Thunder & Lightning Strike at Rapid Roll

Tuesday night at Mt Eden saw the Rapid Roll Club Pennant Pairs wrap up in style, and what a way to finish.

This second format in the Rapid Roll series delivered exactly what it promised: quickfire round robin bowls, plenty of movement on the green, and a scoreboard that kept everyone on their toes. It was fast, competitive and, above all, a whole lot of fun.

Standing tall at the end of the night were Pringle Park’s dynamic duo of teams. Lightning led the charge to secure the championship, with Thunder right alongside them to complete a memorable one–two finish, for the club.

Pringle Park Club President David Windler summed it up perfectly: “An awesome tournament and a great format! For our new members it’s been a great way to introduce them to representing our club and being part of a centre event.”

Rapid Roll is a fantastic platform for both competition and connection.

Octagonal Weekend: Rep Pride on the Line

It’s one of the biggest representative weekends on our calendar, and it’s happening right here.

The Premier and Development Octagonals take over Howick and Browns Bay this Saturday and Sunday, bringing together eight centres from across the upper North Island for two days of top-tier competition.

For Auckland’s players and indeed all rep players, it’s more than just another event. With National Intercentre selections looming in March, this weekend is a chance to wear centre colours with pride and make a strong statement.

There’s a mix of experience and exciting new talent in the blue and white, including Premier Men’s debutants Stephen Campbell and Steve Fisher, while Crawford Blair, Nicky Third and Henrietta Scott step up in the Development squads.

Nineteen-year-old Hannah Dawson is looking forward to the challenge, describing Premier selection as “taking the next step” in her development.

If you’re free, head along and show your support - it makes a difference.

👉 Read preview and check draws & results here

Chasing titles here and afar!

It’s not just our reps pacing up the greens this weekend!

A massive shout out to the 1–5 Year Singles players, with an incredible 101 future stars chasing two titles. Play is spread across six host clubs on Saturday, before the action ramps up at Carlton Cornwall on Sunday for post section. For many, this is where confidence grows, rivalries spark, and the next wave of talent really starts to shine. We can’t wait to see who steps up!

And further afield, we’ll be proudly keeping an eye out for Auckland's Tony Grantham and Aiden Takarua as they pull on the New Zealand kit at the Nations Cup in Kuala Lumpur (15–18 February). The event brings together top-tier competitors from across the Asia-Pacific region… and yes, we’re just as curious as you are to hear how they find playing on portable rinks!

Wherever you’re competing this weekend, locally or internationally – play well and enjoy!

Player Survey Open – Have Your Say

How are we tracking this season? What’s working well? What could be better?

Bowls Auckland is reviewing key parts of our playing programme, including qualifying formats for centre events and we want to hear directly from you. Player feedback plays an important role in shaping next season’s calendar and Conditions of Play.

Our latest Player Engagement Survey is now live. It’s quick (around five minutes) and gives you the chance to rate your overall experience, communication and event delivery, as well as share your thoughts on future formats.

👉Learn more and complete the survey

Mike Faircloth shares his Molecheck experience

Long days on the bowling greens mean sun exposure is something many bowlers live with and for Mike Faircloth, it was a reality he decided he could no longer ignore.

After losing a close friend to aggressive skin cancer and speaking with a fellow bowler currently undergoing treatment, Mike booked a full body mole check through Bowls Auckland’s partnership with Molecheck.

He describes the experience as professional, respectful and easy to understand, guided by qualified specialists and staff throughout the process. A small biopsy was taken during the appointment and, fortunately, returned a negative result.

While there was a cost involved, Mike says the Bowls Auckland member discount helped, and more importantly, the peace of mind made it worthwhile.

Bowls Auckland members receive 23% off a full mole check. Call 0800 MOLECHECK or visit molecheck.co.nz to book.

Bowling Blind at Coaches Workshop!

-- Les Eagleton

Tuesday night’s Coaches Workshop was anything but ordinary, as Dean Edge led an engaging, hands-on session focused on the often-overlooked art of the post shot routine.

Bringing together coaches from Auckland, Counties and North Harbour, the session had everyone out on the green and doing something a little different, bowling blind. That’s right! With the jack hidden from view using clever training aids Dean had created himself, the focus shifted entirely to what happens after the bowl leaves the hand.

Visualisation. Rhythm. Tempo. Acknowledgement.
Each element plays a key role in building consistency and confidence, and Dean unpacked how a strong post shot routine helps players track the trajectory of their bowl – feeling it, seeing it in their mind, and reinforcing it for repetition.

A newly qualified Development Coach, Dean combines fresh coaching knowledge with years of playing experience, and it showed. The session was interactive, practical and full of lightbulb moments. Judging by the quality of bowls being delivered by the end of the evening, the message certainly landed.

A big thank you to Dean for sharing his time and expertise. Our coaches left with new tools, new ideas and plenty to take back to their clubs.

Kohi’s ‘Give It A Go' Day Hits the Mark

-- Cynthia Morris

What a day at Kohi! Last Sunday, 44 enthusiastic participants rolled up to see what bowls at KBC is all about, and the greens were buzzing. There were plenty of smiles, a few competitive grins, and teamwork in spades. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make it such a success.

The momentum hasn’t slowed since. Our Give It A Go crew have been back on Wednesdays, steadily finding their groove and edging closer to membership. Midweek bowls really is Kohi at its best, coaching on the green, burgers sizzling on the grill, a drink in hand, and games that are as serious (or as social) as you fancy.

We even went international! It was a pleasure to host Herman McMinn from Annan Bowling Club in Scotland. Herman presented KBC with his club crest before heading home with a Kohi jersey in his bag – a great reminder that bowls friendships stretch well beyond our own greens.

On the competitive front, congratulations to our KBC 1–5 Year Singles Champions. Richard Fox claimed the men’s title (for the third time!) with Phil Huse runner-up, while Sheri Currey took out the women’s event ahead of Chris Carroll. Chris didn’t stop there, also finishing runner-up in the Women’s Club Singles. Richard then graduated from the juniors in style, backing it up the following weekend by winning the Men’s Club Singles Championship. Not bad at all,  those Wednesday night roll-ups clearly pay off 😉

And somehow… Wednesdays just keep getting better. If you’ve been thinking about giving bowls a go, consider this your sign. All are welcome!