Changing of the Guard
There were two significant retirements from the Board of the Canterbury Jockey Club at the Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 28 September 2016.
Farewells were made to both Brian Kinley and Dennis Watson after lengthy periods of service to the Club.
Brian retired from the Board after an association that began when he was appointed a Steward on 28 January 1975. The role of Steward entitled an annual attendance at meetings of the General Committee the first of which he attended took place on 29 July 1975. At his second attendance he tabled a paper arguing for a re-arrangement of the New Zealand Cup Meeting by shifting the New Zealand Cup to the last day of the three day meeting. At the November 1976 Committee Meeting the re-arrangement was adopted and has continued to this day.
Brian was elected to the Committee on 5 July 1977 and remained a Committee or Board member until this AGM. From 30 October 1991 until 29 October 1998 Brian was Chairman of the CJC during which time he oversaw two critical events in the history of the Club – the formation of what has become New Zealand Cup and Show Week and the reconstruction of the Riccarton Racecourse in 1996/97. He also made a wider contribution to New Zealand Racing serving on the Canterbury District Committee including a period as Chairman and the New Zealand Racing Conference/New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. Brian was ably supported over this lengthy period of racing administration by his wife, Belinda.
Dennis, along with his wife Angela, had a 13 year career on the Board, the first 12 of which were as the representative of the Hororata Ward and the last year as a City Member representative.
The Members elected two new Board Members at the AGM, they being Kevin Brookfield and Dianne Logie.
Kevin, a member since 1986, has served on the North Canterbury Committee in recent years having previously been on the Amberley Committee. He brings accountancy, entrepreneurial and business skills to the Board and is well-versed in larger scale governance as a Trustee of the Mainpower Trust.
Dianne was previously a Board Member for three years prior to shifting to Brisbane and now back in Christchurch has been returned to the Board by the membership. Dianne who has been a member since 1984 brings business, banking and marketing skills to the Board.
