Auckland National 7s Interclub

5-6 March 2022
Auckland National 7s Interclub is a premier pathway event and a highlight on the bowling calendar.  

This was a well-supported event with 50 teams; 350 bowlers from 16 clubs ready to hit the green at 11 host clubs on Saturday morning.  The weather gods were on our side, bringing warm sunny conditions.  Well done to everyone playing over the weekend.

It's encouraging to see several clubs fostering players for the future by including 1-5s in their sides - some were only second-year players.  One St Heliers Women's player mentioned "how very proud she was of her 1-5 Year teammates for embracing the challenge of the competition.  St Heliers is so supportive of 1-5s entering events, so it's great seeing how they relished the opportunity to play alongside some of the more experienced bowlers."

Open Women's Division 1
Royal Oak Athena was in winning form, making it all the way to face St Heliers in the Finals.  Their consistency of play in all disciplines was too strong for their opponents, to win comfortably 3-0.  Rima Strickland didn't put a foot wrong, winning all of her Singles matches throughout the day.  Congratulations to Royal Oak Athena, a truly wonderful team win.

Open Women's Division 1 Winner
Royal Oak Athena (L-R): Lesley McLinden, Brenda Bradford (Manager), Robyn Fisher, Lee Singer, Janine Young, Nicole Singer, Claire Tawharu & Rima Strickland with Helen Blick, Auckland Bowls

Open Men's Division 1
The two Pt Chevalier finalists certainly had something to play for on their home turf, with supporters present.  Both teams played great consistent bowls, fighting their way through to the Finals.  And what a Final it was. 

Alex Reed showed his class and experience in all of his matches for the Pirates.  The Swashbucklers were not to be outdone winning their Fours Final 11-8, leaving the deciding match with a nailbiter of a finish of 18-17 to Callum Height and Nick Thompson in the Pairs.  Congratulations to Pt Chevalier Pirates for retaining their title.

Pt Chevalier Pirates and Royal Oak Athena will head to the Regional 7s against Far North, Northland, North Harbour and Auckland to be played on 9-10 April.  The winners from the Regional playoff qualify for the National Finals in November.

Men's Division 2
18 teams took part in Men’s Division 2 - three sections of six teams playing five round-robin matches over the two days, to decide the winner.  The results show a close encounter among all of the teams.  The top three teams needed to be separated by the differential of NtoS. 

Congratulations, the overall winner was Glen Eden Flames, Blockhouse Bay Bulldogs was second and in third was Balmoral White.

Open Men's Division 1 Winner
Pt Chevalier Pirates (L-R): Kevin Morris, Alex Reed, Harry Davis, Callum Height, Aiden Takarua, Colin Williams & Nick Thompson with Greame Scott, Auckland Bowls

Upcoming events

13 March – Auckland Rep Day: Women's Open Prem 1, Men's Emerging, 1-5 Year
20 March – Bowls NZ National Regional Intercentre
19-20 March – 1-5 Year Interclub
26-27 March – Interclub 8s & Interclub Half Day 6s 

Auckland reps

13 March 2022
This Sunday, Auckland representative squads will be taking to the greens for a Rep Quadrangular series.  

• Auckland 1-5 Year squad are playing against North Harbour, Northland & Waikato at Blockhouse Bay.  
• Auckland Men's Emerging squad will be competing against North Harbour, Counties and Northland at Browns Bay.
• Auckland Women's Open Prem 1 team is also playing at Browns Bay.

Congratulations to all of the players being selected, best of luck with your matches. 

Auckland interclub events

It's your last chance to enter - entries close at 11:59pm on Sunday, 13 March.

From our clubs

St Andrew's Classic

Glendowie Bowls
2-3 March 2022

Wow, what a great day! Set against the tranquil backdrop of beautiful Churchill Park, GBC’s biggest tournament, the annual two-day St Andrew’s Classic, got underway on Saturday, 2 March.

Strong competition and great company ensured a memorable and enjoyable couple of days on the Glendowie greens, as 18 teams from seven clubs battled it out in glorious weather.

Congrats to this year’s champions from Howick: Bruce Hickman, Eddie Jones, Kevin Beasley and Les Brown.  Second, from Royal Oak: Des Fisher, Robyn Fisher, Keith Chaplin, and Les McFarlane.  Third, from St Heliers: Mark Posa, Nic Krajanic, Grant Keels and Bernie Yeo.  First consolation winner and another Howick podium: Gary Cotton, Neil Fisher, Bryan Chapman and Ian Fisher.

A big thank you as always to our long-standing and hugely valued sponsor St Andrew’s Village for their patronage of this tournament and ongoing support of the club.

And a well-deserved pat on the back to all those who gave time and expertise – notably tournament organisers Mike Hughes and Murray Grigor, catering dynamic duo Diane Ley and Val Brigham, tournament umpire Phil Bowden and greenkeeper John Amodeo.  Let’s do it again next year!

Contributed by John Butterworth

Winners - Howick (L-R): Bruce Hickman, Eddie Jones, Judy Amour (St Andrew's Village), Kevin Beasley, Les Brown

What's cooking Maraetai?

It has been a while since we've heard from our friends at Maraetai Bowling Club. Now we can see why - they have been busy with upgrades, how great is their new kitchen.

'Goldilocks' day

St Heliers Bowling Club
8 March 2022

What another beautiful “Goldilocks” day for bowls at St Heliers Bowling Club.  Our tournament yesterday was sponsored by Sibuns Funeral Directors & Advisors.  We had 22 teams enjoyed the day in the fresh air and sunshine. It was quite appropriate that on International Women’s Day ladies featured in each of the winning teams.

Kaye, from Sibuns, was unable to present the prizes due to the Covid restrictions.  So, Suzanne Curran, our Club President performed the task quite admirably - reminding all members that Sibuns has been a long-time sponsor of St Heliers Bowling Club and indeed the Eastern Bays community. 

Contributed by Roger Seaton

Pictured are the winners: Bruce Fenton, Jo Crooks & Richard Kempthorne

Winning spirit

Kohimarama Bowls
5-6 March 2022

This year's Club Championship tournaments have been such a showcase of talent and club spirit! Thanks and well done to the players and spectators who made the Women's and Men's 1-5 Year Singles, a great occasion. Runner-up Lynley offered "I thoroughly enjoyed my first appearance in a final. It was great to see so many spectators watching both games – we were surprised at the turnout. While Lisa was the eventual winner, I like to think I didn’t make it too easy for her." Lisa agreed with Lynley "Ours was a very close game and the result could have gone either way."

Congratulations to both winners.

Contributed by Cynthia Morris

Club events