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Steve Pratt passes umpiring games record to add another achievement to lengthy list

Headshot of Jake Santa Maria
Jake Santa MariaGeraldton Guardian
Great Northern Football League players Sam Websdale and Tiarna Kanny with umpire Steve Pratt.
Camera IconGreat Northern Football League players Sam Websdale and Tiarna Kanny with umpire Steve Pratt. Credit: Supplied

All eyes will be on Northampton at the weekend with two top-of-the-table clashes, but it will also be a special day for Steve Pratt when he passes an umpiring record.

The Northampton and Brigades’ league match could be a preview of the grand final and will be crucial to who wins the minor premiership this year.

With it being such an important match for both sides it could not be in better hands when Pratt runs out on the field to officiate a league-record 271st match.

In doing so he will pass the 270-game record set by another umpiring legend Murray Stevens.

‘Pratty’ began umpiring in 2009 when one of his sons was interested in boundary umpiring and he quickly became a regular in the league ranks.

In 2011 and 2012 he broke the single-season record umpiring 30 and 28 matches in those two seasons alone.

Pratt has also umpired a record 11 grand finals, 38 finals, been field umpires coach, umpire of the year and represented the GNFL at country week. He has also been an integral part of the Umpires Association and Umpiring Panel, a life member of the GNFL Umpires Association and an ambassador for umpiring in the Mid West for a long time.

In honour of the occasion, Pratt will be joined by long-time umpiring partners Brian Cohen and Robert Bennett when he takes to the field on Saturday.

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