Couthard given top honour



Wednesday 12 September 2012

Couthard given top honour

Mossman teenager David Coulthard is about to have a trip of a lifetime made just that little more special after an announcement yesterday.

The 15 year-old allrounder has been named as the 2012 recipient of the Jimmy Maher Bursary, with the honour arriving at just the right time following his selection in the Australian Schoolboys Under 15 team that will tour to the United Arab Emirates next month.

Coulthard, a left-arm medium pace bowler and right-hand batsman, was one of the leading wicket takers at the national Under-15 schoolboy titles in Hobart in February and March earlier this year.

The Bursary provides valuable funding for a promising young country or regional cricketer to enhance their career through training sessions with the Queensland Bulls, the provision of equipment, travel allowances where applicable, and mentoring from the former Bulls great.

Because Coulthard is travelling to the United Arab Emirates, the Bursary will be used to help offset the cost of the trip this year.

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Coulthard, who played with the Muddies Club in Port Douglas last season, will join United CC in Cairns this season where he is likely to taste first grade.

He is the fourth Queenslander to be awarded the Bursary, with previous recipients including Warwick fast bowler Mark Steketee, who recently starred for the Australian Under 19 team that made the Final of the ICC Cricket Uner 19 World Cup in Queensland.

Maher, a 100-gamer for the XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls, remains as committed as ever to the bursary and providing opportunities for regionally-based young Queenslanders.

"Hopefully it's a legacy that will last forever for Queensland Cricket," said the former Queensland captain, who is now Managing Director of the Queensland Rail Bulls Masters.

"I would never have got anywhere near where I did without help from people coming through.

“A trip this like will be outstanding for David, both in a cricketing sense and as a life experience. It is very rewarding to think that I can be a part of his development in this way,” Maher said.

Previous recipients of the Bursary are:

2009 - Michael Simmers (Rockhampton)
2010 – Zac Holm (Townsville)
2011 – Mark Steketee (Warwick)