Parnell Cricket Club Incorporated - Established 1858 Update No.186: 2019/20 – Club of the Year! The 2019/20 Season may have ended a fraction prematurely but, for Parnell, it was a resounding success. Over it’s long history, 163 years, the Club has won many championships and produced some of New Zealand’s finest cricketers but few seasons have produced the results and accolades gained in 2019/20. COVID 19 has meant the postponement of the Annual Awards Dinner but Auckland Cricket has just announced the trophy winners and a superb collection of silverware comes to Parnell and our Players: “Club of the Year” – the Simmonds & Osborne Trophy awarded to Parnell Cricket Club Parnell last won this Award 27 years ago. The Trophy dates from 1905/06 when it was awarded jointly to City, Grafton, North Shore and Parnell Cricket Clubs. Parnell was the sole awardee in 1909/10 and North Shore won in 1910/11 but, then, till 1926/27 there were No Awards made. Reinstated the next season, From then it was awarded each year to WW 2 with Parnell winning in 1933/34. No awards during the War but from 1946/47 it has been presented annually again and Parnell won it the next season,1947/48. Next, and represented by Eastern Districts (Parnell, Orakei, Ellerslie and Panmure CCs), we won in 1959/60. The District Scheme ended in 1966 but Parnell did not win the Trophy again until 1992/93. That season Mike Simpson, our present Patron, was both President and Chairman. It has taken another 27 years to win again. A long time and reflects well on the performances right through the grades, Boys, Girls, Men and Women of all ages – 5 year olds to 70 year olds who took the field for the Club in 2019-20. Other ACA Awards Mark Chapman – celebrating his 100 vs India A Photo per Getty Images Aces' Batsman of the Year AND Highest Score on Eden Park - Ridings Cup: 146 Auckland vs N.D. ACA’s Citation: Chapman played several memorable knocks in the 2019/20 summer. The left- hander was particularly impressive through the second half of the season, hitting an unbeaten 84 to take the ACES to victory in the Ford Trophy final and twin Plunket Shield hundreds (143 and 146) in a thrilling one-wicket win over Northern Districts. Adding to these excellent performances for the ACES, the 25-year old also notched back-to-back hundreds for New Zealand A against the touring India A side. Ian West Coach of the Year – the Merv Wallace Bat ACA’s Citation: Ian West built on last summer’s Jeff Crowe Cup success by leading Parnell to two finals and lifting the Hedley Howarth Trophy. West kept the Peaches focussed after tight defeats in the T20 and 50 Over finals going on to claim Parnell’s first two-day title since 2014/15. With Parnell going as close as any to the treble, it’s no surprise that West claims Club Coach of the Year for 2019/20. Brad Rodden Most Positive Premier Grade Player - The Dick Shortt Memorial Trophy This is an award made by the Auckland Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association. Dick Shortt was a noted and very much respected umpire through the 1950/60s and stood in 9 Tests. In 2018/19 the Umpires awarded Brad “Captain of the Year” Harry Miller Most Premier Grade Wicketkeeping Dismissals - SR Speed Trophy 47 dismissals (43 ct 4 std) Note: Harry had to make way for Ben Horne when Ben was not required for the Aces. Ben, for our Prems ct. 14 & std 1. Harry, for our Premier Reserves also ct. 7 std 1 –overall, 55 dismissals for the Season SR (Stewart) Speed was Auckland’s ‘keeper though the 1960s. Very sound behind the stumps, Stewart was also a very good lower middle order bat. In 33 First Class matches he made 73 dismissals (61 ct. 12 std) Yasmin Khareem – 451 runs Most Runs in Women's Premier Grade - the Nesse Hammond Cup PLUS TEAM AWARDS: Brad Rodden leading the Prems – but it was in whites that success finally came • Hedley Howarth Trophy - Men’s Premier 2 Day Champs. Parnell CC – Men’s Premier XI James Partridge and his men – not only did they win their Grade but the Prunes ran the hugely successful “Back Yard Cricket Day” • Senior Men’s 7th Grade Champions Parnell CC – Fourths or Prunes • Sunday T20 Central/East Pre Christmas Champions Parnell CC – RCC • Sunday T20 Central/East Post Christmas Champions Parnell CC – Soldiers • Under 12 – T20 Pre Christmas Parnell CC – Gold U12 LO30 Champions - Parnell Rainger with Mentor Ben Rainger last November Ben came up through all the Parnell grades, captained Auckland Grammar’s 1st XI, was selected for Auckland U17 and now opens the batting for our Premier XI. Inset shows Ben, with trophies, in 2006/7 Season. • Under 12 – Limited Overs 30 Parnell CC – Rainger [Editor - unfortunately no photos of the Parnell RCC, Parnell Soldiers or the Parnell U12 Gold teams but congratulations, your wins