HORNSBY KU-RING-GAI and HILLS DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION Inc. 81st ANNUAL REPORT Senior Competition Report And Financial Statements SEASON 2007/08 OFFICE BEARERS 2007/08 PATRONS The Mayor, Hornsby Shire Council The Mayor, Baulkham Hills Shire Council The Mayor, Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council Mr Tom Richmond, OAM Mr John Hayne, AM Mr Colin Cooper Lisa Sthalaker Denise Annetts President Senior Vice President Mr Mark Rushton Mr Geoff Hasler Vice President Secretary and Public Officer Mr Nathan Tilbury Mr Andy Bayles Treasurer Senior Competition Co-ordinator Mr David Toose Mr Steve Wilson Junior Competition Co-ordinator Assistant Junior Competition Co-ordinator Mr Bruce Kimberley Mr Paul Hyam Representative Co-ordinator Umpires Secretary Mr Clint Johnson Mr Bruce Wood Grounds Officers Minutes Secretary Mr Evan Hutchings Mrs Doreen Stevens Girls Development Officer Publicity Officers Mr Andy Bayles (Seniors and Reps), Mr Paul Hyam (Juniors) Executive Members Messrs Craig Willmott, Murray MacDonald, Joshua Brown, Bob Dewstow Senior Competition Committee Messrs Steve Wilson, Geoff Hasler, Craig Willmott, Murray MacDonald, Nathan Tilbury, Joshua Brown Delegates to Kindred Bodies NMCC NSWDCA Hornsby Sports Council Bob Somerville Alfred James Bob Somerville Clint Johnson Evan Hutchings Auditor Mr JS (Stuart) Russell PRESIDENT’S REPORT Congratulations to all and sundry on a fantastic 2007/08 season, despite the summer being one of the wettest we have experienced for some fifteen or so years. We extend our sincere thanks to the respective council areas (Baulkham Hills, Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai) for the commitment and hard work of their staff. Additionally to the NSWDCA and Cricket NSW the ongoing commitment and support is truly appreciated. To Northern District Cricket Club, we are truly pleased to be working so well together for a positive and mutually rewarding relationship in the years to come. To the huge number of volunteers, I sincerely thank you for your astonishing levels of enthusiasm, drive, energy and commitment as our Association would not prosper without your efforts. To the Life Members, Executive Members and Club Delegates – my most sincere gratitude is extended to you all on a job well done. I look forward to your ongoing involvement in the Association for many years to come. It has been a pleasure to be involved with these tireless volunteers who give so much back to the “grass roots” of the game of cricket. Amongst so many highlights throughout the season the following warrant special mentioning: Jake Smith (Castle Hill RSL CC) who was selected by the Steve Waugh Foundation and Cricket NSW to attend the ‘FOREVER GREEN’ CRICKET CLINIC held at the SCG on the 28th September 2007 – a day of coaching and related activities. Two (2) local HK&HDCA young men have continued to develop their promising careers, “starring” in the 2 day NSW Country Colts V City Youth / High Performance at Hurstville Oval. City Youth /High Performance defeated NSW Country Colts - Timm van der Gugten (5 Wickets) and Jon Whealing 111 runs performed best. Additionally, Timm topped the batting averages (56.667) at the National U/17 championships in January 2008 in Melbourne, and also took 12 wickets for NSW during the series. Ross Anderson (WPHCCC) was awarded the "2007/08 Sydney North Cricket Volunteer of the Year" for his countless enthusiasm and energy after being in his current role of Secretary since 1985, after having held other Committee Positions since 1980. Gerry Richards (HDCC / NSGCA) was acknowledged as the "2007/08 Girls Cricket Volunteer of the Year". Hornsby District Cricket Club (U12) who reached the final (played on the SCG) of the Michael Clarke Twenty20 Knockout Competition. The Telegraph Shield (U23) who won the Final in consecutive years. The lads went through their representative season undefeated. The continued commitment of our sponsors: Kookaburra Sports and Power Education (representative cricket). Patrons - Lisa Sthalekar and Denise Annetts, who kindly joined our core of Patrons. The HK&HDCA truly appreciate the ongoing support and involvement of all our Patrons. “Pink Grips” one of our Junior Representative Teams (Gee Shield - U13) took up the cause of "Breast Cancer Awareness". One of the players mother has been afflicted with this disease - a team-mate showed initiative in "driving" the pink grips concept, whilst a parent kindly arranged to source the pink grips. The anonymous approach to this special cause had to be seen to be believed. Fast scoring - Matt Scoular (WPHCCC Colts) hit a Club record of 32 off an over – eight 4s! Now this is special. The bowler bowled an eight ball over (2 no balls) and every ball was hit for a boundary. How can this be? An amazing biological event happened on Australia Day in the C1 White game between