Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
A dash of sporting Red will be served up alongside the trademark sea of teal when the Brisbane Heat host their Champions Lunch at the Gabba ahead of their regular-season finale of BBL-11.
Former Australian Wallaby and Queensland Reds’ skipper James Horwill headlines the list of title winners set to entertain guests at the lunch, which will be the perfect entrée to the BBL day clash against Perth Scorchers on Wednesday, January 19.
Horwill played 62 rugby union Tests for Australia and led the Reds to the 2011 Super Rugby title. He captained the Wallabies during the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, in which the Aussies were knocked out by the hosts in the semi-final, before finishing his decorated 14-year professional career leading Harlequins in the English Premiership.
Joining Horwill on the guest-speaking stage will be Chris Hartley, also no stranger to title success.
Now chairman of selectors for Queensland cricket, Hartley played in two Shield-winning sides at the Bulls and captained the Brisbane Heat side that took out the BBL-02 title. He holds the record for most Shield dismissals (550) and averaged 34 with the bat, including a highest score of 142 not out and a century on first-class debut (against South Australia in 2003-04).
A three-time winner of the Ian Healy Trophy as Queensland’s best player, Hartley played over 280 matches with Queensland, Heat and Sydney Thunder in a 13-year first-class career.
Rounding out an elite trio of guest speakers is Kirby Short, who captained the Brisbane Heat to back-to-back WBBL titles in 2018-19 and 2019-20 and proudly wore the teal in 67 matches.
Short combined a career teaching with top-level cricket and has since gone on to become a respected commentator on the game. She comes from a family of sporting achievers: her mother represented Australia at softball; her grandfather Mick Harvey played for Victoria and Queensland and her great-uncle is “Invincibles” batter Neil Harvey.
Short was winning titles from a young age, as a member of the victorious Queensland Under-17 team in 2003-04, and also represented Queensland at youth level in volleyball and softball.
The Champions Lunch will be hosted in a Q&A format by respected Channel 7 sports commentator and former 4BC presenter, Ben Davis.
Brisbane Heat Commercial and Marketing Manager, Pete Lock, said the lunch was the perfect way to open an afternoon of great entertainment at the Gabba.
“Claiming the BBL title in the competition’s second season and our back-to-back WBBL crowns are moments that our fans will look back fondly on,” he said.
“It’s great we can bring the two captains who have lifted trophies for the club together to talk about some great memories.
“Combine that with James Horwill, who lifted a Super Rugby trophy with the Queensland Reds, and we have some great sporting moments from our state’s recent history that I am sure everyone attending on the day will enjoy.”
The Champions Lunch includes a two-course meal, four-hour drink package and corporate ticket for the afternoon’s Big Bash contest.
CHAMPIONS LUNCH
? Wednesday19 January 2022
? Champions Room, The Gabba
? Tickets $220
? 4 hour beverage package included
?️ 2 course meal
?️ Champion Guest Speakers
? Premium seating for Heat vs Scorchers from 12:30pm
