Twenty-eight of New Zealand’s top Umpires and International Technical Officials (ITOs), including nine from Bowls Auckland and one from Australia, came together to officiate at two prestigious events: the Oceania Challenge and the World Bowls Champion of Champions Singles.

Over nine demanding days, the team first took on the Oceania Challenge (21–24 November), followed by the World Bowls Champion of Champions Singles (26–30 November). Umpiring at this level requires precision, endurance, and dedication to uphold the highest standards of international competition.

Each day began at 7:30 am with detailed briefings that outlined individual responsibilities, reviewed ongoing performance, and identified areas for improvement. Duties included inspecting green conditions, assessing green speed, verifying rink markings, preparing scoreboards, and managing logistics. Every detail mattered, and the team worked tirelessly to ensure smooth and fair play.

The Oceania Challenge tested the officials’ stamina, with up to five rounds daily, some finishing as late as 9:30 pm. Thanks to covered greens with lighting, play continued uninterrupted, but the long hours pushed most umpires to their limits with 15-hour days. In contrast, the World Bowls Champion of Champions Singles featured shorter schedules of three rounds per day. However, the workload remained intense, with responsibilities spread across three greens, the added demands of broadcast coordination, and rain-disrupted finals adding complexity.

Despite these challenges, the team excelled. Their unwavering commitment ensured fair play and smooth operations, earning them well-deserved praise. For many of Bowls Auckland’s umpires, this marked their first experience officiating at a World Bowls event.

Brendon Walton (Level 2) reflected on the honour and responsibility of being part of the two events: “It is so critical that things are done accurately. Every little detail matters, with so much on the line for the players. It was a true honour to be trusted to mark on the broadcast rink! It’s an experience I’ll draw on in future umpiring.”

Congratulations to all involved, with special thanks to the Bowls Auckland team: Gerard Hulst, Weng Lim, Lorraine Beazley, Phil Bowden, Jamie Chen, Amy Cheung, Gwen Ng, Janine Young, and Brendon Walton. 

It’s been a busy period, from Centre Fours leading into the world events, now concluding with the Battle of the Bridge, Centre Pairs, and the Finals Weekend in the coming weeks. Your professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to umpiring are deeply valued and so greatly appreciated.