SYDENHAM CRICKET CLUB INC. ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 PRESENTED AT THE 122TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SYDENHAM PAVILION, SYDENHAM PARK TUESDAY 22 AUGUST 2017 CLUB WEBSITE – WWW.SYDENHAMCRICKET.CO.NZ FACEBOOK – SYDENHAM CRICKET CLUB SYDENHAM CRICKET CLUB OFFICE BEARERS 2016/2017 SEASON PATRON Mr J Harliwich PRESIDENT Mr G Harris PAST PRESIDENT Mr I Thomson VICE PRESIDENT Mr G Dann, Mr T Agnew MENS CLUB CAPTAIN Mr A Chisnall WOMENS CLUB CAPTAIN Miss E Scarf HONORARY SECRETARY Mr I Thomson HONORARY TREASURER Mr K Congdon HONORARY AUDITOR Mr K Yardley JUNIOR CLUB Mr A Hickford SOUTH WEST YOUTH CRICKET Mr R McCracken HONORARY SOLICITOR COMMITTEE Mr M Loose, Mr N Smithson, Mr F Smith, Mr T Danenberg, Mr M Dolden, Mr K Scott DELEGATES TO THE CMCA Mr G Harris, Mr A McKenzie DELEGATES TO THE SPC Mr G Harris, Mr M Loose, Mr N Smithson LIFE MEMBERS (MEN) Messrs D Gallop, J Harliwich, G Harris, T Kerr, J O‟Sullivan, K Prusas, F Rice, B Salt, R Thomas, W Thomson, B Walker, D Heard, P McKenzie, I Thomson, R Dann, T White, A Chisnall, M Pearcy, T Danenberg, K Congdon, K Julian, K Thomson. LIFE MEMBERS (WOMEN) Mesdames R Martin, T McDonald, P Quickenden, P Carrick PRESIDENTS REPORT It is my pleasure to present the 122nd Annual report to the members of the Sydenham Cricket Club. Our club continues to maintain playing numbers across all playing levels. This is very pleasing when we know other clubs are struggling to maintain membership numbers across the City. Our team and individual playing records will be recorded later in this report, but it is pleasing to see so many batting hundreds and bowling "five fors" in our stats across all levels of the playing competition. During the off season your committee has been very busy as usual. We have been occupied also with three main activities. Firstly as you can see our grounds are finally being upgraded. The outfields are being re- drained and new irrigation systems installed. They are re-laid on a sand based turf offering excellent drainage but a soft carpet like surface. The blocks have all been excavated and replaced with AP60 fine shingle and then topped off with Heathcote loam. Of special significance is the development of our new 28 metre grass practice blocks. This is a fantastic facility. Not only will it supply 12- 14 lanes of cricket wickets, but we have designed a mobile adjustable lane changer, enabling us to rest and recover lanes by easily switching the lane dividers along a fixed rear mesh wall anchored by set in poles-all of which are also relocatable as they are set in sleeves. All of the blocks on the Park will be of international quality, and the new high pressure irrigation facility will ensure even fine spray watering with preset watering timers. Secondly, Sydenham Club will be taking back the responsibilities and control of youth cricket in the south west zone of Christchurch. The South West Youth Cricket group will formally disband at the end of this calendar year and will revert to Sydenham youth cricket. During the spring and pre xmas we will be active with coaching programmes in all of our local high schools and setting up team managers in anticipation of this handover at Christmas. It is hoped that with this initiative we can re-engage with our youth players and provide coaching programmes and clear pathways for these guys to carry on with their cricket beyond high school into adult cricket. Thirdly during the winter a number of our membership met over a couple of sessions to review and update our 5 year strategic plan. This is hugely important work as it sets the framework of what we need to do as a club in order to meet the needs of our membership going forward. I think it is obvious that we have made huge progress over the last 5 years post- earthquake over a number of key areas. -Facilities. -Player, recruitment and development. -improved communication both within and outside the club, particularly with website and newsletter initiatives. However these things don‟t happen with implementing an agreed plan. Here is a brief headline of where we would like to go within the next three to four years. …………………………………………………………. There is much to do, but we know that if you fail to plan you plan to fail Finally I must make mention of the work your committee does week after week, month after month keeping our club functioning smoothly. To all of my committee my heartfelt thanks for your work. It is true that without