Features

KENSINGTON GUARD STRIPES: DR. THORPE’S REVOLUTIONARY NEW CRICKET INNOVATION

Article by David Harris

Dr Derek Thorpe a cricket enthusiast, medical practitioner, and inventor has created a series of pre-painted strips that he believes will prevent batsmen from scuffing the pitch when they are taking guard at the crease.

The first act a batsman takes when they come to the crease in a cricket match is to take guard. The literal meaning of taking guard is a batsman marking the crease with his boots where he is going to stand during his innings.

A middle stump guard is the most common used, but batters also take their guard on the leg and off stumps to counter the line of bowlers.

“All over the world the first thing a new batsman does is ask the umpire for assistance locating his guard position. When the position asked for is confirmed from the umpire 22 yards away, he lifts his bat and proceeds to make inaccurate gouges on the crease with is boots. My system is a series of pre-painted stripes on the popping crease already lined up the stumps at both ends- I am calling it the Kensington Guard Stripes. This innovation is already registered and copyrighted”, Thorpe told Advo Magazine.

Thorpe said he designed the guard stripes because as a cricket enthusiast and a thinker, the distortion of the pitch with gouge marks always bothered him.

“Groundmen will tell you that the gouge marks are frustrating to fix. Plus, if it is accuracy that the batsman is asking for the traditional system is far less accurate than mine. Plus, the batsman can change his guard anytime depending on the change of the bowler”, Thorpe said.

According to Thorpe, the stripes can assist the umpires in making lbw decisions in the absence of a television replay in cases where an umpire has to determine whether the ball has pitched outside the leg or off-stumps.

Thorpe explained that his intention for creating the stripes is to enhance Barbados reputation as a cricketing nation, therefore; the stripes will be the colors of the flag of Barbados.

“The pitch will be painted in the colors of Barbados ’flag yellow, black and blue with little dots in between the blue, I am working on an instrument to make the perpendicularity of the stripes very concise it is all about branding Kensington Oval- and branding Barbados” Thrope explained.

Thorpe said the ideal to create the stripes was formed during one of his early mornings workouts on Miami Beach this past Easter before the Cricket World Cup. His strategy for promoting his novel invention to garner maximum exposure through traditional and non-traditional media platforms.

“I am willing to put myself out there in a posture to defend my innovation while espousing its benefits”, Thorpe said.

Thorpe, a former student of Harrison College represented his school in basketball, rugby, table tennis and judo. He is a graduate in Nuclear Medicine from Cornell School of Medicine in the United States.

Nuclear Medicine is a medical specialty involving the application of radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Thorpe has not restricted his skills to being a medical doctor, he is an inventor, an author, and a multiple award-winning short story writer. He has a designed a patent that changes the way how wrist watches are worn, this invention at the prototype stage of development and he is seeking investors for it.

He has published a novel about a murder mystery based in Barbados, and won multiple awards for his short stories in the Frank Collymore Literary Competition.

Business

Let Your Riddim FLOW

Flow ignites with vibrant brand refresh

The hills of St. John pulsed with the heartbeat of Barbados on Saturday night as Flow unveiled its bold new brand campaign, Let Your Riddim Flow, during a high-energy celebration at We Gatherin’.

Against a backdrop of infectious music, dancing, and vibrant community spirit, the leading telecoms provider in partnership with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) brought together scores of Barbadians in a display of cultural pride and corporate transformation.

Throughout the day, there was a hive of activity in the Flow Riddim Zone. Then the night was marked by a carnival-style parade featuring stilt walkers, moko jumbies, costumed dancers, and Flow’s signature blue characters, who lit up the of Pool Woods venue with flair and fun.

The event served as the public launch of Flow’s brand refresh, tied to the evolution of its parent company from C&W Communications to Liberty Caribbean — a name that signals greater regional pride and investment in technology and customer experience. But as Flow’s Vice President Desron Bynoe made clear, this transformation is about more than a name.

“We’ve turned a bold new page,” Bynoe declared to the lively crowd, “and we’re doing it with a rhythm that’s uniquely Caribbean. This campaign isn’t about products or plans. It’s about people and pride.

“It’s about connecting our culture to our technology in a way that feels real, feels local, and feels “Bajan to de bone”.It’s a cultural connection. Flow Barbados is still the brand you know and trust — but now, with more colour, more energy, and a louder beat. We’re inviting you to Let Your Riddim Flow.”

With a renewed focus on local communities, Flow has already rolled out a suite of initiatives that go beyond connectivity — from its Experience Uplift campaign, which takes customer service into the heart of neighbourhoods, to Technician Pathways, a training and development programme empowering the company’s nearly 100 technicians. Flow has also expanded its support of digital inclusion through JUMP, helping students and families bridge the digital divide.

The festive launch perfectly aligned with We Gatherin’ 2025, the government-led, year-long initiative aimed at reconnecting Barbadians across the island and the diaspora. As a major sponsor of the national celebration, Flow’s $120,000 partnership with the Division of Culture underscores its commitment to not only connecting people digitally, but culturally and emotionally.

“At Flow, we believe in celebrating where we come from while building where we’re going. Whether you’re a DJ in Bridgetown, a fisherman in Skeete’s Bay, or a student dreaming big in Gall Hill — your rhythm matters. Flow is not just your telecom provider; we are your rhythm partner,” said Bynoe.

The main stage came alive when the parade joined Bynoe on stage as new Flow jingle was debuted.

As the campaign rolls out across media, events, and customer touchpoints in the coming weeks, Flow Barbados is moving to a new beat — one that is proudly Caribbean, undeniably Bajan, and ready to connect the future. (PR)

Features

ADVO MAGAZINE BUSINESS EDITION IS HERE

The first edition of ADVO BUSINESS is out.

A page turner, ADVO BUSINESS has articles on businesses, opinions on the impact of tariffs on the region, tips on how top performers are navigate these economic shifts as well as a section on real estate.

Read it, Share it today !!!

Features

HAPPY NATIONAL HEROES DAY

Today April 28th Barbadians will celebrate National Heroes Day. It’s a day to reflect on the contribution made by the 11 national heroes who have contributed to the development of Barbados creating history all of whom have committed to various causes.