His long service – more than 40 years officiating in each sport - had been recognised by both organisations and, in 2009, he received an Active Kaumātua honour at the Ngāti Kahungunu sports awards.
The Hawke’s Bay Netball post read: “We are saddened to hear the news of our dear friend, HBN Service member and umpire Andy Cracknell. Andy is a well-known umpire in HB (not just for netball) and we will miss his smiling, friendly face around the courts.”
“Andy has dedicated a number of years to officiating sport in HB and was never afraid to tell you how it is,” a tribute said. “His passion for our sport will continue to live on through those whose lives he touched.”
It was reported by Hawke’s Bay Today in 2019 that Cracknell had taken up rugby league refereeing in 1979, having played for Flaxmere Falcons. He had started netball umpiring in the same year and he had never since missed a season.
“For the last couple of seasons I’ve taken things year-by-year and, if the body holds up, I’ll be back again next season in both codes,” he had said.
Often he would referee, act as an umpire or be on the line at more than one game in a day, or even six for netball, in which he took to the whistle after an umpire challenged him about his vocal approach as a spectator and suggested if he thought he knew so much, he should be an umpire.
He also found time for umpiring indoor netball and in touch, known initially as touch rugby or touch football.
He regarded the day job as his gym work, with more than 40 years spent at the Whakatu plant of Silver Fern Farms, where he was a team leader in the freezers.
He is survived by his wife Pauline, two sons and a daughter, eight grandchildren and three brothers and three sisters.