contributed hugely to the Club being awarded the Simmonds & OsborneTrophy!] New Book | Mark Burgess: Talent to Burn by Bill Francis Two weeks ago, Auckland Cricket was set to host the book launch of Bill Francis’ new work honouring former double international and Auckland stalwart, Mark Burgess. Unfortunately, Covid-19 restrictions forced the cancellation of the event. The book penned by the eminent New Zealand writer Bill Francis, with Forewords by Graham Vivian and Vic Pollard, pays tribute to a fine sportsman who represented his country in cricket and football, captaining New Zealand for a period. It looks at the life of a brilliant and talented sportsman who developed his chosen games to reach the top. Burgess featured in 50 tests for New Zealand and amassed 68 First Class appearances for Auckland, for whom he scored 4228 runs with 10 centuries. Mark was able to combine a successful business career with playing sport for a period before retiring to move into a different phase of his life. He more than re-payed his time away from his employer, Brittain Wynyard, in the early days to remain with them until retirement. If you would like to learn more about this wonderful sportsman and recall those days of New Zealand cricket when wins were important for the development of the game of the amateur game then this book will be of interest to you. ORDER NOW For orders, more information and other titles: [email protected] FROM YOUR EDITOR – A PERSONAL COMMENDATION A personal commendation – Mark Burgess grew up at Parnell, one of a very special group of schoolboys nurtured, encouraged and challenged by the Club. Mark was a Parnell member from very young – the photo below of the Club’s Opening Day, October 1954 shows Mark as a 10 year old. He, and his mate, Terry Jarvis, represented Eastern Districts in the annual ACA Primary School Tournament and in his secondary school days played for Auckland Grammar on Saturday mornings and, in the afternoons for Parnell until, quite early because of his talent, he was selected for Grammar’s 1st XI. Play for Parnell was restricted to holidays but gave him the opportunity to play with adults in the Eastern Districts grade. Parnell fielded 3 teams in that grade, “Reds”, “Whites” and “Blues”, which soaked up anybody wanting a game – from retired Premier players to 13 year olds. Great learning experience for youngsters playing with the likes of Ray Emery, Jack Forsman, Sam Sukias and Peter Badley. Reputations meant nothing – I remember Tom Burtt, up from Canterbury, great left arm spinner with the NZ ‘49ers, being carted for 6 four times in one over – at Hobson Park, the ball sailing over the hedge onto Market Road. For Mark, after Grammar for a season or two, the runs didn’t come quite so easily. At Grammar Mark had been exceptionally successful with his off spinners but there was competition. Eastern already had Geoff Rabone and Ross Morgan bowling offies. Colin Stringer also joined – from England, a very competent left arm orthodox spinner. Johnny Carson was another left arm spinner coming into contention. Auckland had John Sparling as incumbent offie and, lefties, Hedley Howarth and John McIntyre were locked in mortal combat. Opportunities for Mark’s off spin were severely restricted. Not yet required for the Auckland Plunket Shield team, he had already done well with the bat in the Brabin Cup (U19s) and Rothmans (U23) Tournament, Mark was selected to make his 1st Class debut, for the NZ Under 23 XI vs Auckland in March 1964. A couple of years later, the frustrated offie, despite the dictates of the District Scheme with its residential requirements, decide to move from Parnell/Eastern to play for Grafton. The District Scheme was failing already and Mark’s departure hastened its end. Some disappointment but Mark’s move was pragmatic and he remained a great friend of all his former colleagues and team mates at Parnell. Mark is an Hon. Vice President of Parnell CC. At Grafton, Mark’s batting bloomed whilst his bowling, ironically, didn’t – but that is for Bill Francis to tell. Bill is a marvelous author – wonderful that he has chosen to write this biography of Mark. Bill’s biography of Stu Dempster is great reading and I am sure this book on Mark will be , too! Mark Burgess, 10 years old, 4th boy from right Remuera Parnell Sports Club - Parnell CC’s Junior Section’s Opening Day, October 1954 Back in Time – Past “Club of the Year” Successes 1905/06 Parnell District CC’s Senior XI – 1903/04 (no photo of 1905/06 available) Back: H Pearce (Scorer), JR Lundon, A Fairburn, F Barclay, WJ Dinnison (Secretary) Front: FS Murray, FR Mason, EV Sale, FJ Ohlson (Captain), RB Lusk, C Olliff, E Foster Absent: NB Lusk, M Hicks, J Gleeson Parnell District CC’s Senior XI – 1909/10 Back: WJ Dinnison (Hon.