Cheshire HA Umpiring Report from NWHUA Representative
Season 2006 / 2007
Umpires have been appointed to N2W matches, but only occasionally to NW1 matches during this season. The NWHUA has become a victim of its own success in that more of our umpires have been promoted to the NHUA panels and then to NPUA for the EHL. Very few new umpires have joined NWHUA to umpire on the neutral panel. Those who do join NWHUA tend to do so for the insurance!
The Saturday Appointments Secretary, Tony Shutt, has worked tremendously hard to find new umpiring talent to fill the gaps and his enthusiasm is to be commended.
There is some optimism for next season.
The Sunday Appointments Secretary, Bill Connor, has also worked extremely hard to ensure that all Sunday matches have been supplied with umpires.
The NWHUA fulfilled all its commitments to appoint to the various rounds of the Cheshire Plate and Cup and also to the Cheshire Under Twenty One Competition staged at Crewe Vagrants Hockey Club last September.
The North West and North Young Umpire Action Groups (YUAG) continue to thrive.
In a new initiative practical umpire coaching and mentoring sessions have been held this season centred around Sunday afternoon matches. There have been three such events, namely Sunday, 7th January at Bowdon versus Oxton in a Cheshire Cup semi-final, Bowdon versus Brooklands at Deeside Ramblers HC in the Cheshire Cup Final on Sunday, 11th March and finally Bowdon versus Brooklands at Bowdon in their final EHL match of this season. On the first occasion NWHUA members were joined by a dozen IoM umpires who flew over for the week-end at considerable expense. On all three occasions several Cumbria umpires joined the NWHUA group. It is hoped to carry out such practical umpiring sessions at further events throughout next season.
The inaugural John Robinson Memorial Award was presented to Dan Barstow by me at the annual NWHUA Dinner on Friday, 30th March in the presence of fifty two persons including Dan’s parents.
Once again I have enjoyed representing NWHUA on the Cheshire HA Committee and I shall be pleased to continue to serve in this capacity next season if required.
Chris Todd