MERRY whistler Dave Asquith reaches a notable landmark in his rugby league refereeing career tomorrow as he takes charge of his 1,000th game.

The 50-year-old York official, whose debut in the middle was in a Pennine League match in March 1979, is to referee Batley Boys versus Huddersfield Sharks in the GMB National Cup tomorrow to reach the four-figure milestone.

His career has seen him refereeing at under-15 level through the amateur game - including BARLA National Cup and Yorkshire Cup finals - and student scene, all the way up to the top tier of the old first and second divisions.

It has also included video refereeing stints in the Super league Grand Final, Challenge Cup final and at international level. Indeed, Asquith was the first-ever video referee at a Grand Final, in 1998, at an international, Great Britain v Australia at Wembley in 1997, and at a Challenge Cup final, the last one at Wembley.

Arguably the biggest game he took the whistle for was between Wigan and Sheffield at Central Park, in front of 12,500.

Asquith, of Badger Hill, was born in West Yorkshire and decided to become a referee after watching local team Batley at Mount Pleasant.

He explained: "I moved to York in 1979 but was born and bred in Batley and used to watch them with my father, and I used to complain at the referees all the time. After a while I thought if you can't beat them, join them.

"I started in the amateur game and it took me ten years to get to grade one."

He added: "The first summer season (1996) was my last as a grade one referee as I had to pack in because of my knee. But ever since I came off the grade one list, it has always been my ambition to get to 1,000 games."

Updated: 10:43 Friday, February 20, 2004