New basketball president

Press, 13 December 1986, Page 19

New basketball president

Mr Russell Henwood, of Rangiora, is the new president of the Canterbury Basketball Association. At the association’s annual meeting this week, Mr Henwood was elected to replace Mr Peter Crowhen, who retired after several years in the top position. Mr Henwood heads the police station at Rangiora and has been involved in basketball administration for many years. Mr Crowhen retired from the top job because of business and family commitments. However, he did accept the senior vice-presi-dency. Mr Warwick Hobbs was elected junior vice-presi-dent.

Mr Ray Thomson, who recently intimated that he would retire as secretary, will continue in the role until a replacement is found, probably in the New Year. Mr John Grocott was reappointed treasurer. The executive is Messrs

John Duggan and Darren. Flynn, and Ms Bernadette Daly, Anne Marie Hoogenbozem and Dorothy Weame. Mrs Tina Cook was elected a life member. Both as a player and an administrator, Mrs Cook has been involved in the sport for 28 years. She plans to still retain interest in club basketball. Presentation of the main awards went to two clubs. Butler Auto Spares won both men’s senior championships and Admiral Lodge Checkers the same in the two women’s first division women’s section. Mr Crowhen was awarded the coveted Ryan Trophy for outstanding contribution during the year; Thelma Costain won the Sportswoman of the Year trophy; and the outstanding American forward, Angelo Hill, the Sportsman of the Year award.

Hill was deeply appreciative of the honour, saying later that he could not get

into the new season quickly enough. “I am not prepared to take on' a full-time work position at the moment. I just want to get fit for the new season.” Gary Pettis, the coach of the league champions, quipped when Hill arrived back with his trophy: "There is no place on the award to pour in some champagne.”

The association showed a reasonable profit, $7214 this year compared with $1973 in 1985. Expenses for the association were $42,119 ($37,980 in 1985). The popularity of the Countrywide league led to an income of $89,708, more than twice that of the previous year. However, expenditure of $89,845 led to a deficit of $137.

The women’s league was a different story. It attracted only $7OO income compared with $l5B in 1985 and with expenditure, $10,230, the debt rose by nearly $3OOO on the

previous season. Main concerns at the meeting were the lack of referees, publication of sponsors’ names in the news media and the future of present facilities in Christchurch, as well as having the league teams separate from the association and being reliable for their own finances.

The plea for encouraging referees was endorsed; association will discuss further the matter of sponsors’ names; a meeting will be held in Christchurch on Monday with the Christchurch City Council over facilities; and the matter of separate identities between the association and league teams will also come under consideration, but likely to fail.

It is possible the association and the City Council will make a deal over extending Cowles Stadium. The intention is to increase the seating capacity by 800.