Willowers all,
The season past was the first without the Founder’s inimitable presence and personality, but it has been a year of advancement on and off the Oval.
I record the recent passing of that great servant of cricket Don Neely, a true friend of Mike Dormer and his family, The Willows, and so many of its Members, whose service to New Zealand Cricket was long and exemplary. He captained Auckland and Wellington, was New Zealand selector for 14 years, and was NZC President. He was a historian and writer, with Paddianne, and he exemplifies the spirit of cricket. To his family, our Members extend sympathy and gratitude for his loyalty and friendship.
Cricket
A lot of hard work went in prior to the season with irrigation installed by John Gardner, the grounds prepared through Peter Devlin and Rupert Young, and Ben Dormer, overall in charge of grounds, erecting the picket fence. The Gent family (Exeter, UK) donated the rose lawn BBQ table for which we are very grateful.
The raw statistics for 2021/22 season, are that we played 20 matches, won 15 and lost 5. Four school elevens (Timaru Boys’ High School, Otago Boys’ High School, Wellington College, North West Schools XI) plus the Seddon Cricket Club recorded wins against The Willows. All were memorable games, and somehow, despite COVID and inclement weather, 20 of the 25 fixtures went ahead. At the end-of-season the ’49ers Cup was deservedly awarded to Timaru Boys’ High School.
The success in establishing women’s cricket at The Willows has been a highlight. The Christchurch Girls High School v St Hilda’s Collegiate match was again played in October 2021, when Kate Hastings (CGHS) won player-of-the-match award.
The first game between a Willows’ schoolgirls XI, and a team of former international and representative players, was played on Friday 25 March 2022. This was an exceptional day. The former internationals, led by Kirsty Bond, included legendary names in New Zealand Cricket and entered the spirit of this historic game in every way. They were extremely competitive none more so that Rebecca Rolls, a double international. The schoolgirls under the co-captaincy of Izzy Sharp (Craighead Diocesan School) and Kate Chandler (Wellington Girls’ College) were highly skilled and committed, and the game ended fittingly in the last over with a superb catch in the covers which saw the Willows’ Schoolgirls XI win by three runs.
The support for women’s cricket is immense, and while The Willows has a very full calendar, the annual game between St Hilda’s Collegiate and Christchurch Girls’ High School this coming year it will likely be supplemented in a double header with Otago Girls’ High School playing St Margaret’s College. The women’s game will grow at Loburn.
As the website bears out, Molly Loe played for The Willows against Otago Boys’ High School in October, under the captaincy of Richie McCaw, and Catelyn Walton played for St Kevin’s. As befits their status, they showed very clearly why women can hold their own playing at The Willows against quality men’s teams.
Given the poor weather and a greener than normal wicket it is not surprising that it was a season where the ball dominated the bat. Bowlers made up nine honours board entries (5 or more wickets in an innings) but only two centuries were struck. Willows bowlers to achieve the honour were: 71-old Stan Woolliscroft, Kelvin Scott, Fergus Fairbairn and inevitably our pre-eminent wicket-taker Andrew Nuttall. The only Willows century went to Marlborough Hawke Cup player and Sri Lanka tourist Matt Stretch. Other milestones achieved this season included 1,000 runs by Adrian McFedries and Jonathan Davidson; 50 plus caps to Joe Bennett and David Kelly. All these are stalwarts and vital parts of The Willows heritage.
Three stand-out schoolboy performances came from Bryn Thurlow, Waimea College, playing in the last match of the season, who captured 7/26 – the second best 1st XI bowling statistic ever recorded at The Willows. Earlier, two youthful 15 year olds – Tom Turner 104* (from Lincoln HS) and Harry Witt 6/8 (from Rangiora HS) had days to remember against The Willows. Tom received a new bat for his effort and Harry, our match-day helper, was rightfully awarded a mounted cricket ball. Figures of 6/8 are the fourth best by any bowler in the history of The Willows which is some feat. Sorting out the Shadbolt Cup recipient for 2021-22 was a close-run thing between these three fine athletes and it was awarded to Harry Witt, with our warm congratulations.
Every student to play at the ground receives a blazer lapel badge (‘in the V’) to commemorate their visit and a gold badge is awarded to the team member who has gone out of their way to contribute to sport in their community.
The first player exchange took place with two Rongotai 1st XI boys playing for The Willows in the WBHS fixture. I thank Evan Gray and the Wellington Wanderers Club for their considerable support in this which will be a common feature in years to come.
The Kindred Cup is played for by The Willows’ over 35 year old team and their competition extends to the Chatfield Shield, a challenge shield. This year the tour to Sydney to play I Zingari and the Primary Club was lost and the Kindred finals were cancelled in February. However, the team went to Blenheim for a triangular competition for the Chatfield Shield, and Dave Clouston and his United Country and Vineyard team were superb hosts. The Willows in the same way much enjoyed hosting the Seddon Cricket Club from Hamilton, for the first time, and they took the Chatfield Shield home with them. These exchanges make for camaraderie and great fun, and we hope The Willows will excel in the finals, for a fourth time in November 2022. I thank Sam Davis for his able hand on these games and his captaincy.
