Howick win top two spots in 1-5 Bowls 3Five Final

Howick's 1-5s are proving to be a force to be reckoned with. Earlier in the season, the club secured the 1-5 Fours title. Now, at last night's 1-5 Bowls 3Five Final, with three strong teams in the mix, Howick won the top two spots!  

What an incredible night at the 2024-2025 1-5 Bowls3Five Finals at Royal Oak Bowls! The Howick Hawks soared to victory, claiming the title over clubmate Howick Hammerheads, 9-1 in the second set after the first set was drawn 3-3. Congratulations Howick Hawks.

Thank you to all teams who participated, the fans who showed up, and Royal Oak Bowls for hosting a memorable finals night. Here’s to the champions, the contenders, and an enjoyable Bowls3Five competition.

👉VIEW FULL RESULTS

Winner (top): HBC Hawks - Chris Hand, Hannah Dawson, Ting Ting Ip 
Runner Up (below): Howick Hammerheads - Dana Taylor, Colin Ayris-Webster, Rod Sadgrove

Countdown to Taylor 8s & 6s Final

As the Taylor Interclub 8s and 6s race toward the finish, anticipation is sky-high. Here’s a quick look at the front-runners and underdogs in each division:

• Women's event: With only one round to go Royal Oak Athena is ahead, but St Heliers Navy hopes for an upset to claim the lead!
• Men's event: In Division One Blockhouse Bay Blue is the team to beat, with East Tāmaki Aces close behind. In Division Three, Pt Chevalier returns with a strong chance at promotion, while Pakuranga aims to shake things up.
• Any Combination: It could be a showdown. The Auckland vs. Henderson rivalry continues with Auckland clinging to a two-point lead. Can Henderson close the gap?
• Half Day 6s: Pringle Park Storm remains unbeaten, but Balmoral and Kohi Korus could still shake up the standings.

As the top clubs battle for the last few points this weekend, anything can happen. Whether nail-biting matchups or unexpected upsets, the Taylor 8s and 6s are set for an unforgettable finale. READ FULL REVIEW

👉TAYLOR 8s STANDINGS
👉TAYLOR HALF DAY 6s STANDINGS
 

New shipment of bowls

--Nilesh Patel

Taylor Bowls NZ is excited to announce the arrival of a new shipment of bowls. We’re currently unpacking, and this shipment includes more SRs, GTRs, SRVs, and Greenmaster Premiers. If you’re in the market for a new set, keep an eye on our website or contact us directly to reserve your set in advance. 

You can reach us at 021 867 113 or by email at info@taylorbowls.co.nz, and we’ll do our best to set aside your preferred model.

Our selection of bags is also going fast, with a variety of styles to suit all bowlers. If you’re searching for the perfect Christmas gift, consider shopping early to avoid the last-minute rush. We also have a wide range of accessories to complement your gift ideas. Let your family know what you’re looking for and send them our way!

Remember to use the Bowls Auckland discount code BAKL10 for great savings!
Happy shopping, and best of luck on the green!

Get ready for the festive Jarden Mixed Pairs

The Jarden Open Mixed Pairs is back and better than ever! Scheduled from 27 to 29 December, this much-loved tournament sits perfectly between Christmas festivities and the New Year Nationals in January. This year, Bowls Auckland is thrilled to go even bigger, with a total prize pool more than doubled to $5,500, making it one of the most enticing events of the season!

The format remains a three-day bowlers’ delight, with two days of qualifying rounds leading into the high-energy post-section finale. The event promises a vibrant atmosphere, perfect for enjoying some competitive play while celebrating the festive season.

If you’re keen to join in, don’t wait too long—entries are capped at 128, and spots will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. This event is open to all World Bowls-affiliated clubs, and welcomes players from across New Zealand.

Kiwis debut at USA Bowls Open

-- Blythe Ball

We’re here in sunny Phoenix, Arizona—the Valley of the Sun—where blue skies and endless sunshine set the perfect stage for the Bowls USA Open. As the only New Zealanders here; Gerard Hulst, David Ball, and I were proud to have the Kiwi flag present at the opening.

The tournament is held across venues in Sun City and Sun City West, drawing players from eight countries. A large contingent from Canada, known as “Snowbirds,” compete in the USA to escape their wintry weather. We’ve met bowlers from the USA and Canada, who head to NZ to compete in the upcoming World Champion of Champions Singles.

Despite the recent US election buzz, the Bowls USA Open remains a sanctuary for focused competition. Gerard and David are adjusting to the slower greens here, running at about 13-14 seconds—a different challenge from home.

The tournament began with an intense three days of Singles matches: two days of qualifiers, with eight matches to narrow down the top 54 for Finals day. With the guys sporting Carlton’s signature black and gold kit during the competition, Gerard and David played incredibly well, and I’m happy to say David won his section final!

Next up, we face the Men’s Pairs—qualifying on Thursday and Finals on Friday. Here’s to another thrilling round of bowls!

