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CRICKET: Peel set to be youngest umpire in Oxfordshire

11:30am Wednesday 28th July 2010 in


Wallingford teenager Ethan Peel is on track to become Oxfordshire’s youngest qualified umpire – at the age of just 15.

Peel, who attends Wallingford School, is in the midst of a BTEC course in umpiring at Oxford Brookes University.

It is part of an initiative by the Institute of Cricket Umpires and Scorers to recruit young officials.

Peel has already completed the first two stages on the laws of the game, and field management, man management and duty of care.

Now he is tackling part three which involves spending a season on the field, taking charge of matches with officials assessing and monitoring him.

Peel has been officiating at youth matches – including county games.

And Oxfordshire training instructor Mick Warren is pleased with the progress he has been making.

After standing with the youngster for Oxfordshire Under 10s match against Dorset at Oxford Downs on Sunday, he said: “He is the youngest one to go through it.

“He is improving with every game and beginning to get recognised and get a rapport with the players.”

Peel is following in the footsteps of Freeland youngsters Russell Todd and Tom Lay, from Bartholomew School, Eynsham, and Chris Hicks, of Cokethorpe School, Witney, who qualified from the course as 16-year-olds 12 months ago.

If he completes the course successfuly, he will receive the BTEC certificate in January next year.

A new course starts in October, and has already attracted interest from a number of youngsters.

For more information go to umpires.tv or contact Warren on 01993 836083.

Comments(9)

the northern end says...
12:08pm Wed 28 Jul 10

good luck to the lad. we all need umpires to make a game. Hopefully soon the cherwell league might allow him to umpire a game.

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Cymbals says...
2:33pm Thu 29 Jul 10

Good luck to him. Let's hope he gets the league's backing. Only concern is that you need umpires who have played the game at some level. If he's umpiring, when will he be playing?

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Droopy Willows says...
7:10pm Thu 29 Jul 10

This is the lad who umpired the avccII v occIV game and made a hash of it, way out of his depth. Glad he is learning the game in the junior ranks rather than mens. That said some players at the moment are doing a rather good job of imitating children......

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fronfoot says...
7:18pm Thu 29 Jul 10

Understanding the rules is a fair bit more important than playing the game "at some level".

As for the previous comment is it really necessary to make such criticism on a website? I see experienced umpires making mistakes many times each season and I see players including myself making a "hash of it" regularly.

Good luck to Ethan and don't take too much notice of idiots playing in division 12 imparting their 'wisdom'

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Apl Krumble says...
12:31am Fri 30 Jul 10

This lad is a credit to the game and to Mick - we should all be supporting him not criticizing him for trying to learn. Droopy - I suggest you need to learn the game in the junior ranks too - you clearly need a reminder of the ethos of sport.
I hope he has a great future in the game and takes it as far as he wants too. Would that all other 15-year-olds (and fools like Droopy Willows) had his gumption

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Hampton Wick says...
2:42pm Fri 30 Jul 10

The enjoyment of many many sportsmen and women up and down the land depend on a relativley small group of people who give up their free time to referee/umpire. Unfortunately, there are a small minority of these sports men & women, such as Droopy Willows above, who think that abusing officials, whether on the field (or even more cowardly and despicable) on an internet site, is OK. Well Droopy,and all the others like you, I'm afraid that sport has no place for you.

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New to the area says...
10:06pm Fri 30 Jul 10

Droopy Willows wrote:
This is the lad who umpired the avccII v occIV game and made a hash of it, way out of his depth. Glad he is learning the game in the junior ranks rather than mens. That said some players at the moment are doing a rather good job of imitating children......
Doesn't sound right to me that a 15 year old should be subject to that kind of commentary. Perhaps the moderator should remove this?

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SoapyTidvank says...
7:53pm Sat 31 Jul 10

Droopy Willows? More like Droopy Pen*s!! String 'im up I say! Hangings to good for 'im, by God!

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casca de laranja says...
9:12pm Sun 1 Aug 10

I think people need to recognize the lad's achievement and not focus on the stupidity of those in the game who have not achieved.
Good luck to the lad and I hope that he's thick-skinned enough to ignore the daft comments here. I suspect he is.

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Ethan Peel with mentor Mick Warren at Oxford Downs on Sunday Ethan Peel with mentor Mick Warren at Oxford Downs on Sunday

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