Thackray in midst of hectic time

Masterton basketball referee Andy Thackray is in the midst of a hectic time on the international scene.
Hot on the heels of officiating in the NBL men's finals which saw Nelson defeat Hawke's Bay, Thackray travelled with the New Zealand women's team, the Tall Ferns, to the William Jones Cup tournament in Taiwan. Arriving home from there this week, Thackray the current Wairarapa Sports Administrator of the Year will referee the national men's side, the Tall Blacks, in their three-test series against Venezuala, the first of which will be played in Napier on July 20 and the second and third in Wellington on July 22 and 24. And he will then accompany the Tall Blacks to Australia for the Olympic qualifying event, the FIBA Oceania championships, with the three tests against the Aussies being programmed for Melbourne on August 20, Sydney on August 22 and Brisbane on August 24.