverty Bay played against Hawke's Bay. The local council bought the land for the reserve in 1962. Before that, it was part of a nine-hole golf course.

Cricket Matches at Harry Barker Reserve

Harry Barker Reserve has hosted many important cricket games. These include "first-class" and "List A" matches, which are high-level games in cricket.

First-Class Cricket

The first "first-class" cricket match at the ground was in 1974. The Northern Districts cricket team played against the Otago cricket team in a competition called the Plunket Shield. By early 2018, the ground had hosted 28 first-class matches. These are usually multi-day games, often lasting three or four days.

List A Cricket

The first "List A" cricket match took place at the reserve in 1981. In this game, Northern Districts played against the Wellington cricket team in the Shell Cup. List A matches are one-day games, similar to international One Day Internationals (ODIs). As of early 2018, 11 List A matches had been played here.

International Tour Matches

In January 2012, a special three-day match was played at the reserve. A team called the New Zealand XI played against a touring team from Zimbabwe. These types of games help international teams prepare for bigger tournaments.

Field Hockey at the Reserve

Besides cricket, Harry Barker Reserve is also a major spot for field hockey. A new hockey turf, called the LJ Hooker turf, was built there. The very first hockey game on this new turf was in March 2015. In this exciting match, the New Zealand women's national team, known as the Black Sticks, played against Argentina.