Scope makes for prompt, accurate calls

Bowls umpire Colin McKenzie uses a boundary scope at the Kaikorai greens during the national...
Bowls umpire Colin McKenzie uses a boundary scope at the Kaikorai greens during the national championships in Dunedin. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
The boundary scope  used by Colin McKenzie, the umpire at Dunedin’s Kaikorai Bowling Club, during the national championships, is an innovation allowing umpires to make prompt, accurate  decisions on out-of-bounds bowls.

Mounted on a framework with a pointer at the foot of the frame, it is placed on the bank to indicate if a bowl or the jack are still in play should they be moved close to the boundary during play.

The telescope is used to line up the centre of the two boundary pegs at each end to obtain a sighter on a bowl to determine whether it is in or out of play. If the jack is moved into the ditch during play it is used to line up the pegs by viewing the projection at the front with a line down the centre to determine whether the jack is in or out of play.

"That gives you a good sighter on the edge of the bowl to determine whether it is in or out of play," he said.

It is often used in conjunction with a line and mirror device when making judgements on boundary calls. Once it has been determined whether or not the jack or bowl are still in play, then a measure can be called should an opponent’s bowl also be involved.

"I find the scope very accurate and reasonably easy to use," McKenzie said.

McKenzie said umpires had a choice of whether to use the scope or a device called a boundary liner which is a small set of mirrors, with a line down the centre to line up the two boundary pegs.

"Some umpires prefer to use the liner. Personally, I prefer to use the scope," he said, adding that most clubs had one or the other or both.

McKenzie was called to use the device on the final end of a close fours qualifying match on Monday. Such was its accuracy that it decided the outcome of the match.

"The edge of the bowl or jack only has to touch the centre line judged by the scope to still be in play," he said.

"It doesn’t have to be completely touching.’’McKenzie added that the scope is used in all national and international competition that he has seen, as opposed to the boundary liner device.

An umpire of numerous club and centre events for the past five years, McKenzie (85) has been involved with bowls and the Kaikorai club for the past 34 years.

Although a string of titles has eluded him, he has been competitive in pairs, triples and fours.

"The main thing is that I’ve enjoyed my bowls," he said.

He remembers the first piece of advice he received when he first took up bowls.

"It’s about who gets closest to the jack that counts, not who’s bowling it."

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