MEMBERS of the Dewsbury and Batley Referees’ Society were told at their annual meeting of the record-breaking achievements of the local organisation in the past year.
Secretary Colin Child told the members at their base at the Old Bank Club in Mir
field that the society now had a record number of five senior match officials in Richard Silverwood, James Child, Jamie Leahy, Craig Halloran and the newly-promoted Greg Dolan.
He added that another record was their current tally of 21 junior members, which speaks volumes for the future.
The senior referees attend the monthly meetings and bring videos of their matches and discuss incidents from the games and explain their decisions to the youngsters.
It is a policy which is proving highly successful and many of the juniors have been involved in high-profile amateur matches, either in charge, as touch judges or as in-goal officials.
Mr Child mentioned the society’s pride in the fact Richard Silverwood had been in charge of the Australia-New Zealand Test in Brisbane last month, and involved in the World Club challenge plus James Child being a World Cup final touch judge.
He mentioned the support of parents, who attend meetings, and urged them to be even more active in helping the society.
President George Silverwood said the progress of the junior section had been ‘absolutely unbelievable’ and told the senior referees their assistance with the youngsters was crucial and referred to referees and parents when he went on “We can’t operate without you.”
The Len Thompson Trophy for the most work for the society in the past year went to Craig Halloran. The Bill Barker Trophy for Referee of the Year was won by Nathan Walker and the Rex Milner Trophy for the Most Improved was presented by Craig Halloran to Joseph Edwards.
Other awards were presented by guest speaker, Leeds Rhinos’ assistant coach Francis Cummins and Gordon Senior.
Officials elected were: President George Silverwood, vice-president James Child, secretary Colin Child, treasurer John Haigh. They go onto the management committee along with Lee Carson, Jamie Leahy, Brandon Robinson, David Holland and Gordon Senior.
League representatives: Yorkshire - Bob Cropper, Yorkshire Junior - Richard Silverwood, Heavy Woollen - Colin Child.
