Basketball president looks to the future

Press, 1 September 1982, Page 26

Basketball president looks to the future

By

FRANK DUGGAN

When Peter Crowhen joined the Taxation Department (now the Inland Revenue Department) in 1963 at the age of 17, one of the senior officials took one look at his height —1.93 m — and build and told him he was playing for the Taxes indoor basketball side.

Crowhen was a bit puzzled about the game — he thought he had briefly seen one in a school gymnasium — but because of the invitation and a desire to be accepted by his fellow employees, heagreed. Reflecting on the “invitation,” he first asked a friend what it was all about. The reply was, in many ways, how the game was then regarded: “Hey, that’s a girls’ game.” Nearly two decades later, Peter Crowhen is now . the president of the Canterbury Basketball Association, a leading referee, an advocate for the sport’s progress, and one of its most able administrators.

Like most successful businessmen. Peter Crowhen can be “turned-on” or “off” On court, a person who surmises that his relaxed smile excuses a misdemeanor finds

that conjecture is no proof of innocence; the eyes are calculating - after all, he is an' accountant, — but a wry sense of humour enables his decisions to be accepted. Progression from a playing role to administration was quite spontaneous. In 1975, he virtually “fell” into the post of treasurer of the Canterbury association. Graeme Davey, now the president of the New Zealand Basketball Federation, and his wife, Bev, had worked .many years in executive roles for the association. But in 1975 Graeme was appointed to the executive of the federation and his sparetime dwindled. Mr Crowhen had the “hard word” placed on him — “Graeme can be pretty persuading" — and he accepted the treasurer’s job. In 1979, he had the dual roles of president and treasurer, but then Bruce Martin stepped in and became treasurer. Adulation of acknowledgement of achievements are not in Mr Crowhen's character.' Suffice to say that in recent years. he’ has helped guide Canterbury to a domin-

ant position in New Zealand basketball.. His interest is "shared equally in both the male and female sides of the . sport. More importantly, he wants to see both the senior sides, finish as New Zealand champions.within a year or two. . . ■ ■ . Basketball was never in Mr Crowhen’s mind when he started school.:. As so often was the case 30 years ago, primary schoolboys had but one choice of sport in the winter months, and that was rugby. At intermediate school the curriculum included soccer; young Peter made the change. He also played for the Western club for three or four seasons, rising to the fourth grade. These days, he plays cricket in the President’s grade for Police. The progression to Linwood High School brought little difference in his sporting interests. He can remember when Linwood had only one basketball team. On joining the Taxation Department, the teen-aged Peter Crowhen, for perhaps the first time, found out the reality of what dedicated sport meant. "Our lunch hour was be-

tween 12 o’clock and 1 p.m. and that’s when the Taxes’ side trained. We’d all jump on our bikes (the Taxation Department was then sited on the new police building) and pedal away to the Y.M.C.A. Not much food, plenty of fun, and we came back to work smelly under the arms,” he reflected. His career changed direction and he moved from the department to the Canterbury Building Society in 1965 (“Tax and I had a few difficulties over university studies.”) He started with Smiths City Market in 1967 and a year later qualified as an accountant.

Thinking about his association with basketball, Mr Crowhen this week was inclined to drop his eyes behind his gold-rimmed spectacles and reflect, but the reply was direct, as usual. “Basketball became of age in Christchurch when Ray Thompson successfully moved to have the senior men’s games changed from

mid-week to Saturdays." he said.

"He reckoned that if basketball was ever going to become a’ major sport in New Zealand it had to compete with the more acknowledged sports. There were some hard times because some of the senior rugby players who played midweek basketball to keep fit, dropped out,” he related.

“Ray’s move was, with the assistance of the executive, the most significant in Canterbury basketball.” From Ray Thompson’s decision has come, the emergence of the sport in the province. Today,. Canterbury ranks almost equal with Auckland, the top province; Friday evening 80 secondary school . sides take part in competition: and if there were more facilities. 20 or 30 more — "Burnside High School once applied to have 20 teams," Mr Crowhen.said. “The secondary schools or under-age sides are . very strong. The junior men’s

team has reached the NewZealand final, and most are 17 years,” he explained. “For the’ it was to have been a building year, but when you consider it’s reached the final the accomplishment has been quite remarkable." The influence of Ameri-can-born plavers in the mid 19605-70 s helped give Canterbury basketball a vital impetus. "You can’t take it

away from them, their impact was quite dramatic," said Peter.

However, in recent years Canterbury selectors have chosen to rely on local players. “I’ve tried to place a reliance on local teams for provincial representation. However, and I hope it won’t happen, if we were to drop out of the national league in the next couple of years, serious consideration would have to be made for including American importations.” This season, many of the league sides included Americans.

Looking back on his career, Peter Crowhen laughs at the variances. His biggest thrill? New Zealand beating Australia a few years ago. “For many years, downing Australia was but a dream. I was a spectator at that game and my personal satisfaction was immense. Still. I’ve got a fair kick out of the national league this year, mainly because Canterbury did so well.

"But more importantly it was the home-town’s enthusiasm which stirred me. Against Auckland Metro at

Cowles Stadium, the crowd reaction was moving. Better still, a lot of the spectators were new to the game, and loved it.”

His biggest disappointment? It was in the final of the Taxes’ Department national tournament. After extra time, Christchurch Taxes trailed by one point when Crowhen was fouled and given two free shots. “I missed both.”

For Canterbury’s future, he sees nothing but success, both men and women. However, he would like to see the association expand its policy, primarily getting more schoolchildren to know the enjoyment of the sport. The association’s biggest drawback for the Cooper Henderson mini-ball competition and in the intermediate schools is manpower to control games. Also there are still a few Christchurch secondary schools who will not allow Form 111 pupils to compete in teams. Problems''there may be for Canterbury’s most growing sport. But for Peter Crowhen. challenge has always been a lift to incentive and effort; no doubt he. and the sport, will make it.