The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A LOT of the success of a local track and field meet hinges on the performances of the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials.

BACO, which was founded by the late Leviticus ‘Uncle Lou’ Adderley to help support the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, is now headed by Ray Hepburn, a level two starter.

Hepburn, who came into office in November and will be at the helm of the 87 registered group of volunteers who officiate in their red and white uniforms for the next three years, said it has been a challenge for the 50 active members, including Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.

“The former administration did a fantastic job, as far as setting the foundation for where we want to go in track and field,” Hepburn said. “Our challenge has been in training. It requires a dedicated amount of time, so it’s difficult to get people to come in and do a week of training or to be trained consistently. So that has been our greatest challenge.

“As a leader, that is one of my biggest problems. I want to train our people. I want to educate our people in track and field so that when you officiate, you will have that professionalism where you know the rules and that speaks for what you do. The spectators and the athletes will recognise that and respect you for that.”

With the last training conducted by BACO three years ago, which was catered specially for their National Training Officials in the IAAF. About 25-30 members of BACO sat and passed that particular course. Hepburn, however, said while it may not be feasible to put on a training clinic at this time, they are hoping to stage a refresher course for their members.

“We’re a non-profit organisation, so it’s not like we have money,” Hepburn said. “So we have to get a subscription from our parent body, the BAAA and the BOC to assist us in funding with training. Abaco has just requested a training course over there. We would like to help because we have people in the region like Frank ‘Pancho’ Rahming and Stephanie Rahming, who are international training officers, so I would like to send them to Abaco and to do a refresher course in Grand Bahama.

“Those are some of my goals. Along with training, I want to see us get an improvement on the equipment that we use. Star Trackers blessed us with an electronic gun that we will be using in their meet this weekend. The next thing we want to do is to acquire two to four laser measuring devices where the shot put, discus, javelin and long jump, we no longer have to be pulling the tape. We just have to put the stack in the ground and the laser measuring devise records the distance.”

As the new president, Hepburn said he only intends to stay in that position for three years and so he wants to do what he has to do and pass the mantle onto the next person who will succeed him after his term is completed.

“Hepburn, who became a member of BACO after 13 years ago, actually got started as a starter assistant until nine years ago when he became a starter. At the time, I was uncomfortable being a starter, not being trained,” Hepburn said.

“So I approached Timothy Munnings and I told him that if there was a starter’s course anywhere in the Caribbean, he wanted to be invited. He actually made an application to the IAAF and the next year there was a course and he recommended that I go.”

Hepburn is now a level two starter, the highest level by any Bahamian, which allows him to officiate in that capacity anywhere from Canada to Haiti, including South America. He also served as the chief starter for the IAAF World Relays, having worked under Alan Bell from London.

“So as my role as president of BACO, I really want to continue to improve as a starter,” he said. “I want to move to those levels and meets where I can be able to start at any major international event, including the IAAF World Championships and the Olympic Games.”

In addition to Hepburn, the Bahamas is blessed with Roosevelt Thompson, who has a Masters Certification in the United States Track and Field Association. Together, the two have the responsibility of working with a core group of starters, including a couple females, at the local track and field meets.