A Sunshine Coast lawn bowls official, who is poised to umpire at Australia’s biggest events in 2021, says the very traditional sport is benefitting from new technology.
Barry Ashby believes the laser measure, approved by World Bowls in late 2018, provides accurate and quick results.
It’s used at representative level and at some club competitions to measure the length between the bowls and the jack, when determining which bowl is closer.
Ashby said traditional methods of measuring were still widely used, largely because they were cheaper, but he expected the laser measure to become more popular.
He believed he and Club Kawana Bowls Club were the only ones in the region to have them so far.
“It will slowly creep in. It can’t be more accurate and it’s quick.”
“The decision is made immediately whereas you have to sometimes redo your measure with the older equipment if it’s close (between rival bowls).”
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Using a laser measure is as simple as pushing a button on the device, which has one piece at the bowl and other at the jack.
Ashby said it was the “third umpire” for checking close contests.
“Cricket, tennis and football use technology (for officiating) and so does bowls,” he said.
The laser measure is a breakthrough technology for a traditional sport, which officially started in Australia in the mid 1840s, when the first green was laid at Mr. Lipscombe’s Beach Tavern at Sandy Bay Tasmania.
It started on the Sunshine Coast about 100 years ago, when a meeting was held in 1919 to form a bowls club at Buderim and G Burrows made some of land available for a green.
Initial matches were held in 1921, before the club was wound up in 1923.
Many of the Coast’s present bowls clubs formed in the 1930s and rapidly developed.
‘Best seat in the house’
Ashby is one of only two umpires on the Sunshine Coast, along with Leigh Salter, recognised as an International Technical Official.
He’s been involved in the Commonwealth Games, Asia Pacific championships, world under-25 championships, 8-Nations tournament, Australia v England series, Multi Nations championships and prominent domestic events.
He’s set to take part in major events this year, including the world championships, Trans-Tasman championships and Australian Open.
“I love it (umpiring),” the 74-year-old said.
“I meet a lot of good people, including top bowlers from all over the world.
“The players are really nice people and good sports.
“And as an umpire you get the best seat in the house because you’ve got to be right on top of it. You see some magnificent bowls.”
He said umpiring was not meant to be easy.
“When you’re standing there all day it’s a tough gig.”
“You’ve got to be watching all the time and sometimes cover two greens.
“And you’ve got to be ready with the right equipment because a lot of the games are timed and the players don’t want to be held up by an umpire.”
Local umpires lauded
Ashby, who has lived on the Sunshine Coast practically all of his life, said the district’s bowls association had seven members on the umpiring panel, which was run by Ian Hazell.
Ashby and fellow local umpire Trevor Govey are on the Queensland Umpires Panel.
There are 62 accredited national umpires on the Sunshine Coast.
“They do a great job in officiating mostly all their club championships and special day events,” Ashby said.
“Without these volunteers who give their time and knowledge, lawn bowls on the Sunshine Coast would be much the poorer.”
Ashby (pictured) is also the Sunshine Coast District Men’s Bowls Association secretary and he’s part of a push to develop and grow bowls in the region.
The district bowls scene includes 17 clubs, with more than 2000 male players and more than 1000 female players, along with a growing number of juniors.
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