News Article

Chairman's Report - Cumulative Update to January 2026

by Conrad Dry

Kia ora koutou,

Thank you for your ongoing support of St Albans Cricket Club. I’m Con Dry and I’m proud to serve as Chairman. This report provides a clear mid-season update on how the club is tracking on and off the field, including governance, finances, membership, sponsorship, and key issues affecting community sport.

At a glance

• Registered playing membership has grown to 149 players (up 13 on last season).

• Subscriptions are unchanged for 2025/26; 4 members still have subscriptions outstanding and need to pay promptly.

• Financially we are in a reasonable mid-year position with just under $40,000 in the bank, with major costs still to come.

• Our new club website is live, with more content and improvements planned.

• Sponsorship remains strong: The Bealey Tavern is confirmed again; Forsyth Barr has joined as a new sponsor; and several supporters have renewed.

Acknowledgements

I want to acknowledge people who have made a significant contribution to the club and those who continue to do the hard work behind the scenes.

• Pete Mayell – for outstanding service to the club over many years. While stepping back from a formal role, we hope to continue seeing Pete around the grounds.

• Rob Young – for four years as Treasurer, as well as roles as Junior Club Captain and Women’s Club Captain. These are substantial commitments and we are grateful for the time and energy given.

• Rob Souness – welcome and thank you for volunteering to take on the Treasurer role.

• Committee members – thank you to Duane Pettit, Will Southby, Murray Griffin, Owen Rees, Sam Price and Alex Brown for their ongoing dedication.

Governance and compliance

The 2024/25 Annual Report is with the printers and will be distributed shortly. It is a good reflection on another strong season of club cricket.

Under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, clubs are required to update and resubmit their constitutions. Following review and discussion, our updated constitution was approved at the August AGM and is now being formally submitted.

Financial update

At the mid-point of the year, the club is in a reasonable financial position with just under $40,000 in the bank. However, we still have significant expenditure ahead, including ground usage, cricket balls and coaching costs. Several grant applications are still pending and the outcome of these will influence how much we can

carry over into next season.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions have remained unchanged for the 2025/26 season. At last count, 4 members have subscriptions outstanding. Those members have been contacted and payment is required to remain available for selection.

Funding and grants

The committee continues to work hard to secure sponsorship, funding and grants to meet operating costs and keep membership affordable. All known funding requirements have been submitted to relevant Trusts and Foundations. We have had several positive responses already and are awaiting further decisions.

Key sector matters

NZC membership levy and PlayHQ

New Zealand Cricket proposed a $7.50 levy per player to support ongoing development of PlayHQ. Clubs across the Canterbury Metro region and beyond raised strong concerns. Following further feedback, NZC has deferred the levy for 12 months and indicated it will consult more openly with stakeholders before any further decision.

Online casino gambling legislation

Proposed changes to online casino gambling settings have been under Select Committee consideration. This is important for community sport because, unlike current Class 4 (gaming machine) funding models that return money to the community, initial proposals risked reducing the pool of funds available for grants. Last season, grants represented around 50% of our revenue base. The club made a submission and we will continue to monitor developments. More recently, the Government has signalled that a portion of online casino revenue would be returned to community groups, which would be a positive outcome for sport.

Membership and representative honours

It is great to see registrations trending upward. Current registered playing membership for the 2025/26 season is 149, which is 13 more than 2024/25

Representative selections

Congratulations to the following members on representative honours:

• Lochie Harper – Canterbury Kings T20 & ODI

• Ben Rapson – New Zealand Over 40s

• Harry O’Loughlin – Canterbury Under 19s

• Hawke Cup – Toby Clement, Jed McKerrow, Ben Davenport, Hanroux Wessels, William Southby

• Pierre Flavell – Canterbury B Over 50s

• Craig Gibb – New Zealand Over 55s and Over 60s; Canterbury B Over 50s

• Bert Horner – New Zealand Over 55s; North Island Over 50s; Canterbury A Over 50s

• Scott Mason – New Zealand Over 55s; South Island Over 50s; Canterbury A Over 50s

• Mark Hampton – New Zealand Over 55s

Sponsorship and partnerships

Sponsorship is critical to sustaining the club and keeping cricket accessible. We sincerely thank all sponsors and supporters, past and present.

