Clubrooms and main ground located at Karori Park
Karori Cricket Club :: History 1880-1980
KARORI CRICKET CLUB INC
KARORI CRICKET CLUB is 125 years old in 2004-05: THE EARLY HISTORY
Please note, by clicking on each photo you can view a larger image of the photo.
The Club was formed, according to those records that have been maintained, in or around 1880. “The exact date of the Club’s formation will probably never be known…a guess had to be made and 1880-81 is it” It is certain that the Club fielded a team during the 1881-82 season, and an annual meeting of members was held in early September 1882.
Tragically, the Club’s records were lost in 1945 or 1946, perhaps in a fire. This has made the construction of historical records difficult and consequently somewhat contentious, over the years
There are references in a book, “100 Summers: A History of Wellington Cricket” published in about 1975 by noted cricket historian Don Neely, Wellington, to early cricket matches played among men from Karori, Ohariu, Porirua and Pauatahanui in the 1870s. Karori was characterized as “one of the most enthusiastic of the country clubs.” Matches were played pre-1880 at Campbell’s Paddock, which was the Club’s leased ground until about 1909. Cricket may also have been played at a Mr R. Suisted’s paddock, off Campbell Street. The standard of cricket played before 1890 was not high. Cricket was seen simply as a game; a pastime.
Despite these uncertainties in history, it seems that Karori CC was the first, or if not so, then among the very first cricket clubs formed in the Wellington-Hutt Valley- Porirua region.
The Club first entered a team in the Wellington Cricket Association’s Third Class competition in 1890. It won that championship in 1892-93. Participation in this competition continued until 1920.
KARORI PARK was initially developed in 1906
In February 1906 Karori CC obtained permission from the Karori Borough Council to play cricket on the present site of Karori Park at Karori South. The Council had purchased 21.8 ha of land in two parts- the sports fields of 8 ha adjacent to Karori Road, and ‘the pines’ area at the western end. Karori CC was first granted use of a cricket pitch on Karori Park in October 1909.
FLUCTUATING FORTUNES OF KARORI CC: 1890-1920
Author John Stribling’s fascinating history book, footnoted below, describes at pages 19 through 30, the ups and downs of club cricket through those early years. The challenges included pitch and outfield development, irregularity in playing conditions, player shortages, demands of travel, very low innings totals, lack of competitive challenge playing at third grade level, slow development of junior cricket, and interruption by WW1 from 1916 to 1920. By 1898, just two centuries had been scored.
KARORI CC’s STRUGGLE FOR SENIOR PLAYING STATUS: 1920-1935
The Club resumed post-WW1 in 1920, amid an upsurge in interest in cricket. Strong growth in the size of the community flowed from housing development, amalgamation of Karori Borough Council and Wellington City Council, and improved amenities. Cricket membership grew as the younger population grew. Competitive cricket more than social cricket advanced, helped by better playing standards and facilities. The one team in 1920-21 became two teams in 1924-25; three teams in 1926, one being Makara-based; and four teams in 1927-28. By 1934-35, the Club’s most successful year in its history to date, there were seven teams.
Certain well-known Karori family names phased out of the Club (Spiers, Dasent, Lewer, Lowe), to be replaced by new names, who were to re-appear over later generations (Nimmo, Hardy, Randell, Russell, Sutton, Broughton, Hollings, Keenan, Standidge, Browne, Rowe, McDonald, Cudby and Beck). The Great Depression years kept players at Karori CC, despite the pull of other city clubs that had senior playing status, and this aided the Club’s struggle for senior status. This hard-earned elevation finally occurred in 1935. This period of the Club’s history ended on a high note- player-wise, financially and administratively.
KARORI CC LEADING TO AND DURING WW2: 1935-1946
Until the effects of WW2 impacted in the early 1940’s, the growth in Karori suburb, and the Club’s playing strength continued a strong trend. The higher standards of senior grade cricket presented challenges for Karori CC, and varying team and club championship outcomes over the years 1935 to 1943. As the WW2 effects increased, player resources across Wellington fell. Karori CC was better insulated from the War than some clubs, and had first-class and test cricket representation from 1938 onward.
1945-46 saw cricket in Wellington gradually return to normal.
A “GOLDEN AGE” FOR KARORI CC: 1947- 1966, including the 75th Jubilee in 1956
The twenty seasons from 1946-47 to 1965-66 were the best for the Karori CC senior team. It won the Wellington Senior competition five times, came second six times, third four times, fourth twice, fifth once, sixth twice, and never occupied the last two places.
In this period, the Club won the Wellington club championship twice (1959-60 and 1961-62), and between 1955-56 and 1962-63, was always among the top three clubs. The Club had four teams in 1946-47, six during the 1950’s, and eight in the early 1960’s.
Despite these successes, “Club spirit” fluctuated over the first few years, reflected in poor practice attendances, inferior playing facilities, and less Karori community involvement in cricket coming out of the WW2 years.
Notably, there was a considerable number of well known players through these years that spearheaded the Club. Names like Jack Standidge, Ron Phillips, Ken MacDonald, Roy Sutton, Bernie Paetz, Mick Beck, Reg Johansson, Haig Whiting, Jack Tynan, Jack Duffy, Harold Chapman, Maurice Browne and Ian Nimmo. The strength of the Club was also evident through its lower grade teams. Polio epidemics disrupted schoolboy cricket over two years. Away matches were played at several North Island venues. By 1952/53, more new names had emerged, like Fred Lee, George Waddle, Frank Browne, John Sigley, Diddy Knapp, Mike Curtis, and youthful John Beck, who was selected for the NZ tour of South Africa in 1952/53.
