I was born and grew up in a small country town called Ranfurly which is situated at the heart of the Maniototo Plain in Central Otago. Sport was a huge part of my family life from rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, lawn bowls through to curling.
On leaving school I went into nursing at the Oamaru hospital.
I met my husband, Gavin Wright, in 1967 and we married in 1968. Gavin worked for NZ Railways so we moved around the country from Mataura in the South to Stratford in the North finishing up in Dunedin in 1984 where we stayed until 2002 when we bought a small business in Christchurch.
We have 3 children and four grandchildren who are the light of my life since Gavin passed away in 2018 after 50 years and three weeks of a wonderful marriage.
As Gavin was already a bowler and had joined Caversham Bowling Club I decided to use my spare time by doing the same and joining there in 1988.
I became an Umpire in 1991 and was able to be a part of the Asia Pacific Bowls event held in Dunedin in 1995 which was to be the start of my interest in top level umpiring.
While in Dunedin I had a term as President and Secretary of Dunedin Women’s Umpire Assoc and here in Christchurch have spent several years on the committee of Canterbury Umpires Assoc including positions of President, Allocation Officer and Tutor.
On moving to Christchurch in 2002 we became Members of Hornby Working Mens Bowling Club and on its closure we transferred to Hornby Domain, the friendliest little club in Christchurch, mind you I’m biased, excuse the pun.
Under Barry Moore’s tutelage I passed the International Umpires exam ready for the World C off C Singles to be held in Christchurch in 2005 then resat again 2009, reaccredited 2014 and hopefully again in 2020.
ITO Appointment History:
World Singles Champion of Champions
2005, 2006, 2013 and 2014
Asia Pacific Rim
1995, 2007 and 2015
Commonwealth Games Delhi
2010
World Bowls
2008 and 2016