A Royal Pink Morning

-- Sharon Collinson 

Which NRL team first introduced a pink jersey in 2009 for Women in League and made it a key part of their branding? How many pink jellybeans are in the jar? What secret ingredient gave those scones their perfect pink hue?

These are just snippets of the fun activities posed to the 30+ guests who joined us yesterday at Royal Oak for our Pink Ribbon Morning Tea.

While dressing in pink was optional, the cause certainly wasn't. The morning was all about raising funds and awareness for a cause that touches so many of us — breast cancer research and support.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, joined in the spirit of the day, and contributed so generously. Special thanks to Villa Maria, Noughts & Crosses, Bowls Auckland, and Bowls NZ for their kind support, and an extra warm thank you to Des and Robyn Fisher for putting on a truly wonderful pink-themed morning tea.

We’ll share the final fundraising total soon, but for now, thank you again to all who helped make it such a memorable event. Here are a few pics from the event! 🩷🩷

Prideaux powers through & Darral goes “dangerous”

It was all fire and finesse at the Shade Systems Champ of Champs Singles as the Auckland Bowling Club continued its hot streak, grabbing two more Centre titles in a weekend of thrilling competition.

In the women’s final, Lisa Prideaux once again proved why she’s one of the top names in Auckland bowls. Cool under pressure and so consistent, she navigated through some challenges to claim yet another Centre title.

It was newcomer Alfreda Williams of New Lynn who stole hearts. In her first-ever COC appearance, Williams had a dream run to the final—highlighted by her performances in the quarters and semis. Though Prideaux took the crown, Williams walked away with admiration and a story for the ages.

On the men’s side, Darral “Dangerous Goods” Gordon lived up to his nickname to clutch a 21-12 win over defending champ Mike Galloway in a game loaded with top-tier skill. Another chapter of epic singles action, written in gold.

👉 Read the full wrap here

Talent & fire power across the board in the Pairs

The teams competing in the Shade Systems Champ of Champs Pairs are primed for this weekend; it will be all about team chemistry and making every bowl count! Following a Singles weekend full of surprises and standout performances, the Pairs promises another dose of top-tier bowls.

Talent in every rink

• Liam Hill & David Motu (Auckland BC) are on a roll, can they extend their hot momentum
• How will Royal Oak’s Danny Delany & Kevin Dixon fare against Oceania champs Peni Panapa & Pale Luka (Papatoetoe) in a mouth-watering first-round clash?
• Keep an eye on defending champion Chris Lowe, now partnered with exciting newcomer Jackson Haynes, who’s already making his mark in Auckland bowls circles.
• Back-to-back Centre Pairs champs Rima Strickland & Nicole Singer open against Claire Orr & Dana Taylor (Howick)—fresh off a strong triples campaign and not to be underestimated.
• A formidable new duo emerges in Agnes Motu & Lisa Prideaux, combining last year’s champion and this year’s Singles queen. Expect experience, accuracy, and no shortage of confidence from this pairing.

All Saturday's action builds to a podium finish on Sunday at Remuera, with semi-finals from 9:00 am and finals expected around midday. Whether you're backing a favourite or on the lookout for the next big upset, this weekend promises compelling matchups and plenty of bowl-for-bowl drama. 

👉Don’t miss it—follow results here

Howick dominates 1–5 Triples with double glory

Howick completed a double at this year’s 1–5 Triples, with both their men's and women's sides taking out the titles in thrilling finals.

The weekend was packed with upsets, standout performances, and emerging stars—including a huge semi-final win for the women’s trio and a nail-biting 14–13 men's final.

The tournament also saw some big names fall early, with St Heliers’ usually dominant women’s side missing out on post-section play, and past champions Colin Ayris-Webster and Hitesh Ranchhod exiting earlier than expected.

Meanwhile, selectors were on hand, scouting talent for the upcoming Winter Rep Quad in Cambridge—so performances this weekend may have lasting implications.

👉 Catch the full recap

New host for inaugural World Cup

Bowls Malaysia is to host the first-ever 12-country competition taking place in November 2025.

The event, a platinum event in the World Bowls Series calendar, will be played at Bukit Kiara National Lawn Bowl Centre – the highly-acclaimed bowls venue which staged the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.

👉 Read more

Week 1 at Epsom's Winter Series

-- Shona Hewitt

The first of our 12 Winter Series events launched under perfect blue dome skies on Thursday. A big thank you to Graeme Clisby for running a smooth day on the green, ably supported by John Boddy and Roger Sutton.

Sustenance came courtesy of Fila, Kerrin, Jessie, and Sheryl—warm soup, fresh rolls, and Fila’s famous banana cake kept everyone fuelled and smiling.

A huge shout-out to our Day Sponsor, Dee Brennan from Barfoot & Thompson Real Estate—a 14-year supporter and now proud club member. Dee’s helped many of us with our property journeys—keep her in mind when it’s your turn to move.

See you next Thursday for Week 2!