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Rugby: Nicola is so proud to become the first lady
Peterborough woman Nicola Reynolds, who took up rugby refereeing for a bet only four years ago has just been voted the East Midlands Society's Referee of the Year.
Peterborough woman Nicola Reynolds, who took up rugby refereeing for a bet only four years ago has just been voted the East Midlands Society's Referee of the Year.Nicola was a netball umpire when she responded to a challenge from Andy Moore, chairman of Peterborough Lions, to referee a rugby match.
Having taken an RFU training course she took charge of a school match at Deacon's School in Peterborough and so impressed Murray Felstead, the appointments secretary from the East Midlands Society, that she was asked to referee her first senior game at Wellingborough Old Grammarians the following Saturday.
Reynolds (38) has not looked back. She now referees at Midlands Two level and is regularly sent out on exchanges around the country by the East Midlands Society.
She ran touch in England's RBS Women's Six Nations Championship match against Scotland at London Welsh in March and is due to travel to Belgium next week to referee in the annual Flanders Tens Tournament for the fourth time.
It is the first time that a woman has won the East Midlands Referee of the Year Award, voted for by the Society's executive, but she is still waiting to pick up her prize for winning her bet.
"I've never played rugby and my involvement with refereeing came about as the result of a bet," Reynolds said. "I was a netball umpire in the local league when Andy Moore bet me that I couldn't take charge of a 'proper' game.
"So I enrolled on an RFU Foundation course, took charge of my first school game and then got asked to take charge of my first men's game the following Saturday.
"It's four years since I won the bet but I still haven't had that drink off Andy you know!"
Reynolds, who works as an independent financial adviser in the family business, has retained her involvement in netball and is now chairman of her local league in Peterborough.
Her Referee of the Year Award came as a surprise but was recognition of the esteem in which Reynolds is held by the Society.
"The award was made at the Society's annual dinner and it was quite a surprise," she said. "It's the first time that the award has gone to a woman so it was a proud moment."
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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