Welcome Leif Selby

We are delighted to announce, Leif Selby will be joining Auckland Bowls as Coaching & Player Development Manager.  Leif’s appointment is an exciting new addition to our team.  This new role will focus on facilitating cohesive coaching and player development through strategic initiatives.

Many of our bowling community will already know of Leif’s impressive bowling talent – a former World Singles Champion, Commonwealth Games medallist and an Australian Bowls representative.  Leif retired from international and representative bowls in 2012 and for the last three years, he and his partner Blackjack squad member Lisa Prideaux have enjoyed life on Waiheke Island.

Returning to competition last season, Leif has added two more titles to his credentials – Carlton Cornwall Club Pairs and the 2021 National Champion of Champions Pairs, with bowls partner James Williams.  Following the National Pairs victory, Leif admits that he found a renewed passion for the game.

Outside of competition, Leif continued a career in the sport, amassing experience and expertise across many aspects of lawn bowls. His expertise in coaching, youth development and events coordination will help us build a positive, supportive and inclusive environment that provides players enjoyment, success and challenge.

Leif is looking forward to supporting players, our clubs and the Auckland Centre when he starts on 1 November.  

About our clubs

Rocky Nook Bowls — 
established 1901

Founded, in 1901, by three members of Mt Albert Bowling Club, its first bowling green opened in 1902 at 362-368 New North Road (now Alsco), the 'rocky nook' giving the club its name.  

A croquet lawn and one bowls rink added in 1910 was "made available" to lady bowlers.  In 1956, the club moved to the Malvern Croquet and Tennis Club in Fowlds Park, part of which had previously been a local rubbish tip!  In 1973, the club was the first New Zealand club to visit the Victoria Bowling Association in Australia, captured in classic Super-8 footage on the club's website. In the heyday of the '70s and '80s, the club had three natural greens and over 100 members.

The amalgamation of Rocky Nook Bowls Club and Women's Bowling Club was completed in 1999 with the hope to "look forward to the future with the same confidence as our predecessors have done."

In 2011, the club buildings were sold to Auckland Irish Society and an operating agreement was established between the two - AIS would manage the bar, it continues today.

After decades of shrinking membership, at one point as low as 20 and declining greens, the club began its resurgence four years ago.  Reaching 90 members at the end of the 2020-2021 season, an 120% increase on the previous season.  Auckland Bowls has been an invaluable resource and supporter through its club development agreement and Rawhiti Trust.

Rocky Nook was busy last year.  They unveiled; a new club mascot, Koti Kōtare (created by celebrated artist Toby Morris), they launched a club beer, Jack Attack pilsner, and they held its first Twilight Bowls3Five series.  This season Rocky Nook will add greens lighting.  

The sterling efforts of their new greenkeeper, Jamie Hill, have restored the club's greens back to centre competition standard.  The long-term plan is to convert A Green to an artificial surface in 2024 for year-round bowling and re-establish the club as an integral part of the Auckland Bowls community.  

Click here to visit Rocky Nook's website...