Embedded Files
Malcolm Ripley - An Autobiographical Sketch
Malcolm Ripley Umpire since 1962
Hello Mr Web site Manager,
To fill you in a bit, MGR began Umpiring, aged 24 in 1962 when he was omitted from the South Holderness CC An Xl due to loss of form as a batsman and off-spinner!
Co-incidentally, their SHCC regular Umpire then, the late Tom Ribee, could not 'stand' that Saturday with the 1st Team as he had a bad back, and Malc Ripley was coerced to stand in for just one match - even though at age 24 he still wished to play!
MGR enjoyed his first game in the "White Coat" but a similar situation arose the following week as our hero not picked again.
Therefore another stint in the Middle for our young Umpire.
Despite Malc's Dad Arthur, a tall fast Bowler for SHCC, being none too pleased that his lad was not now playing the game, but Umpiring instead, two matches have turned into 51 Summers of enjoyable officiating!!
For the last 14 years thus standing in 50/50% matches in the East Yorkshire Alliance and the York & District Senior League! Good times indeed.
Thankfully, Malc has only been physically threatened on one occasion, some 30 odd years ago by a well known Patrington CC bowler, who was 'No Balled" three times by this Official, the bowler taking vociferous exception to this episode.
The matter was solved by the burly bearded South Holderness CC bowler Brian Jubb, threatening to take the guilty Brian Lawton immediately behind the Pavilion to ' sort the matter out' It did not end in tears!!
Malc is currently the South Holderness CC, based in Hedon, Club President since 2004, and for his sins took on the role as Hon. Secretary at their AGM in November 2012, as well as being associated with the 130 year old Club since aged just 12. So on 20th November of last year, MR made Club history at the Hedon based Club, none of his six predecessors being President/Secretary, but ex President Ted Crane also acted as Chairman whilst being their President!
Malcom with his OSCA.
Not only doing his Secretarial duties, but has on his tod, decorated the SHCC main Hall and their Kitchen recently, says it keeps him out of mischief but at nearly age 75, reckons he can no longer remember what 'mischief' really is!.
Favourite grounds that he has officiated at, in all those great seasons - for him, and for its beautiful position alone, and its lovely scenic backcloth, the woods and even the adjacent Park Farm, Londesborough Park CC situated a couple of miles north of Market Weighton, is his firm favourite. Alne CC in Nidderdale is another very pleasant ground and yet another on a local Farmer's land.
Even though he has not "stood" at Copley CC near Halifax, his visit to an ECB ACO AGM there this winter proved to be very interesting with a playing area surrounded by a big railway viaduct on its right hand side, a large hill at the back named Norland, together with another banked railway line on the other side, on which steam trains puff away merrily during the summer apparently, during their games. A great pity their ground was not seen at its best as the trees were leafless! We were well fed at lunch time too, in their superb spanking new Clubhouse costing £260K, the top panoramic viewing long room easily seating 70 people, together with a Bar. All the changing accommodation being downstairs!
It just goes to demonstrate what three relatively small, but being very big hearted indeed, together with some hard graft can do for these lovely and popular Clubs!!
And I have not even mentioned other lovely Clubs in Marske CC, Stamford Bridge CC, Driffield CC, Malton & Old Malton CC, Hornsea CC, Heworth CC, Patrington CC, Bridlington CC, Beverley CC, and York CC let alone Headingley, Bolton Percy CC, Scarborough CC, Sewerby CC, and Flixton & Folkton CC. Apologies if your own ground has been omitted!
Umpiring highlights now crop up here - well there are many course, - Cup Ties/Finals - the old Trophy cabinet bulges - , Representative games - three annual English Schools Under 13's National Finals at Headingley, and with thanks to Hull based ESC Association Secretary Ken Lake, who appointed myself to these at the turn of the century, officiating their 35 overs apiece enjoyable games and with an excellent three course lunch together with wine, in these matches, standing with Keith Smith, Mike Jones and Roy Scott.
Is it any wonder that we practically staggered out to the 'middle' post Lunch!
My cricketing mates at Hornsea CC asked me some nine years ago, to Umpire three of their Yorkshire CCC Benefit matches at the Hollis Rec. and these were for Chris Silverwood, David Byas and latterly Darren Gough.
Our hero Goughie - Bless Him! - bowled an eight over hostile spell from my end off his 18 yard run up, only to overstep and to be "called " by me on four occasions. After his second "No Ball" Darren said to me as he walked back --"EY up Umps, what's the game 'no balling' me in my Benefit game?" My quick retort being - "Are we playing serious cricket young man?" The quickie replied, "Why of course we are mate!" which led me to counter with, " You'll have to keep that front foot further back to be safe!" A big but wry smile, from the offender resulted!
I only had (sadly! ) one very large shout from him for an LBW decision, answered 'Not Out' as I told him, when he gently queried "Why" as he came back. Just outside off stump.
His big wink and smile were evident as he mumbled something about "Glasses...!" to me, but not an ounce of nastiness in DG, but a real well liked and popular character non-the -less! And he bought me a pint in the bar after play so it can't be bad.
Very pleased too, to be voted the YCB Umpire of the Year in Yorkshire, in August 2011 to win an OSCA together with an inscribed cut glass tankard being presented at Headingley to me.
I could go on, but more than enough for now!
Malc Ripley, from Hull, and looking forward to some Sun and to April 2013 to begin his 52nd summer of Officiating.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse