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James, if you have a friend who also wants to attend umpire training, you might be able to split the driving duties. It used to be a 10 week course!
Maybe you remember the umpire roadshows a few years ago? Even when umpire training 'comes to a place near you'the turn out was poor.

A CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO OUR UMPIRES
Santa's up in Lapland,
Preparing soon to go,
Stacking all his goodies,
Amidst ten feet of snow,
He's going first to Ulster,
With special cricket gifts,
No time to stop for drinkies,
Or offer casual lifts.
He'll drop some cheques in Derry,
Where the boys prefer the money,
Then off to Belfast City,
Where things are not so funny.
The umpires are in a crisis,
But Santa has a plan,
Ten reindeers at the ready,
Will stand there man to man.
No need for any courses,
The reindeers know their cricket,
Santa has the answer,
With his helpers at the wicket.
They won't hear that awful sledging,
And they'll finger all the Pros,
They'll take us back to basics,
And banish all our woes.
No need for more recruitment,
The courses now aborted,
If you believe in Santa,
The crisis has been sorted!

Merry Christmas
CH

Come on James. Lighten up. A few quid for petrol-less than a pint of beer! Things must be really tough in your house and that cheap little shot about complaining. You must be a bag of fun this Christmas.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our forumites and your families.
Clarence and Peter

R.E Umpire training courses
In these tough financial times how do you expect anyone to travel to Belfast from any of the further outposts of the N.C.U on 6 Tuesday evenings?

Regionalise and shorten the training or continue to complain!

you'd better be careful Jonathan. I posted some time ago about the number of clubs that don't supply ANY umpires and i was lambasted - you might fall into the same trap!! On a different subject - England have just won a series in India and the England rugby side beat an over-tired and ill New Zealand side and suddenly once again its "bring on the world!" time. Apparently both victories are just the first steps on the journey to winning the respective World Cups!!

Training Courses for Umpires are in process of being finalised for the New Year. NIACUS would appeal to all clubs, former players and interested individuals to consider attending the training. Keith Smith our Training Officer has designed a course that will be spread over 6 Tuesdays at Knockbraken and this will allow for people to make a supreme effort to attend. At a recent meeting we heard of the loss of another six umpires from our list and this is going to pile the pressure on Ian Houston even more. There are clubs who simply ignore our appeals but expect to benefit from two Umpires in the middle each week. It is time for those clubs to take some responsibility and support NIACUS instead of offering token suppport. The long term future of cricket requires a strong base of active officials and we cannot simply sustain things with only a few new faces each season. More details on courses to follow in early January.
NIACUS would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and Dry 2013.

Sorry to hear of the passing of ian gourley many a good time had in his company thoughts and prayers with the family at this difficult time

Cregagh CC is seeking an experienced player/coach for the 2013 season. The preference is for a top order batsman who can bowl but who also has a track record of coaching senior players.

Remuneration will be commensurate with the successful applicant's experience.

Interested parties should email details of their cricketing background to graham77watt@btinternet.com by 10/1/2013.

Sad news to hear about the passing of Ian Gourley.I was lucky enough to get to know Ian during the 80s and 90s when i was playing for North Down and Ulster Town,Ian always being the first to welcome me to his beloved Ballygomartin Road when i was playing there.Also remember superb weekends spent with Ian on interpro duty when he was team manager,always able to get the the best out of us.
As everyone knew,Ian was a great supporter of both NCU and Irish cricket,working tirelessly for both for many years.
To Stephen and family sincere condolences,and to Mr.Woodvale thanks for your friendship.RIP

Robin Haire

Just to let peple know, that are interested. My fathers funeral will take place on Thursday 13th December at 12.30 in Greenisland Presbyterian Church, followed by burial in Carnmoney East Cemetery.

This is really sad news although I was aware that Ian has been unwell for some time. My abiding memory goes back to when he had recommended to Boycie that following a sucessful Woodvale Somerset tour, the Webbington Country Club was the ideal venue for the players to stay. JRW was so enthused that Ballymena toured there the following year, Dessie Kane, et al! Enuff said! Many good times in his company and will be missed. My sympathy goes to his family at this time.

The Northern Cricket Union is saddened to learn of the death of their esteemed former President and Chairman Ian Gourley.
Ian was Chairman of the Union in 1994 and 1995 and President from 2007-2009. In 2009 he was elected a life member of the NCU.
Ian also served the Irish Cricket Union with great distinction and was the ICU's Honorary Treasurer from 2000-2006.
At club level he played for Cliftonville and Woodvale and was Treasurer of the Woodvale club from 1990-1997 before taking over as Chairman from 1997-2002.
The Union expresses its deepest sympathy to his wife Jennifer and the family on their sad loss.

The Officers and Members of NIACUS would like to extend their most sincere sympathy to the family of our friend and Vice President Ian Gourley who has sadly passed away. Ian was a great friend and supporter of NIACUS and he will be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time.

I have the sad task of announcing the death of Ian Gourley. Ian was a great servant to Woodvale CC, the NCU and ICU. His forthright no nonsense approach to on and off field matters will be greatly missed. R.I.P. Ian