Returning supporters

• Aaron Johnstone (Harcourts) and Rhys Cain (RC Restructuring) – thank you for renewing your support.

• Nathan Astle and the team at Anderson & Hill – thank you for committing for another year.

• Kookaburra – thank you for your continued commitment to club cricket.

New partner

We warmly welcome Forsyth Barr as a new club sponsor. Their support is appreciated and will directly benefit club operations.

The Bealey Tavern – confirmed for 2025/26

We’re pleased to confirm The Bealey Tavern as a major sponsor again for the 2025/26 season. Following positive discussions with the new ownership team, we are excited to continue this long-standing partnership. Members and supporters can help by choosing to eat and drink with our sponsors whenever possible. If you use The Bealey’s app to pay, your spend contributes to the club’s credit and demonstrates the value of the partnership.

Club operations and facilities

New website

Our new website is live and provides an improved way to share club information and updates. A special thank you to Duane “Sneak” Pettit for the many hours invested to bring it to life. More additions are planned.

Pavilion hire

The clubrooms continue to be available for hire and are proving popular for 21sts and family celebrations. We have also opened the pavilion to corporate bookings for client entertainment, with strong interest from PlaceMakers, Forsyth Barr and WSP.

For hire enquiries, please contact:

• Owen Rees – owenr@stalbanscricket.co.nz

• Con Dry – conrad.dry@forsythbarr.co.nz

St Albans Park redevelopment

Discussions with key stakeholders, including Christchurch City Council and neighbouring sporting clubs, are ongoing. No firm plans have been finalised yet, but progress continues in a collaborative and constructive way and the outlook remains positive.

People and roles

CMCA directors

Congratulations to Aaron Johnstone on his reappointment for a further three-year term as an Appointed Director, and to Kirsty Bond on her reappointment for a further two-year term as an Independent Director.

Premier men’s scorers

With Harrison moving on, we are delighted to welcome David Perry back to the club as one of the official scorers for our Premier Men’s team. David previously served the club as Treasurer and Scorer and it’s great to have him involved again.

We also welcome Alex MacKay as our other official scorer. Alex is in his third year at university studying Commerce and Sports Governance. As the season has progressed, Alex has taken the majority of matches and is doing a fine job. Thank you both for your time and energy.

On-field update

Mud Cup – Blenheim (26–27 September)

Forsyth Barr kindly covered the entry fee for the Mud Cup, and our Premier Men’s side travelled to Blenheim to defend the trophy as the inaugural winners. The squad finished fourth overall, with our only win coming in the opening match against Sydenham. Despite the results, it was an excellent early-season trip: strong conditions, quality wickets, and valuable time in the middle for every squad member.

Get involved

Like every community sports club, we rely on volunteers. If you can help, even a small amount of time makes a real difference.

Women’s Club Captain – vacancy

We are seeking a Women’s Club Captain with energy, a love of cricket and a drive to grow the women’s game at St Albans. In partnership with Lancaster Park, we currently field three women’s sides. The role focuses on supporting players, improving their experience, and helping expand opportunities for women and girls at the club.

Committee members – volunteers needed

We are also looking for additional committee members. You do not need prior committee experience – just enthusiasm and a willingness to contribute.

• Have a voice in shaping the club’s direction

• Support cricket at all levels

• Be part of a friendly, committed team

• Contribute just a few hours each month

If you’re interested, please contact committee@stalbanscricket.co.nz or speak with any current committee member.

Closing

Thank you again for your support. Let’s make the 2025/26 season one to remember – on and off the field.

Nga mihi,

Con Dry

Chairman, St Albans Cricket Club