Canterbury cricket to break new ground

Press, 9 May 1980, Page 20

Canterbury cricket to break new ground

New ground will be broken when the Canterbury Cricket Association's management committee meets on June 3.

For the first time, a delegate front each of the association’s six minor associations has been invitee to attend the meeting, because it will be deliberating selection policies. The meeting will decide on the size of the panels which will select Shell Series, Rothman’s tournament and Brabin tournament teams. Nominations for the panels, will close that evening.

At the meeting on July 8, the country delegates will be back, for the voting on the selection panels. This is the first time they will have had a direct influence on the composition of the selections.

It could be an important one. Their six votes could well be vital in a close contest in which 28 votes, in all, will be cast. Their influence will be a stronger one than the country vote in the Canterbury Rugby Union, which basically has two country votes in 18. al-i though from time to time!

: country administrators also! ■ hold 'other C.R.U. posts; which increase the country! vote. ; The chairman of the management committee. Mr John! , Knowles, has welcomed the; country involvement in’ , cricket affairs. . He also announced that . sketch plans were now being, prepared for an extension of; ithe indoor school facilities; at Hagley Oval, and that the Canterbury all-rounder,| David Stead, was now thep full-time groundsman at! Hagley. The proposal for the in- i

door school involves the production of three more < squash courts, taking the total to six, and of a third icricket pitch. The probability I I is that the extensions will ’ be completed next year. I I Of moment to cricket, as I lwell as other sports, is the 1 retirement, at the end ofi September of the secretary ’ of the Victory Park Board, ( Mr Karl McGillivray, after ' [many years of outstanding f service. Another notable figure in < the affairs of the board, Mr , Cvril Barnes, will also re- { Itire, after more than 30J years service, at the end ofi l Inext summer. is

>1 The board is expected t« /advertise for a replacement .soon, although the position I will really be a new one, iThe new man will be secre-Itary-manager, possibly with) ia permanent office at the ground, and part of his job will be promotion of the park. It is no secret that thef I Victory Park Board is hav* ling a difficult time finan* daily, and the feeling is that I wider use of the ground icould bring needed revenue« ! Lancaster Park could well be) jin the market for rock con-

certs, and other events likely to attract larga crowds. ‘ Next summer. Mr Barney will have with him, for his final cricket season, the man who will ultimately replacei him. There will be a new or-* ganisation here too — thrt board proposes to appoint at groundsman whose duties will be confined to tha grounds themselves. Thera will also be a new post, a full-time caretaker. A century of sport at Lan* caster Park will end this year. But the celebration of the centennial will not begirt until late in the winter sea* son next year.