Forum

I'm sure that most forumites are shocked to learn of the demise of Vic Johns. His candid and acid assessments have been, and will, be greatly missed. Lions International clubs have an office of "tail twister" and I'm so disappointed to learn that Vic will no longer be assisting me to point out "flannel", "waffle" and all instances of "smoke being blown up ar**s". Caleb has become "conformist" already and he hasn't even attended the umpires course yet!

I miss Vic Johns!!

I'm still here Andy, have decided to just use my own name now, the 'Vic Johns' alter-ego thing was getting a bit out of contol.
It is embarrassing enough playing at home/away matches where no-body had ever heard of me, but they then ask you who is Vic Johns & all that ?

But on a more sinister note, just as in the old hammer-horror film..' The Vantriliquist Dummy' were the dummy begins to come alive in the mind of it's operator and drives him crazy..the same thing was beginning to happen with me.... so I nipped it in the bud before it was to late and put the dummy into it's case... and fasened the lock for good !

And besides all that, I've signed up to become an official umpire like yourself and am very much looking forward to attending the training week-end this early April.
So I could be standing out in the middle with you at some game this new season,(Assuming I pass my exams) and I have to be serious or the batsman won't believe me if I have to raise the index finger !

Mr. Scott - a "link" is a connection as in, For example, "link-box" - what Flossie stands on when her & me are heading into Broughshane on the wee Fergie to get a new wet battery for the wireless! Also - have there been any sightings of Vic Johns or is he still snowed in?

Re Andy - Nice one

I am anaspeptic, phrasmotic, even compunctuous to have caused you such periconbobulations

By the way What's a link??

In order that everyone - especially players - are up-to-date with the Law changes the Scottish Cricket Official Association website has an excellent link to the Law Changes on Youtube - its the spoken word & pictures rather than reading so even the guys at Woodvale will be able to follow it!!

Great to see an article on George. He is a top lad and should break records for Ireland with the ball over the years to come!

Jonathan just curious,

Any lady umpires joined the ranks yet ?

The offside rule for woman...

You're in a shoe shop, second in the queue for the till. Behind the shop assistant on the till is a pair of shoes which you have seen and which you must have.
The female shopper in front of you has seen them also and is eyeing them with desire. Both of you have forgotten your purses.
It would be rude to push in front of the first woman if you had no money to pay for the shoes.
The shop assistant remains at the till waiting.
Your friend is trying on another pair of shoes at the back of the shop and sees your dilemma.
She prepares to throw her purse to you.
If she does so, you can catch the purse, then walk round the other shopper and buy the shoes!
At a pinch she could throw the purse ahead of the other shopper and "whilst it is in flight" you could nip around the other shopper, catch the purse and buy the shoes!
BUT, you must always remember that until the purse has "actually been thrown", it would be plain wrong for you to be in front of the other shopper and you would be OFFSIDE!

NIACUS UMPIRE TRAINING COURSES
Umpire training courses have been organised by the NIACUS for March/April 2011.

Level 1a Course - Friday 4th March to Sunday 6th March 2011 - Facilitated by Keith Smith and Trevor Magee. Designed for Umpires who have successfully completed their Level 1 exams and who wish to proceed to Level 2. Course will take place at St Johns Ambulance Training Centre, Knockbracken Healthcare Park.

Level 1 Course - Friday 1st April to Sunday 3rd April 2011 - This course is for anyone who wishes to umpire at local level and beyond and is your first step to standing in the middle. Course again facilitated by Keith Smith and Trevor Magee and Alan Neill. Will take place at St Johns Training Centre.

Anyone interested should contact me as soon as possible. Course fees £35 approx.

Harry - you're nearly right! Having played both games with the same degree of mediocracy I would regard myself as a Ireland rugby & cricket supporter and I always would look out for the N.I. soccer result. I have no interest whatever in the Irish olympic team and I certainly have no time for nor
any interest in the Eurovision song contest. Having watched K.P. this morning I suggest that perhaps its time he caught the same taxi as Mr. Personality!!

typical english attitude - hussain was born in India!

Bit of a contradiction there, typo, should read typical Indian attitude

i would have to agree with andy, hussain was going on and on about ed playing for ireland again, although he was happy enough to have morgan move from ireland to england, piterson, trott.... and i could go on not englishmen by birth. typical english attitude. I have to say i usually support england but i certainly dont agree with hussain.

on a more local note, any more transfer rumours or new pros etc?

I would contend that the pendulum is swinging back in favour of Northern teams with regards to the Irish Cup.

Waringstown were knocking on the door last year, but one bad innings reply cost them when they had their southern counter-parts on the ropes at one stage and North Down have pedigree in depth and should be capable of beating any oppostion at club level, North or South.

So maybe Wylie will get his wish and one of two above teams will go all the way this year and lift the I.S.C. or maybe one of the other premier league N.C.U. clubs may be in with a good shout at least !

Andy, what about Ireland's chances of winning the world cup, was watching G. Doctrell last nite tie up a West-Indian University team at T20 cricket, he got 2 wkts and stifled them out of the match bowling for Somerset, like I say, "plenty of good home grown talent breaking through" !!

andy, why are you so touchy about what hussain says? and while we're on the subject of nationality what does it matter nowadays. You cant make any comments. You support Ireland at cricket and rugby, probably norn irn at football, ireland at the eurovision, ireland at the olympics, and you probably have a UK Passport lol.