Continuing the strong tradition of Irish umpiring, Carole Metchette was today notified of her appointment to the Beijing Olympics, 2008. This is the first time Ireland has ever had a female hockey umpire appointed to the Olympics.Dublin born Metchette had a good introduction to hockey when she attended Wesley College where she won the school treble, the ESB Kate Russell All Ireland Schools Championship, Leinster Schools League and Leinster Schools Cup.
Metchette, primarily a left back, represented her province Leinster at all levels and played her club hockey with Old Alexandra where she won two ESB Irish Senior Cups, 1988 and 1991.
Metchette started umpiring in a rather casual manner “If the club was stuck I would just go out and help them by umpiring on a Saturday after my own game” she commented. When she retired as a player in 2002 Metchette started to umpire on a more regular basis and was appointed at a domestic level to umpire at numerous cup finals. 
Her first international appointment came in 2002 when she was appointed to the U18 Europeans in Rotterdam where she really got a taste for umpiring “it was such a fantastic tournament, it really was enjoyable”.
Since then Metchette has been appointed by the EuroHockey Federation and International Hockey Federation to numerous tournaments all over the world while continuing to umpire at a domestic level. Among numerous high profile events these included the 2005 Junior World Cup in Chile and the recent EuroHockey Nations Championship in Manchester.
Commenting on her appointment she was obviously thrilled, “I was speechless when I got the notification it is such a huge honour to be appointed to umpire at the Olympics and I am both thrilled and proud”.
The next few months look set to be busy for this married mother of two. In March she is off to Paris to umpire at the EuroHockey Cup Winners Cup and then in April she is heading out to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Baku, all before what will no doubt be a busy summer.
Last year Carole Metchette was also recognised for her excellent umpiring skills when she received the Umpire of the Year Award at the ESB Dawson Travel Irish Hockey Awards. Ireland’s Ray O’Connor who was Ireland’s first male umpire to be appointed to the Olympics will also travel to Beijing as the Men’s Umpires’ Manager.
Since then Metchette has been appointed by the EuroHockey Federation and International Hockey Federation to numerous tournaments all over the world while continuing to umpire at a domestic level. Among numerous high profile events these included the 2005 Junior World Cup in Chile and the recent EuroHockey Nations Championship in Manchester.
Commenting on her appointment she was obviously thrilled, “I was speechless when I got the notification it is such a huge honour to be appointed to umpire at the Olympics and I am both thrilled and proud”.
The next few months look set to be busy for this married mother of two. In March she is off to Paris to umpire at the EuroHockey Cup Winners Cup and then in April she is heading out to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Baku, all before what will no doubt be a busy summer.
Last year Carole Metchette was also recognised for her excellent umpiring skills when she received the Umpire of the Year Award at the ESB Dawson Travel Irish Hockey Awards. Ireland’s Ray O’Connor who was Ireland’s first male umpire to be appointed to the Olympics will also travel to Beijing as the Men’s Umpires’ Manager.
7 comments:
Yet again Wesley College producing outstanding sports women and men. What would irish hockey have done without Wesley College? Anyone one reckon there is a better hockey school.
Well, on the mens side, in terms of producing players at the top level, Ashton are the best hockey school in Ireland. For example I'm pretty sure that Phelie is the only Wesley past pupil that is going to New Zealand. Where as with Ashton, the Irish team would look vastly different without their past pupils. But Wesley is definately the best in leinster.
Yeah Newpark, first school from the South to win the All Irelands
st marks in tallaght...not just hockey..football gaa, handball, basketball, for a school which didnt have a hockey team until 1986..look at the players produced...also well done carol...enjoy.
And Newpark was the first school from the south to even get into the All-Ireland finals a few years earlier in 1991!!
But to be fair, if you look at continued dominance, Kings Hospital have the most impressive record during the 80's & 90's
Wesley have a long way to go to match that... but at the moment are one of the best!
Congratulations Carol! Now lets hope we get some more Irish Representation in the Olympics. Fingers crossed for the lads in NZ and the ladies in Canada! We know you can do it!
Have Wesley produced decent women hockey players?! I must have missed that.
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