We expect I Zingari to tour in February 2023 and to resume rivalries with famous Clubs throughout New Zealand and beyond. New to The Willows will be a double header played at the end of September as a season opener when Canterbury representative teams will play mixed Willows’ schoolboy and schoolgirl teams. This will be flagged as the Independent Fisheries’ day, as it has backed The Willows with such loyal and generous support over many years.
Fixtures outside the traditional Sunday school games fit squarely within the founding objects of The Willows, to enhance the quality of cricket played by secondary schools, and reflect in the very strong support for coaching, very much Mike’s legacy, and still in a development phase, with The Willows playing its full part alongside Canterbury and New Zealand initiatives. As President I have been very heartened by the encouragement and support for coaching, in person and financial, reflected in a highly successful golf day organised by Keith Yardley at the Christchurch Golf Club, on the Shirley links, when we had a full field on a beautiful day, and raised some $10,000 towards youth coaching. This is a day not to be missed, to be played next on 28 April 2023. Max Bremner, the hospitality Czar in Christchurch and Rubik (Sam Davis) made the day a financial success.
Developments
A reorganisation of administration is underway, very important given the impetus for development of the Oval and expansion of the Club’s activities, at Loburn and elsewhere. In broad terms we divide the club’s activities into ‘Operations’ and ‘Outreach’ the latter for coaching, touring, helping those who need a leg up, and supporting the Children’s Christmas Party.
Paul Rutledge took over the role of Chair from me with dedication and commitment. It is, as I know from earlier years, a role which takes an immense amount of time, and involves difficult decisions. What is now required to run The Willows, means those elected to the Management Committee (Board) at the AGM, or co-opted, will have portfolios of considerable responsibility. This is a substantial departure from the past where Mike covered all bases, in one way or another, enlisting help as he thought required. There was an element of autocracy. All Members will soon receive advice of the portfolios which the Chair intends to establish, so people will know what is expected of them should they seek office. It is important that the affairs of The Willows are transparent, and that those working on subcommittees of the Board, and others interested, should have observer status at meetings of the Board, unless there are matters taken in committee.
The crucial roles of the Match Managers and Match Day Hosts are now bedded in and their roles extend beyond the game itself; assembling the team, liaising with the opposition and debriefing. There is very close liaison between the schools and other teams which play at The Willows through Di Woodward. Small-scale reunions are developing at these annual school fixtures often of the XIs, which I expect to gain traction in the coming season.
The ground is transformed, with a re-grassed outfield, a new wicket block constructed after expert opinion was taken, irrigation installed, and a bund for spectators. This has all taken place under the eye of the Founder who lies adjacent to the scorers’ box, where he was memorialised by the Reverend Mike Hawke, in a fitting way, on October 24, 2021. Ben Dormer has driven developments at the ground, after taking much expert advice about soil and block establishment, with brother Peter contracting his skills, and the expectations are that it will become known nationally for the quality of the opportunity to play cricket to the highest standard.
The Board had to take a difficult decision regarding COVID protocols, and adopted Government policy, requiring vaccinated visitors and supporters, not as straightforward a decision as some might think. For some it meant standing aside for the season. We have also addressed security at The Oval.
In a signal advance, thanks to the sterling work of John McRae, The Willows attained charitable status as a Club. The Willows Foundation had no such status. We can now give receipts for tax deductible donations, and this is significant for all donors. The Foundation is in the hands of entirely independent trustees, and will probably have no future purpose, given the Club’s status now as a charity. The Foundation has not received funds for many years. There is now a clear avenue for sponsorship on the one hand, and donations on the other, both with tax deductibility. Donors are able to specify the purpose of a donation, whether for the Club’s general purposes, or a specific element of its activity, such as coaching. Where a donor marks out the use of funds, that will be recorded and held to identifiable account, not mixed with general funds. It is obvious already that this is a real inducement for some donors, who look for specific outcomes, examples being coaching, touring, the Children’s Christmas Party, and assistance for those disadvantaged.
We lost the Christmas Party for COVID related reasons, so will make that up this year with an enhanced day for Riding for the Disabled, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and The Champion Centre, and I hope there are Willows members who will contribute to this separately funded day. We hope to bring more music to add to the outstanding contribution of the Salvation Army Band.
Finance
Further to the important charitable status now held, an increase in subscriptions for playing members has been on the cards for a long time. The Willows cannot run on subscriptions alone, and the Board has tried to pitch them at a level which will retain support, and it is hoped that with the expansion of match day and off field activities, and more members in different categories visiting the ground, the value of any membership of The Willows will be understood. The foundation of our finances is the enormous support from sponsors and donors. The Match Day sponsorship of $2,500 plus GST is just that. It is an opportunity to lend the sponsor’s name to a fixture, often closely connected with the school playing, that day with hospitality and promotion of the sponsor on the day. Other Match Day sponsors are simply donors. In the season past, Match Day sponsors accounted for $31,000.00 revenue. There are the “in the V” sponsors who helped fund, the pins which are awarded, silver and gold, to mark particular occasions, performances and service to the game. There are the Match Ball sponsors or donors, $250.00 per game.
