The 144^th Annual General Meeting of the Otago Cricket Association was held in the Long Room at the University of Otago Oval tonight, with members informed of a number of successes met across the 2019 – 20 financial year. 

Otago Cricket recorded a surplus of $143,663 for the financial year, whilst the aligned Otago Cricket Fundraising Charitable Trust, set up to support young cricketers with need, built its equity position to $30,260 at the end of the same period.

The Otago Volts performed with credit across all three formats of domestic cricket and were the only major association to finish in the top three of all formats, hosting a preliminary Dream 11 Super Smash elimination final and contesting the Ford Trophy final on Eden Park’s Outer Oval. The SBS Bank Otago Sparks performed admirably across the Dream 11 Super Smash campaign before bowing out to Auckland in the preliminary final. 

Association Chief Executive Mike Coggan reflected with pride on the year that was. “With the advent of Covid-19, it was a really tough end to what had been a satisfying year, both in terms of on and off field performance.  Due to Covid-19 and weather, our fans didn’t get to see the WHITE FERNS or BLACKCAPS in action. However our Volts made huge strides and with a bit more luck could have lifted a trophy last season. Likewise our SBS Otago Sparks played some exciting cricket through the Super Smash season and were always in contention for the final”. 

“It is ironic that in a year impacted by a pandemic, we recorded a good financial result. This was largely due to an equal proportion of increased revenue and reduced costs. I must thank our wonderful staff whom agreed to work a 4 day week for a large part of the year.  As an organisation we made a lot of overhead and domestic match savings through sheer inactivity, as a result of lockdown. However the majority of our revenue comes from top down support from NZ Cricket and as we are about to enter an extended period of uncertainty, it is important that we maintain adequate levels of working capital”.

New Board appointments were announced with current Chairman Shane Robinson and Rob Lawson being confirmed for a further three year term and former Otago Sparks player Tanya Morrison being appointed to the Board for the first time.  Departing Board Director, Anna Campbell decided not to seek re-appointment and instead has applied for a Director role on the Board of New Zealand Cricket. 

Southland Cricket Association stalwart Ian Folster received a Life Membership for long and distinguished services to both Southland and Otago Cricket. Coggan noted with surprise that Folster had not been honoured well before now. “Ian’s dedication and service to Cricket must surely be unrivalled. He continues to serve as President of SCA, 54 years after he first served on that Board and with almost every possible seat held, including 18 years’ service on the Board of Otago Cricket, at a time when much change was taking place in our game and where Ian could put his skills and experience to good affect”.

Read the full OCA 2019-20 Annual Report under the 'About > Publications' tab on the Otago Cricket Website.

*ENDS*

Article added: Thursday 29 October 2020