Peter Matthews was yesterday appointed the Turf Club's senior stewards secretary.

Matthews (36) takes over from the outgoing Richard Teevan as the most senior full time steward on Irish racetracks with immediate effect.

Employed by the Turf Club since 1982 and a racing official since 1989, Matthews is the youngest person to hold the position in living memory.

"Peter is young in years but old in experience. I'm pleased for him and I'm sure he will do an excellent job," said the Turf Club's chief executive Cahir O'Sullivan.

The senior steward has a crucial role in advising the various part time stewards panels throughout the country about the interpretation of racing's rules.

Willie Mullins, the chairman of the Trainers Association, commented yesterday: "We welcome the appointment and wish Peter Matthews the best of luck in his new position. I hope everybody will be co-operative with him."

Matthews, a son of the classic winning rider Peader Matthews, said yesterday: "The integrity of racing is always the main issue. Racing is a game that allows people to have so many different opinions but I will try to be fair to everybody. The ideal is to be as consistent in applying the rules as possible."

The Naas, Co Kildare based official spent a valuable number of months working with the Hong Kong Jockey Club towards the end of 1995 but hit the headlines at home last September when he was the recipient of a bottle of champagne from Richard Dunwoody at the Listowel festival.

A disgruntled Dunwoody made the gesture after being reported by Matthews for a breach of the weighing out rules.

"That's all water under the bridge. I have a lot of respect for Richard Dunwoody who is a fantastic sportsman. It was a spur of the moment thing by him and later he apologised to me for the incident. I don't carry grudges and I think a lot of the jockeys and trainers knows where they stand with me," Matthews said.