Wellington community umpire Jeremy Busby has brought up yet another milestone in his champion umpiring career.

Busby brought up forty years of community umpiring over the weekend as he stood in Johnsonville’s win over Taita in the Ewen Chatfield Trophy, adding another match to his remarkable record of over 800 matches officiated.

Busby was just 18 when he started umpiring in Christchurch in November 1979 a few days before the Erebus plane disaster.

He made rapid progress mentored by New Zealand’s top umpire around that time, Fred Goodall, and through the highs and lows of a chequered career Busby’s passion for umpiring is still clearly evident.

He has been appointed to several first-class games, numerous provincial one-day games, and age-group and women’s one-day internationals.

On top of his umpiring achievements, Busby has also contributed 35 years to umpire training.

He became involved as early as 1983, and he was the regional training officer in Canterbury for many years before being made a life member of the umpires’ association in 2006.

Busby’s training expertise was swiftly utilised the following year when he moved to Wellington and in 2008 was appointed RTO.

His introduction to umpiring at 18 occurred entirely by accident.

A promising left-arm spinner with the St Albans club, Busby badly broke the thumb on his bowling hand in a football training accident in 1979 and facing a summer of inactivity he decided to try umpiring.

His first appointment was to a Canterbury third grade match between Burnside High and Christchurch Boys’ High at a time when several of the college 1st X1s played in the men’s competition.

His fellow umpire was Brian Aldridge, the then secretary of the umpire’s association, who went on to become one of the game’s best international umpires and New Zealand Cricket’s national umpiring manager. 
 
Busby progressed rapidly in that first season.

In the New Year he was appointed to his first Christchurch premier club match between Sydenham and Riccarton at Sydenham Park.

Busby also stood in three national women’s provincial matches with the Canterbury association hosting the annual tournament that summer. 

Since his move to Wellington Jeremy has continued his incredible contributions to umpiring ad umpires training.

Busby has been chairman of the Cricket Wellington Umpires and Scorers Association since 2014.

He originally only took on the role as a caretaker for one year, but has continued through to today, further highlighting his dedication and passion for umpiring.

At the conclusion of the 2017/18 season, Busby’s commitment to umpiring was acknowledged as he was awarded the Mike Curtis Cup for services to community cricket at the Cricket Wellington Club Awards.

Cricket Wellington would like to congratulate Jeremy for the incredible achievement of forty years umpiring and thank him for his continued passion and dedication to the game we love.

Article added: Wednesday 27 November 2019