WPHCCC White against Pymble at Bannockburn Oval. Daniel Anderson (12 years of age) has the Association record for being the youngest player ever to play cricket in the HK&HDCA. On Australia Day he made his debut as a registered senior player when he played C1. Why is this special? He last played seniors, 2 months before he was born (and prior to having a name) when his mother (Denise Annetts) fielded 7 months pregnant in a B1 Semi Final – filling in for a player who was absent. His debut 12 years later now concludes this remarkable double debut! He also top scored for the match with 22 runs in his debut match. Feedback from a Representative Coach – “…thank you for convincing me to take on the role as coach of the U13 IDCA team. I have loved every minute of it. Watching each boy playing to their full potential & forming a great camaraderie with each other has contributed to, in my opinion, a very successful season. Lastly I want to thank every parent who supported me 100% in all my decisions during the season…” ARLCC: are to be congratulated on winning the A-Grade premiership for the third successive season. Foxglove Oval Restoration Project: Nick Berman, the Honorary Mayor of Hornsby Shire re-opened our largest playing ground on Saturday 5 April 2008. The $750,000 rehabilitation project involved: - Compacting the landfill, spreading hundreds of tonnes of topsoil and planting 35,000 square metres of turf. - A new irrigation system with a water treatment facility. - A new car park surface. - New access arrangements to the amenities building. The Council has also received a Community Water Grant from the Federal Government to undertake storm water harvesting at Foxglove Oval. The project is currently in the design phase and will save approximately 4 million litres of water annually. Finally, on a personal level I sincerely thank all those fine individuals who have offered me so much support over the past 11 months. I think back to all the cards, emails, telephone calls and visits throughout my 3 months in hospital and I can’t extend my appreciation enough. It is now rapidly approaching 12 months since my “below-waist paralysis” and all I can say is life is different. It is the love, support and prayers from friends and family which has truly aided my recovery to its full-potential. I am a very fortunate man, as I am now walking well with a stick for support. I consider every day to be a blessing as things should have been much tougher and I have learnt to appreciate all aspects of life. Take care and enjoy the winter sports season. Mark Rushton SENIOR COMPETITION REPORT The 2007/08 season was again very successful with 68 teams competing in the 10 senior grade competitions. Unfortunately, this was one of the worst wet weather seasons in memory with all grades disrupted to various degrees and the A Grade and Colts competitions obviously being the most affected with their all-turf competitions. This was very disappointing for all the players but when we did play, some great games were played in all grades consistently throughout the season. Most teams were well graded as reflected in the various point-scores and the makeup of the semi- finalists and Minor Premiers was not known until the end of the minor premiership in many grades. Congratulations are extended to our ten Premiers – ARL in A Grade (3rd consecutive title), WPHC in the Colts, Kenthurst for winning the A-Reserves, Glenhaven in B Grade, St Ives Blue in B2s (an all St Ives final), Hornsby in C Grade, CHRSL in C2s, CHRSL in C3s, Hornsby in D Grade and Kissing Point who took out the D2’s premiership. All teams listed played good consistent cricket throughout the season and deserved their success. Where there are winners there are also losers including several Minor Premiers that lost their semi-final or final match. To all the unsuccessful Minor Premiers, and all the other semi-finalists in all grades, well done - you all had a good season and better luck next season! WPHC again recorded a big win in the Club Championship and congratulations go to this excellent club. The WPHC club continues to go from strength to strength with their positive attitude towards both senior and junior cricket and will be a force in our district for many years to come. Other clubs could do far worse than look at how the WPHC club is structured and run, and try and emulate them so they can seriously challenge this clubs’ dominance in the Senior Club Championship in future years. If I thought we had ground problems last season, I was in for a nasty shock this season! Quite simply, the number of grounds available and the quality of grounds being used to play our cricket on is terrible. We had a myriad of poorly presented turf wickets with one A grade team being bowled out for 42 at Turramurra and 35 wickets falling for 252 runs at the same oval in an A-Reserve semi-final on the same ground.