your efforts we would not be the club we are today. I would also like to acknowledge the charity funders who provide valuable funds to assist our club to sustain itself financially. Air Reuse Services Pub Charity Southern Trust NZCT Rata Foundation CCC small grants foundation Christchurch Metro Cricket Coaching Grants Cricket Express. and also a huge thank you to our commercial Sponsors. Banfield Meats of Beckenham Swanndri St Martins New World Hellers Graham Harris President CLUB CAPTAINS REPORT Again this season we gained the services of several youth players and with the influx of new players through the grades we have been able to put a total of 12 teams on the field. By far the biggest club in the South Island. A special thanks to all the captains for there efforts over the season. Not an easy job at the best of times but certainly were a great support to the committee and the way they supported the Sydenham Club. From getting there teams on the field, the dreaded job of collecting the subs, doing the raffles and providing players to other sides when needed. They are certainly the back bone of the club, many having done that role for many a year. Congratulations to our 3D Cardinals team who won the grade in the round robin competition only to have the final washed out. This will see them promoted up to 3C next season. Both the Div 1 girls and the Prem Men won their T20 competitions earlier in the season. Well done to all the other teams for their efforts over the season. Well sadly the season ended the way it started. WET!! But as cricket wasn‟t cancelled many of our teams were still able to play on the last day of the season. And on one of those rare occasions the top individual performances with bat and ball were decided on the last day of season. Rohan Jangam continued his innings from the previous week in their two day match against BWU to be 207 not out when play was called off. And Carolyn Esterhuizen captured the stunning figures of 7/2 as the Prem Women rolled St Albans for 16 and recorded an easy win. The prize giving lived up to its usual standard with a good turnout in the clubrooms and the usual post prize giving antics. Several trophies were again not decided until the last day of the season. Well done to all the winners. Thanks to everyone who also supported the quiz nights, the golf tournament, and the bar over the season. These bring in much needed funds for the club. A big thanks to the committee and helpers for all their hard work over the season. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to keep the club up and running especially with the size of our club. Finally a big thanks to our outgoing Women‟ Club Captain. Emma Scarf has moved to Australia and we wish her well in her time there. Emma was heavily involved in the club at all levels. Besides being Club Captain she also filled the role as captain of the Prem Women‟s side up till last season and was in charge of the coaching for the junior club. We now look to the off season and the redevelopment of Sydenham Park over the winter months. I sure there will be no arguments over losing part of next season to have the park repaired. For those who are not aware the earthquakes damaged the drainage and left the outfield in rather an uneven state. The whole park is being dug up, new drainage and irrigation put down and new pitches and a sand based outfield. Remember to stay up to date with the club scene on the club website and Facebook. Have a great winter and look forward to seeing you all back next season. Andrew Chisnall Mens Club Captain OBITUARIES It is with great sadness that the club announce the passing of long time friend Stu Burns. Stu recently returned to score for the Premier Men's team when they were in a dire need for a scorer, such was his love of the Sydenham Cricket Club. We pass on our sincere condolences to Stu's family and friends. A quiz question for Bertie, who's the highest run scorer for Sydenham in its history? So ok, we gave it away in the title, but our research shows that Stu Burns has scored 72,245 runs for Sydenham over the past 20 years, be it mainly with ink rather than willow. Although Stu has been a fixture in the Sydenham score box on and off for much of the past 35 years, his initial introduction to Sydenham was as a captain of 8th grade back in early 1970's. He was seconded to the senior scorer's role by Keith Thomson (it was brave man who said no to Keith) in 1976, the year Keith's team won the title.