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Sponsors |
South Canterbury Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association
0508 UMPIRE
Have you thought about becoming an umpire or scorer? Call 0508 UMPIRE to find out more about becoming one. You MUST be a NZ Resident to apply.  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 Patron, Secretary, & Training officer: Graeme Lowrie Scorer Training officer: Muriel Pennal Annual Report 2009/2010 SeasonIt is hard to find anything to be enthusiastic about this last season. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we are but a group of volunteers. We comprise only five active members, four umpires and one scorer; of those all but one umpire has New Zealand Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association qualification. Yet despite our limitations we were able to umpire no less than 92 days of club cricket and tournaments. We acknowledge Geoff Talbot who in his retirement officiated in the most matches and Bevin Guthrie who officiated regularly in tournaments and represented us around the Canterbury Regional Cricket Umpires Association table. We must also acknowledge too John Threlkeld who has decided to retire from umpiring and Muriel Pennal who continues to score as many games as her work commitments permit. We are grateful for the on-going support from the South Canterbury Cricket Association, but in so many ways we have the feeling of being ignored. New Zealand Cricket gives considerable support to the Major districts and to the NZCUSA. The theory is that from the majors that support should flow through to us in the districts. This is not happening as evidenced in a significant way, when we learned that our umpires reports sent to the grading officer of the Canterbury Regional Cricket Umpires Association were completely ignored. Sadly, we have developed a sense that there is a high wall blocking the promotional prospects of our members. Our members deserve better. Yes we can do better too; our players want test match performances from our umpires and given our limited numbers we endeavour to provide that. South Canterbury needs more good umpires. But unfortunately work commitments for those of us in the work force make it difficult to do as many games as we would like. On a positive note, I am happy to report that we were not required to report anyone for breaching either the Laws or the Spirit of Cricket. We welcome the new initiative coming from the National Umpire Manager (Rodger McHarg) and the board of the NZCUSA to help remove some of the 'mysteries' in umpiring. Members are aware that our patron Graeme Lowrie is updating the training resources for NZC & NZCUSA to incorporate the 4th edition 2010 amendments to the Laws. What is new and innovative is to have these resources available to all on the NZC web-site. Every year SCC web-site publishes the playing conditions for the new season, and these are available on the SCC web-site. Thus all cricketers in our district are in an enviable position having the best material and resources available anywhere in the world. All players want competent umpires our senior matches and in our regional competitions. We want this too. Once again, I repeat our annual call for more umpires. This coming season, we call on the board to make a priority of approaching players, to encourage just a few to become an umpire or scorer. Those of us so involved enjoy our role and enjoy the best view of the field. Those who join us will also love the challenge. Finally, I thank Graham Broker and the members of the Board for their assistance over the last season.
Graham Begg |