Fresh Perspectives in Coaching - November’s TGFU Development Session

-- Les Eagleton

Coaches across Auckland embraced new coaching techniques on 7 November with a special session on Teaching Games for Understanding (TGFU). This innovative approach emphasises learning through real-game experiences, where players can improve their skills and also enhance decision-making and strategy in game-like situations.

Rather than isolated drills, TGFU incorporates modified games replicating actual match dynamics, allowing players to practice skills in context and adjust to varying scenarios. By fostering adaptability and teamwork, TGFU helps coaches shape well-rounded, engaged players equipped for real-game challenges.

This month’s session sparked great discussions and hands-on practice with TGFU techniques. Coaches are left with new ideas to bring into their training sessions, enhancing both skill-building and enjoyment for players.

Interested in joining our next Coach Development session? Visit our website to learn more or contact les@bowlsauckland.co.nz

Covers on at Papatoetoe

-- Murray Cotter

The cover at Papatoetoe Hunters Corner is up, and the contractors are completing the final touches. If all goes to plan, the project will be completed by the end of next week! This will be a real game-changer for the club and the wider bowling community. We look forward to the opening!

-- Kevin Hickland

We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Gary Lawrence last week, a true friend and cherished member of the bowling community. At 80, Gary had just come through a successful hip surgery, and his friends Len Bilich, Tony Garelja, and Wayne Wrack were heartened to see him in high spirits, eager to return to his passions for bowls and golf. Tragically, Gary passed away just a day later.

Gary’s bowling journey began in the mid-1970s at Henderson, where his skill and competitive spirit quickly stood out. By 1975, he earned a place on Auckland’s first 1-5 Junior team, which marked the start of a long and dedicated representative career. At Henderson, he formed lifelong friendships with Dennis Matthews, Tony Garelja, Don Trott, and Len Bilich, who became his enduring teammates on and off the green. In the mid-90s, Gary joined a legendary group of players at Carlton, then known as the “powerhouse” of Auckland Bowls. Alongside greats like Tony Garelja, Ivan Kostanich, and many others, Gary’s talent shone as he claimed Auckland titles and became a fixture in the Auckland team, often leading the Fours.

After a break to focus on family and work, Gary returned to bowls at Pt Chevalier, where he teamed up with his old friends to win a medal in the Fours at the World Masters Games in Auckland in 2017. Recently, he and his wife had moved north to One Tree Point, where he looked forward to reconnecting with the game and spending time fishing.

Gary will be remembered as a jovial, competitive, and fun-loving presence—a "good guy" through and through. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife and family. He now joins his many friends in the "Great Bowling Club" that looks down upon us.

A memorial service will be held for Gary on Tuesday, 12 November at 2:00 pm at Pt Chevalier Bowling Club. We invite all who knew and played with him to join in celebrating his life, sharing memories, and raising a glass to honour "a good guy."

NZBLBA & Para Bowls Nationals

The NZ Blind Lawn Bowls Association (NZBLBA) and Para Bowls NZ held their national competitions in Christchurch this week.

We’re excited to hear that three Aucklanders joined the action: Gerald Brouwers from Rocky Nook and Arun Kasim from Pt Chevalier competed in the NZBLBA Nationals, while Ross Peden (Roscoe) from Bowls Maraetai played in the Para Bowls Nationals.

We hope all bowlers had a fantastic time and enjoyed some great games on the green!

Roll Up success at Mt Wellington 🎉

-- Celia Mackinven

What a fantastic turnout we had for Mt Wellington’s very first Roll Up—Come Try Bowls Day! The green was buzzing as young and mature came together... all eager to give bowls a go. As you can see from the photos, smiles were everywhere!

A big shoutout to our amazing club members who generously shared their knowledge and skills with our visitors. It was heartwarming to see everyone enjoying themselves and our club building connections with our local community.

Special thanks to Bowls Auckland, especially Roz, for all the support. We’re already looking forward to our next Roll Up Day!  🥳

Stakeholders Engagement Survey

At Bowls Auckland, our stakeholders—including clubs, members, players, coaches, umpires, and partners—are the heart of our community and we’re here to support you all.

Over the past 12 to 24 months, we’ve introduced some exciting changes, including a refreshed strategic direction, enhanced communication tools, and a new staffing structure. Now, we’d love to hear from you! We want to understand how we’re doing, recognise what’s working well, and identify improvement areas.

To gather these insights, we’ve created a Stakeholder Engagement Survey. Unlike our Events/Tournament Survey, this survey focuses on our broader activities, such as club support through programmes and funding, marketing efforts to reach new audiences, and our school engagement initiatives.

The survey is open to everyone. We have sections tailored for different club representatives, including members/players, coaches, umpires, and more. We encourage you to take a few moments to share your thoughts—your feedback is invaluable as we continue to serve and grow our community.

👉 TAKE THE SURVEY  This survey will close at midnight on Sunday 17 November.