Tutor Mike McCarthy sends down his bowl, watched by umpires Alison Hylton (left), Gwen Broughton, Peter Crawford, Uta Barton, and Dave Gunn.PHOTO/LEWIS GARDNER
Tutor Mike McCarthy sends down his bowl, watched by umpires Alison Hylton (left), Gwen Broughton, Peter Crawford, Uta Barton, and Dave Gunn.PHOTO/LEWIS GARDNER
The treasured orange polar fleece was handed out to three new Bowls Wanganui umpires on Saturday, in time for the start of the new season next month.
Gwen Broughton, Dave Gunn, and Alison Hylton all completed their Bowls NZ umpires committee national Level 1 qualifications, after a 10 week coursewhich started in May at the end of the last season.
In addition, Uta Barton and Peter Crawford also achieved their Level 2 qualifications, with Bowls Wanganui Inc spokesman Mike Morgan being "thrilled" to have a 100 per cent pass rate amongst the five officials.
"It shows the dedication by the tutors and candidates to achieve this result.
"We [now] have 24 umpires in the Wanganui area who dedicate their time to uphold the game of bowls in the best possible light."
As Level 2-certified umpires, Barton and Crawford can also move up to officiate at interprovincial events.
All five received their certificates, badges, and umpire tops at the Laird Park club on Saturday.
Tutor Mike McCarthy said their training formula had been about working out the "bad points" in their knowledge of the sport, and getting those "out of the road" to improve their overall scope.
