Representative training squads announced

Bowls Auckland is thrilled to announce the wider Auckland representative training squads for the 2024-2025 season!

The squads boast a fantastic blend of youth and experience who bring a rich and diverse range of skills and talent. During the season, these squads will embark on a performance development programme, featuring both on and off-green training.

While the teams for upcoming events will be primarily drawn from these squads, the Selectors remain flexible. Players not currently in the wider squads, but who excel during the season will still have opportunities to be considered and potentially added to the squads or teams.

High tea at Women's Singles Open

In partnership with Molecheck, we’re excited to announce, that we will be hosting a special High Tea event as part of the Women’s Open Singles Finals Day, where New Zealand's finest women bowlers will come together to compete for top honours. This is not just a tournament; it’s a celebration of skill, community, and the spirit of the game!

What's new?
On Finals Day, we’re adding a special twist! Before the thrilling final match kicks off, join us for a delightful High Tea at Royal Oak Bowls. This event is the perfect way to celebrate our players, supporters, and the entire bowls community.

We’re also excited to welcome double gold Olympian canoeist and world champion, Alicia Hoskin, as our guest speaker. Alicia will share her inspiring journey to success!

 Event details:

• Date: Sunday 22 September 2024
• Location: Royal Oak Bowls
• Time: 1:30 pm
• Ticket cost: $35 per person or $60 for two 
  (Includes High Tea, raffles, giveaways, and guest speaker)
• High Tea: Enjoy a delicious selection of sweet and savoury treats
• Finals match: 3:00 pm

Don’t miss out on being part of something special and purchase your tickets today! To purchase tickets, use this link 

Molly Mortimer Trophy

-- Gerard Hulst

Remuera’s covered green was bathed in umpire colours as the annual Molly Mortimer Challenge between the Auckland Umpires and North Harbour Umpires.

The conditions of play were ruthless—no 'wins and ends' stuff here! It was a winner-takes-all format, based on the total shots scored over the eight matches. In the event of a draw, the trophy would remain with the current holder, Auckland.

After the first round, Auckland held a slim lead. However, in the second round, North Harbour mounted a comeback. While the teams gathered in the clubrooms for post-match refreshments, the convenor was in the counting house, hard at work burning through the batteries on his calculator.

The results were Auckland 86 – 80 North Harbour.

The Molly Mortimer Trophy was donated by Fay Chapman and Jean Ashby, in honour of their mother, a prolific bowler and umpire. Jean, a life member of Bowls New Zealand and a stalwart of the North Harbour Umpires Association, still actively officiates at 90 years old. Jean attended the event on Sunday to make the official presentation.

Top:  Jean Ashby presents the Molly Mortimer trophy to Auckland Umpire’s President, Les Smith.
Bottom: Les Smith, holds the trophy surrounded by his fellow Auckland Umpires.

Kohi's opening day

-- Cynthia Morris

Funny we call it Opening Day - when we play year-round at Kohimarama Bowling Club!

It was the club's 66th Opening Day programme. On this fine Saturday club members welcome signs of Spring, longer playing days to come, and special guests Club Patron Julie Kennedy from Barfoot & Thompson St. Heliers/Kohimarama and Bowls Auckland President Helen Blick.

A shared lunch was followed by a traditional programme: flag raising; delivery of golden jack (Rosemary Goldie); special guest or senior member placing the jack (Helen Blick); junior or newest player delivering the first bowl (Murray Davidson) and club roll-up. Which of course, was followed by a few cheeky beverages!

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