End of an era at park

Press, 19 March 1982, Page 1

End of an era at park

Whatever the result, the third cricket tests against Australia, which begins at Lancaster Park today, will hold special significance. It will be the last big occasion for Mr Cyril Barnes, who will retire at the end of this month after 34 years as the park’s chief groundsman. Mr Barnes is pictured (right) yesterday with Mr Bert Sutcliffe, the former New Zealand test captain. Never one to seek the

limelight, Mr Barnes has always been reluctant to talk about the “inside” stories of notable, and sometimes controversial, events to which he has been privy at the park. However, in an interviewsome years ago Mr Barnes listed the three events at the park which, to him, rose above all others. They were Bert Sutcliffe’s innings of 385 for Otago against Canterbury in 1953; the third - Springbok test in 1956, which the All Blacks

won, 17-10; and Peter Snell s two world records, 880 yards and 800 metres, in 1962. Perhaps these great days at the park could be rivalled by what unfolds in the next five days. But for Lancaster park regulars, both summer and winter, the ground will not seem quite the same for a while without Mr Barnes roaming what was, without question, his domain. Test preview, back page