The major sponsors traditionally have been recorded on Willows correspondence and the website, and without their backing the Club would struggle. These sponsors deserve special reference, in this report, and I ask all Willowers to remember them when choosing services, where you may reciprocate their support. Some support of sponsors is so marked and/or longstanding, that we are looking to attach their names to specific events, such as the Golf Day, the Canterbury XIs match on Opening Day, and so on. We want to lift their recognition. We still look for a sponsor or donor for The Oval, a key plank of our financial health. Naming rights go with this.
I must mention those who simply give spontaneously, as donors. There has been considerable generosity shown by those who do not seek recognition in any way, from small sums to large, who support the initiatives underway. This is very heartening. Mark Stewart made a one off donation of $25,000, seeking nothing in return, one half to ‘Outreach’ off field activity, and one half to the Club, for cricket operations.
The Club is very well served by the Chair, Paul Rutledge, Ben Dormer as his father’s appointed successor, Jim Stringleman as Secretary and omnipresent at the ground with Di Woodward, working tirelessly with her ‘angels’, enlisted by her for match days. Alistair Sheard has a demanding role as Treasurer which he carries out with aplomb, and without complaint. Richard McGuire, Andrew McRae and Phil Harris, carry the torch for The Willows in and out of season and Phil Harris is over everything Willows. Richard Cowles, a Founder, is liaising closely with Paul Rutledge, Ben Dormer and John and Isabel McRae in establishing the website about to be launched which we know will be of the highest calibre and allow a constant stream of information about The Willows, past and present, to flow to Members. We look forward to hearing from all Members, in whatever way, and for you as Members to post on the new website.
I must thank the umpires and scorers for their dedication, and Dave Stuthridge and Howard Fowler for their leadership in this regard. Harry Witt and Lachie Cameron are central to Match Days, fine young men, who get the ground ready, and put to bed. Rex Hayward is a photographer of skill and dedication. We owe him a lot.
Mike “asked” that the link with the Arundel Castle Cricket Club and its Foundation be established, and this is now structurally in place, with the intended Exchange of two scholars, usually a young man and young woman each year, playing grade cricket in Christchurch, and for The Willows, working part-time, and immersing themselves in Canterbury activities. They will be chosen from Sir Rod Aldridge’s Academies. This is reciprocal with our scholars each UK summer going to Arundel where they will work with the Arundel Cricket Club Foundation and play for the Chichester Priory Cricket Club, or another. These are development opportunities of immense benefit at a sporting and personal level, and they are demanding to run. Immigration and Covid allowing we welcome the first scholar(s) to The Willows at the end of September, who will stay at Rochester Rutherford Hall thanks to Keith Yardley, a Governor working with Claire Connor, the Principal. Winsome Dormer who has taken on the demanding role of mentor. There is a strong team behind this exchange, for which I take responsibility. The scholars will work as volunteers with 180 Degrees Trust which I hope all those reading this report will look at under www.180degrees.org.nz and the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust www.bpct.org.nz. We would have sent a deserving Willows scholar to Arundel this year but were defeated by immigration rules which cut out a cricketer with a representative pedigree. We are working to change this through David Kidd who is at the heart of the Exchange, but there is no such impediment for the scholars coming here. If anyone has an interest in this exchange and in helping in any way, please contact me directly. We need host families each summer to give them a home away from home, especially for long weekends and holidays. We also need some casual work offers.
The Matfen Exchange to Northumberland has been run since 1995, interrupted by COVID, but the enthusiastic former Matfen scholars are up and running with the hope that this will resume in 2023, with two Willows’ representatives travelling to Northumberland for the summer. The relationship with Sir Hugh Blackett and Anna, Lady Blackett meant a great deal to Mike, and this has been a highly successful link. He wanted it to resume, as we do, together with tours to the subcontinent. In time these will too. Our connection with the Fernando family and Cricket Live are deep and will resume.
Conclusion
The season coming will be launched with a sense of great optimism, at a ground transformed. The Club in this development at Loburn, and its ventures beyond the gates has attracted the attention of many national and international clubs, and requests to play at The Willows flow in. Many factors dictate how many games can be played, including human and financial resources, and the wicket block and we are fortunate Phil Harris has such a steady hand on these demands, and whether we can meet them.
I close with my acknowledgement of Ben and Winsome Dormer, in a seminal year for the family in different ways taking the club into a new era with their distinctive Dormer touch. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and the hospitality and standards set at Loburn reflect that, and traditions well preserved.
Mā te wā
Nicholas Davidson
President