Hogline sensors 'long overdue'

Innovation takes human error out of officiating the game

Adam Daifallah

National Post

Tuesday, December 09, 2003

Why do the rocks have silver handles?

That's the question I was asking myself after flipping on the TV to watch curling's recent Continental Cup. Normally the handles are the same colour as the rest of the rock. Later in the broadcast it was explained that these handles are part of a new state-of-the-art hogline violation detection system being used for the first time in competition.

The concept is simple. A magnetic strip is placed underneath the ice surface, and the rocks are equipped with special sensors in the handle. Each handle has two red and two green lights on it. If the player released the rock before the hogline, the green lights flash and then remain solid green for the trip down the ice. If the rock is not released in time and is "hogged," the red lights go on, and the rock must be pulled.

The new technology was created by Startco Engineering Ltd., a Saskatoon-based firm. According to its president, Garry Paulson, the idea for the detectors were first created by a group of University of Saskatchewan engineering students. They sought the help of Startco to commercialize it and, after rejecting the idea a couple of times, the firm took on the project and did a redesign.

The Canadian Curling Association has been supportive of the product -- which received positive reviews from Canadian champions Randy Ferbey and Colleen Jones after its Continental Cup test run -- and is planning on using it at all national championships this year.

"I loved [the sensors] and I think they worked really well," Jones said yesterday. "It's something that's long overdue for the game. There's always the possibility for human error when it comes to hogline judging. It really worked very well."

Neil Houston, the CCA's manager of championship services, said the reaction was "100% positive" from the players at the Cup. And Paulson says the technology is "100% accurate."

Elite curlers have in the past complained about the old system of hogline judging, when CCA officials would sit on the line and pull rocks at will.

Accusations of bias were frequent, and rocks were sometimes pulled at critical junctures in games that led players to question the system. In defence of the judges, it was difficult to monitor multiple sheets at once, which they were required to do, and brooms and legs often blocked the line of sight.

"Bad hogline calls have cost people games. I think I trust the machines a lot more than human judgment," Jones said.

Even Ed Werenich, who has sparred endlessly with the CCA over the years, is supportive of the move because of all the bad experiences with judges.

"We've got to get the officials out of the game," Werenich said. "It can't be any worse than the system they've been using. You've gotta get those freeloading blind mice off the hogline. Everybody knows it’s just a party for them. You can't take them seriously with their track record."

Werenich recalled an incident at the 1974 Brier in London where one of his team's rocks were pulled after a judge sitting in the stands (back then an official in the stands complemented the ones at ice level) pulled a rock after the completion of an end where his team has stolen a point. They lost the game and finished the week at 6-4, one game short of the playoffs.

"He must have radioed down, because it was after the end was complete. I was ready to go up in the stands and take some shots at him with my rink rat," Werenich said with his trademark chuckle.

Not everyone seems to be happy about the new technology, however. Edmonton's Kevin Martin, a former world champion who has had his share of differences with the CCA, said the system needs further testing.

"Let's be realistic. Implementing it four months after first use [in high-calibre competition] ... you could be asking for trouble. All hell could break loose," Martin told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix last week.

Saskatoon's Sutherland Curling Club is the only club using the device right now, but the hope is to expand it to other clubs, Mr. Paulson said.

The cost isn't cheap, however. The devices cost $650 per rock, or about $10,000 for a set of 16 for one sheet. For more information check out www.eyeonthehog.ca.