South Canterbury Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association

Anyone resident in South Canterbury considering becoming an umpire or scorer are invited to contact the Secretary in the first instance.

Are you considering becoming an umpire or a scorer?

If so, and you are resident in or on transfer to South Canterbury you are invited to contact the Secretary in the first instance.

Participants are encouraged to attend the training modules available; each is targeted across all grades, from junior school level to senior levels. The examinations of the New Zealand Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association may also be taken permitting umpires & scorers to become proficient in their chosen discipline.

Further information is available on the NZC web-site where booklets on umpiring and scoring may be downloaded.

President & Appointments officer: Graham Begg

240 Selwyn Street Timaru
Ph: 688-6196h
Email: gbegg@xtra.co.nz

Patron, Secretary, & Training officer:Graeme Lowrie

4 Hunt Street Timaru
Ph: 688-5799h
Email: graeline@xtra.co.nz

Scorer Training officer: Muriel Pennal

37 Whitcombe Street Temuka
Ph: 615-8031h
Email: pennal.temuka@clear.net.nz

Annual Report 2008/2009 Season

Reviewing the last season we record our members officiated on no less than 97 days. It is gratifying to note that two members umpired more than 24 days; one who still enjoys playing, officiated on 11 days, and one officiated on 8 days.

We record that this has not been an easy season for us for a variety of reason. One being the loss, of four of our members; at the end of the season, the number of active umpires had dropped to five. Of those 5, only two have the NZCUSA Level 4 qualifications (the highest possible), two have Level 3 and one has Level 2.

Sadly we must record the loss of our President, Brodie Park who moved to Australia, and several others, who despite their keenness to umpire, unfortunately found work and family commitments had precedence. Muriel Pennal, our scorer/secretary continues her love of her craft having being appointed to a number NZC matches at Lincoln HPC; her efforts outnumber the days of any of our umpires. But like so many others she finds demands on her time elsewhere may lead to her early retirement from her role.

Graeme Lowrie, our Training officer, continues to produce the training material for the NZCUSA and his work over many years has meant we enjoy some of the best resources available anywhere in the world. It is hoped that his recent production of umpire training resources for use in schools will encourage some youngsters unable to play, to consider umpiring, or scoring as an option to be involved in the game; if not now, then maybe in future years.

Happily, there was only one occasion during the season requiring a report for a serious breach of the Code of Conduct. This player, who happened to be a captain, was dealt with by the CoC commissioners. But for the excellent intervention of some captains, there would have been more reports.

We all want umpires and scorers in our game and we want to have folk qualified to do so. In this, we are all singing from the same song-sheet.

If we are unable to reverse the trend of retirements and non-availability, I regret to advise it may cause our small group to go into recess.

It is incumbent on us all, whatever our role, to take try and reverse this trend.

Graham Begg
Acting President
South Canterbury Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association
August 2009