Road to Comm Games - Wendy Suttie ITO

How did you first get involved in bowls, and then in umpiring?

It’s a bit of a family tradition. I’d been to bowls as a child with my grandmother, who played in the days when women had to line up and have the length of their skirts checked before every game.

With that picture in my head, I was very resistant to going anywhere near a bowling green. But my mum was a keen bowler, and she encouraged me to come along and have a go. I think she knew me well enough to know I would love the competitive nature of the game.

Long story short, I went with her to shut her up — but after only 10 minutes on the green, I was totally hooked.

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What drew you to officiating?

I’ve played a lot of different sports in my younger life and have always liked to understand how they work. It felt like a natural progression to learn the laws of bowls once I started playing.

My mum also gave me a Law Book when I first joined a club. Getting plenty of spurious advice from ‘senior’ players that didn’t quite match what I was reading led me to want to establish my credibility.

So in my second year of playing, I qualified as an umpire.

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Umpiring Journey

What have been some highlights of your umpiring journey so far?

Being the Chief Technical Official for the National Singles & Pairs in Christchurch in 2022, 2024 and 2026 has been a real highlight.

I’ve been privileged to work with so many talented and dedicated umpires at these events. It’s incredibly humbling to see how many great umpires we have in New Zealand, all keen and willing to contribute at this level of the game.

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Have you officiated at any major or international events before?

Quite a few. My international involvement began in 2013 when Helen Stallard encouraged me to participate in the World Champion of Champion Singles — that was my first taste of an international event.

Since then, I’ve officiated at the Asia Pacific Championships (2015 and 2019), the Commonwealth Games (2022), World Champion of Champion Singles (2022 and 2024), as well as a number of Trans-Tasman events.

Most recently, I was involved in the World Cup in Malaysia in November 2025.

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Commonwealth Games

What was your reaction when you found out you’d been selected?

Excited, honoured, grateful for the opportunity to be involved — the rest is unprintable!

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What does this opportunity mean to you personally?

It’s a chance to learn and to work as part of an International Technical Officials team from around the world, all bringing their own unique ways of doing the job.

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What does it mean to represent New Zealand in this role?

It’s a huge honour with a real sense of responsibility — to be the best I can be while working on the international stage.

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The Umpiring Role

What do you enjoy most about being an umpire?

Being able to support bowlers at all levels to play the game with skill and good sportsmanship.

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What do you think makes a great umpire?

Knowing the scope of the role, having a high level of personal integrity, and focusing on supporting players. It’s also about being mentally present and engaged, maintaining a strong understanding of the laws, and having a good level of physical fitness.

Most importantly, it’s about being human — recognising that mistakes happen, learning from them, and continuing to grow.

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Looking Ahead

What are you most looking forward to at the Commonwealth Games?

Being part of the ITO team, working alongside umpires from around the world, catching up with old friends, meeting new ones, and operating at the highest level of the game.

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Quick Fire

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?

I’m a bit of an open book — there may not be too many surprises!

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What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming an umpire?

If you enjoy watching bowls, give it a go. With the right support and encouragement, it’s a really rewarding role.

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