Thompson triumphs in thrilling PBA qualifiers

The pinnacle of competitive bowls each winter is the Professional Bowls Association (PBA) events. Week two of the Auckland regional PBA unfolded with World Singles and World Pairs qualifiers, featuring standout performances and intense competition.

Last week, North Harbour’s Paul Daniels and Manly Bowling Club’s Andy Dorrance clinched the ranking Singles and Scottish Singles titles. This week, it was Mt. Albert’s Nick Thompson dominating the greens!

Saturday at New Lynn saw five intense knockout rounds. Thompson began by defeating his (Pairs) partner Ryan Hill in the first round. In the semi-final, Thompson faced his clubmate Zoran Bartulovićh in a nail-biting tiebreaker, emerging victorious with 3-6, 8-3, 0-2. In the grand finale, Thompson faced Manurewa’s David Clark, the hot favourite, and secured his first spot in the national final with a masterful performance.

Sunday at Orewa was the World Pairs qualifier. Thompson and Hill, after a bye round, started in the final eight. They triumphed over Browns Bay’s Kelly and Mulholland in straight sets, followed by a tiebreak win against McPhail and Reesby. In the final, they faced Helensville’s Bart Robertson and Takapuna’s Steve Hoeft, clinching the first set 11-7 and drawing the second 7-7 to claim a spectacular victory, completing a double win for Thompson.

Now, Thompson and Hill are heading to the national finals at Paritutu Bowling Club in Taranaki later this year, aiming for an epic journey to the UK to compete against the world’s finest indoor carpet green bowlers.

The excitement isn’t over yet! Auckland’s PBA schedule wraps up this weekend with the final ranking Singles at New Lynn on Saturday, followed by the UK Singles at Orewa on Sunday. Don’t miss the action as the region’s top bowlers vie for glory!

Good luck Lisa and Mike

This weekend in Dunedin is the National Champ of Champs Singles, where Auckland's own Lisa Prideaux (Auckland BC) and Mike Galloway (Royal Oak) compete for national glory!

Catch Lisa's match against Kaaren Guilford (Johnsonville) being broadcast this morning at 10:20 am. Then at 3 pm, tune in to watch Mike as he takes on Rory Soden (Kaitaia Coach Rd).  Use this link to watch - use this link

Good luck and all the best to Lisa and Mike! Go Auckland! 

1-5s flock to Winter Coaching

It's all go at 1-5 Winter Coaching! Players from all over the city have been flocking to the five coaching zones, eager to sharpen their skills

Whether under the winter sun or through the chill, the enthusiasm and dedication of players and coaches are evident. The 1-5 Winter Coaching sessions are not just about improving skills, they're about building camaraderie and having fun along the way!

East zone - St Heliers

A beautiful sunny but cold day greeted those attending St Heliers. The club is fortunate to have many regular helpers, including Esther Eu and Helen Murray from Blockhouse Bay. With a decade of involvement in the coaching programme, their assistance is invaluable.

South East zone - Howick

Over 50 enthusiastic 1-5s from various parts of the city gathered at Howick in brilliant sunshine, preparing for the Canoe and Campi Cups.

The focus was on head building and shot selection, with laughter and good spirits resonating around the greens.

West zone - Te Atatu

Another lively week of coaching out West saw these eager bowlers put through their paces with skills training, and they are still smiling!

Carlton's new artificial

-- Jess MacKinven

Last Friday, we held an impromptu Roll Up for our members to experience our brand-new artificial green! It was a beautiful day with a great turnout.

We are excited to announce, the formal opening of the green is on Saturday, 7 September. We look forward to providing our members and the community with top-notch facilities all year round!

A huge thank you to the Rawhiti Fund and Blue Waters Community Trust for their generous contributions in helping to make our dreams a reality!

Sparkling gold at Royal Oak

-- Alastair MaKenzie

We had a fantastic 2023-2024 Prizegiving last Saturday afternoon, celebrating and acknowledging the incredible successes of our bowlers – both at the club and centre levels.

Organising an event like Prizegiving takes a lot of hard work, and we want to extend our gratitude to everyone who contributed to making it run smoothly.

Full details of all the winners and runners-up for 2023-24 can be found here.

Enjoy a selection of great memories from the big night below. Photos of all the winners are available on our Facebook page.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS