History of ABHCA
Auckland Business House Cricket Association was established in October 1931 to provide social cricket where businesses could play against other businesses with no formally structured drawand was a way of formalising a competition.
The inaugural season consisted of 20 teams across 2 divisions.
They were:
Handleys Limited - Newmarket
R. Green & Sons - Ponsonby
Thompson and Hills - City
Henderson & Pollard - Mt Eden
Carlton - Newmarket
Turners and Growers - City
Devonport Borough Council - North Shore
Devonport Gas Works - North Shore
Devonport Ratepayers - North Shore
Auckland Farmers Freezing Co. - City
Combined Tailors - Newton
City Fire Brigade - City
Mt Eden Fire Brigade - Mt Eden
Mangauwhau - Mt Eden
Ross & Glendining - City
KY Express Coy - City
A. B. Wrights Limited - City
Lovetts Limited - Ponsonby
Auckland Watersiders - City
Originally the competition was strictly a social one, with there being no competition points and no trophies up for grabs. This was a ruling by the committee, as it was thought that it would make things too competitive. The first trophies were contested in the 1963-64 season.
The old rules stated that your team must be made up of 80% staff, or family of staff.
The main home base was Western Springs until the concrete barriers were put in place on the racetrack.