One of the promoters of the controversial Sportville sports complex at Addington in Christchurch, Chris Herbert lost his bid to be re-elected to the board of Canterbury Cricket at tonight's annual meeting.

Herbert was beaten by Steve Riddell of the Old Collegians Club while sitting board members David Shackleton (chairman) and Cran Bull were returned after a ballot.

It was clear that the investigation into developing the existing Queen Elizabeth II Park ground or the Sportville complex, which would be shared with trotting, rugby league and netball, was a source of concern to several delegates at the meeting.

The debate had already claimed the former chief executive officer of the CCA, Tony Murdoch, who was a supporter of the QEII development.

Shackleton, when presenting his annual report, told the meeting the board was still determining what was required of a venue and the criteria, when decided, would then be measured against the prospective venues.

He assured the meeting any development at Addington would not proceed without suitable funding.

He was able to tell the meeting the indoor training facility long sought by the association would be located at Iverson Terrace and would have four full-length lanes and should be completed early next year. The CCA offices will be based at the new complex for not much more expense than the original cost of the existing offices. But it would have better offices and be more efficient.

Shackleton also announced that the two clubs in Christchurch to take part in the pilot programme of New Zealand Cricket's grassroots development scheme would be Sydenham and Lancaster Park while Buller's Cricket Association would be the pilot district association.

Shackleton said New Zealand Cricket had been very pro-active in looking at the grassroots of the sport and he felt the development scheme was a significant move in the right direction.

It was important for the pilot scheme to work effectively as the success of the scheme depended on the quality of application for support Canterbury would be able to pursue for the widening of the scheme to apply to all clubs and districts in the longer term.

Canterbury will be advertising the position of chief executive at the weekend and was looking for an early completion of interviews to have the position filled as soon as possible.

The meeting passed a motion from the floor that the annual meeting record its appreciation of the services tendered by outgoing CEO Murdoch for Canterbury Cricket and to acknowledge his work for the game. It was carried without dissent.

Queries from the floor about the lack of detail in the annual accounts were explained as being part of the requirements of New Zealand Cricket but it was felt that in spite of this requirement more use should be made of the notes to the accounts to explain specific issues so the annual accounts could be better understood.

The meeting also awarded life membership of the Association to long-serving administrator, and more recently manager of the Canterbury men's team, John Thompson. In moving the award, CCA president Brian Hastings outlined Thompson's involvement with the University West club since his move to Christchurch, from Wellington, in 1959.

While it had been a playing relationship to start with, when University West amalgamed with Burnside he had moved into administration serving for 20 years on the club committee, including two years as president.

He then progressed to the CCA where he served for 17 years. He served on various committees and was the under-20 selection convener for five years and manager for four. He has been manager of the Canterbury 1st XI for the last six years and had a real input into that side.

The award was passed without dissent and Thomson thanked the Association for its gesture and said he felt very privileged to be joining such a distinguished group as the life members.

"I enjoy my role in Canterbury cricket very much," he said.

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