Plate prowess leads to top honours

• Published date: 21 October 2021
• Publication title: Southland Express

Her achievement has taken 10 seasons, travelling tens of thousands of kilometres, countless weekends of time and umpiring more than 600 games to attain her goal.

Level 6, the most senior level required to umpire regional, national and international tournaments in New Zealand, had a vigorous assessment process.

As well as learning an ever-changing 130-page rulebook, pass a theory exam, and umpire a minimum of 40 games at Level 5, three assessors tested her skills on more than 100 criteria at the Women’s Open competition earlier this year before ratifying her accreditation.

The absence of a lower South Island women’s premier division, meant games need to be hosted in Auckland, Hutt Valley and Christchurch.

‘‘If I want to do premier women’s events, I have to jump on a plane to do it because we don’t have it down here.

‘‘It’s a lot of fly up Friday, come back Sunday night. But the direct Auckland flight has made access to those tournaments easier for me.’’

Southern Institute of Technology has provided Farquhar, as its part-time School Business and Management tutor, with the support and flexibility needed for her frequent weekend travel to other centres.

Otahuhu’s Wayne Roper Tournament and South Island Championships in Christchurch, are also regular features on her busy September to March calendar.

She expects her next trip to Hutt Valley Saints in November, for her 8th Benny Luke Memorial tournament, to be especially exciting as Junior White Sock coach Kiri Shaw will be attending the games for the Junior White Sock trial team selection with three Southland girls eligible for selection.

‘‘Southland is really punching above its weight in terms of how small we are and in proportion of the young players we’ve got on those squads. It’s exciting to see given there is limited opportunities for the women here.’’

Southland has several clubs, with four girls and five boys being developed at a national development squad level.

Farquhar was excited to be umpiring at the Southland women’s ‘‘action-packed’’ fast 45 tournament on Thursday evenings this season. The tournament is the work of Amanda Kareati.

‘‘I messaged Amanda after the first week and said, ‘what an awesome initiative for Softball Southland’.

‘‘Softball is one of those sports where you can have multiple generations in the same team… I started playing when I was at high school.

‘‘Umpiring is now my way of giving back to the sport.’’

Her career started after a constant plate-umpire gap needed to be filled. At...