The seasons 1953/54 through 1957/58 saw Karori CC’s Senior team strengthened by representative players like Lawrie Miller, John Beck, Paul Standidge, Mike Curtis and Bruce Morrison. Compulsory military training impacted on player numbers. During 1955/56 the Club successfully celebrated its 75th Jubilee. In 1959/60, Karori CC won the Wellington club championship for the first time. This feat was repeated in 1961/62, when players such as Beck, Standidge, Hammel, and O’Neil had very strong seasons. While 1962/63 was less auspicious, these Senior players, along with Bill Loewnthal, John Parsons, David Paetz, and Jeff Schofer were mainstays. Losses of Beck and Standidge in 1963/64 were offset by gains of NZ captain John Reid, and Peter Truscott. 1963/64 and 1964/65 were poor-performance years with a number of issues affecting club spirit and confidence. Reid and Truscott produced some outstanding club performances, as well as for Wellington and NZ. Paul Cudby, Gavin Jack and Toivo Vaikvee were new young players of note.
A “MIXED BAG” FOR KARORI CC: 1967-1980
This period in the Club’s history, leading to the important 100 year anniversary celebrations in 1980, saw Karori CC experience seasons ranging from “somewhat gloomy” (1966/67 and 1967/68) to “evidently improved” (1969/70), when it again won the Wellington Club Championship. Club finances, members’ support, and administrative problems affected morale. Lower grade teams were relatively successful, and featured a number of well known Club personalities, like Waddle, Hart, Curtis, Benfield, Knapp, Sherlock, Lee and Upham. In the Seniors, Schofer continued his distinguished Club career, along with Crotty, O’Halloran, and Anderson (Sir John, now the Club’s Patron). 1970/71 was ranked by the Club Chairman as “one of the most ordinary in history”. Karori CC finished 7th in the Club Championship. Best Senior players were Lee, Benfield, Schofer and Bruce Smith. Social games and an Old Timers’ Day were social successes, with Doug and Jane Catley prominent.
1971/72 saw Bevan Congdon join Karori CC, before he toured West Indies for NZ. Other prominent Seniors were Newton, Cater, Crotty, Malcon, and Schofer, for a 4th placing. In the lower grades, Hammel, Upham, and O’Halloran performed well. Better results ensued in 1972/73, with Karori CC 3rd in the Club Championship, and in Seniors. Leading Seniors were Schofer yet again, Malcon, Paul Cudby, Newton, Vaikvee, the youthful Evan Gray in his first season, Cater and Anderson. In 1973/74, the Senior competition format changed, with Hutt Valley clubs involved in later rounds. Vaikvee and Gray spun their way into representative teams, joined by Cater. Lower grade teams were successful. Local soccer and hockey clubs became associated with KCC, Anderson created the “Unicorn” newsletter, Cudby lead the Club honours board erection, and Catley lead the social activities.
1974/75 was a very successful Club season, winning the Club Championship with 9 teams, and the Seniors finished 4th. There were outstanding seasons for Schofer, Gray, Anderson, Cudby, Cater, Vaikvee, and Benfield.
1975/76 saw Karori Seniors win the championship for the first time. Schofer, Crotty and Gray led the batting, and Benfield, Cater, Vaikvee the captain, and Gray all averaged under 16.4 with the ball. The last three played for Wellington, and Gray for the Under 23 NZ team. In the lower teams, Creighton, Davidson, Atkinson, Cheetham, Coleman, Goodwin, Centre, Aberdein and Wilson all played well.
After the successes in 1975/76, 1976/77 was somewhat disappointing with the Seniors finishing third, and the Club sixth in the Wellington competition. Cater and Gray, averaging around 16, played for Wellington. Crotty and Creighton were the top run-scorers.
1977/78 was not too different. The Senior team was again third, and Gray gained selection for Young NZ. He and Cater represented Wellington. Crotty, Atkinson, Creighton, Gray, Cater, Hopkins, Pearce, Vaikvee and Davidson had very good seasons.
A women's team was entered in 1978/79. Like the men's team one hundred years earlier, the women had only limited success, but improved steadily over the season. The Senior team came third. Gray, Hopkins the captain, and Benfield were the leading players. In the lower grades, Anderson, Hunt and Lee had fine seasons.
1979/80 saw the Seniors third in the competition, but having a chance to win going into the last match. Gray, Creighton, and Benfield were the leading players. Three women, Holleywell, Wallace and Gilbert got into the Wellington B team. The new Clubrooms were opened.
Their are detailed pen portraits of players from the early 1930's to early 1980's in the senior section of the website under Karori Legends or you can view them by clicking on this link
THE NEXT TWENTY FIVE YEARS
Harry Gibbons has just completed a comprehensive review of the last twenty five years activities within the club.
By clicking on this link you can view Harry's review
The club will probably publish Harry’s review in the near future, if you are interested in a copy please click on this link to advise the club
During the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 season, the club will be holding a number of events, to mark the one hundred and twenty five years of the clubs existence.
These events will be held, once the clubrooms and grounds upgrades have been completed in the early to mid part of 2007.
By clicking on this link you can view in the near future the schedule of events planned to mark the clubs one hundred and twenty five years of existence.