Lancashire League Handbook 2013

20 Barry Evans continued for a second season as appointments secretary, he actually came back for more!? I think that he had less problems than in the previous season help him out but he has warned us already that with 2013 having more Saturdays, finding umpires will be like finding sub pros so be ready for the calls to find a Club umpire for some second elevenmatches. You really do have to have done the job to fully understand how difficult it is. Well done and thank you Barry! As I said last year, the ECB now have a pathway through which aspiring umpires have the opportunity to follow the footsteps of Mark Eggleston into the Professional ranks. The ECB are putting a great deal of resources into Young officials and I am pleased to say that we will be happy to support their initiative. A record was set on 6th May when Paddy Brown became the youngest ever Lancashire League Umpire at 17 years and 8months, at Nelson against Enfield. I understand that it is a world record for a Premier League or equivalent League. The ECB grade umpires each season and then make appointments to minor county, 2nd eleven county andNational competitions. This year again several of our umpires were awarded prestigious appointments by the ECB. And next year Ian Laurence has been appointed to the county 2nd team D list. Myself and Ken Fergusson have been appointed to the minor counties panel. The Captains reports on Umpires performances form the basis of the award of the Wally Ashleigh Shield and the Harry Saul Trophy. We still have the who won/who lost scenario but most captains do make an effort and take the time to think about their marks. This year the marks were collated by our Deputy Chairman Mr Peter West which eased my own personal my workload greatly during the season, thank you Peter. As winner of the runner up award for the Wally Ashley trophy this year I was very pleased, not just for winning it but mostly because the overall winner of the Harry Saul trophy for Umpire of the year was someone who has been so close, so many times and is probably one of the most popular and respected umpires in the League. He has made his way up the pathway. An excellent colleague to stand with Ken Fergusson. The Umpires adjudge three wards to Clubs.