One of the first Lawn Bowls Tournament of 2026 on Youtube Live Sports and Australia Bowls Facebook is the Summerland Series with a Post Christmas Pairs (December 27 - 29, 2026 AST) and a Post New Years Single (January 2 - 4, 2026 AST or January 1 - 3 EST) competitions at the Cherry Street LBC in Ballina, NSW. Google AI defines this Lawn Bowls gathering in Australia as an early Lawn Bowl season gathering of the best bowlers from Australia and New Zealand as:
"The Summerland Series is a prestigious annual lawn bowls tournament held at Cherry Street Sports " and " The 2025/26 series consists of two main disciplines: Pairs and Singles, offering a total prize pool of $25,600 ".
As I attempt to keep my early 2026 blogs to "Game Analysis" for Singles and have time to do a major Cleanup (and maybe Update) of the most frequent visit blogs. These blogs written over the last 15 years has had 140,000 visit/read in that time; and some of the 170 blogs are of less correct. Also, I will attempt to start this years blogs by identifing single's strategy and common errors made by players and Markers (umpires) as well as the rules of Bowls a Singles player should follow (or not follow) with particular attention.
The first bowl of singles after the trial ends is usually suggested to be played a bit heavy (2 feet) with the intention of being behind the jack and accepting that with proper delivery line, it will move the jack off center line while staying tight with it. (As seen in the above photo).
This screen capture is of the third game of The Summerland Singles between Kenny Nelson and Duncan Elphick as they attempt to qualify for the finals to be played after this game.
In single games the Marker has two major roles. First to assist the players in their game by answering questions about the bowls in the head thus saving time of the players coming to see the head. Usually competition rules restrict the players movement to the head and permit it only after the 3rd bowl. However, a player can ask permission of the Marker to visit the head.
The second role of the Marker is as the official game's supervisor and marks the cards and makes decision on the actual condition of play. I have not said "umpire" because on most competition there are a Game Umpire but the marker in some of their task are doing various actions which could be consider as being an umpire. Immediately (as per the photo) we see that Kenny Nelson delivery is bordering on a rule about the players position on the mat. It is not the Marker's responsibility to address this incident.
For example: The "Game Umpire" would definely be expected by the Chief Umpire and Club adminstration to check this action of possible "Foot Faulting" by Kenny Nelson. However, mos "Marker's Courses" would not expect a marker to be concern or mention it to the player. However, if the opponent was to mention it to the Marker the Marker should reply "I will advise the Game Umpire of your concern".
A good marker will do nothing which delays the game, which are usually timed.
Also the marker should not interfer with the player's need for a focus or concentration which means no movement at the time the player is in actual delivery. Also to question a rule like "Foot Faulting" should be considered their need to address. All communication with the players should be little or nil conversation with the exception to answer questions or to indicate the score at the end each end of play.
For me to addressing the bowler's decision to position himself on the mat in this manner during delivery; would be only to suggest that such a delivery style as Kenny Nelson (above photo) or Corey Wedlock (right) is an invitation for confrontation from the umpire or the opponent. If the player has a strong "focus or concentration then they have no distraction if an opinion arrived.
Actually a sportmanlike attitude of the opponent would not even express an opinion on this. I could also see such a close faulting actually playing on the opponent's nerves if they were a bit too much of a sticker for rules,. At the international level of play, these players don't see these things as their problem.
When World Bowls publish a photo of Corey on their webpage, or a Game Umpire ignores such close faulting; it should indicate to anyone to not be concern with the delivery style of the opponent. A Marker who realizes that they should not let such personal opinion of Game rules become a part of their Marker responsibility.
If the Game Unpire does not see it as a problem, let it be an opportunity to learn to develop a ability to ignore such questionable rules as "Foot Faulting". Myself, it would drive me crazy, if I was marking a single competition. I am still working on ignore such distraction during game play. At a recent major competition where I was a spectator, the Game Umpire, with whom I had bowled a few competition; asked me to go outside the club fencing and to ask an individual to turn down his radio. But then again non of these players were elite level lawn bowlers and the radio could be considered a distraction.
Amazing that during a recent qualification competition where this same Game Umpire was performing as a Marker; He interrupted the player on the mat with a traffic direction open hand signal; as he asked the player to wait as he marks a toucher. Always something strange one can notice at local and even international competition like this one.
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| Day 2 photo ..No that is not snow. It is heavy downpour RAIN |
Such a similar incident happen in the Summerland Series Singles where on 2nd day of play a heavy rain started. (Last game of day as night approached). This sudden evening rain which although warm was a rather heavy down pour had forced the players to play fast. We all have done it, as we attempt to hurry out of the rain.
This video is a good example of the how the weather conditions changes the Markers communication with the players. You have to watch very closely to catch the sign from the marker. Remember to make your communication signs to the players very clear as they also are importance to the spectators as they use it to understand the game progress.
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