A Century on the Green: Henderson Celebrates 100 Years

Past and present bowlers, dignitaries and friends gathered over Labour Weekend to mark a milestone few clubs reach: 1926–2026.

Henderson Bowling Club marked its 100th birthday in fitting style over Labour Weekend, bringing together past and present members, visiting bowlers, dignitaries and friends for two days of bowls, stories and celebration at its Alderman Drive home in West Auckland.

A century in the making
The club’s story began on 13 April 1926, when fifteen prominent Henderson locals, led by the Rev. Francis J Usher – the club’s first president – applied to incorporate a men’s bowling club. With help from the ladies of the newly formed Henderson Croquet Club, members raised funds to buy land beside the Oratia Stream, off Great North Road, where a shared clubhouse, bowling green and croquet lawn were built.

Success came quickly. By 1932, member R S Higginbotham was representing New Zealand in Sydney, and the club has since produced further internationals in Kevin Schischka and Kerry Chapman. A major highlight came in 1988, when Henderson hosted the Men’s World Bowls in February and the Women’s World Championship in November. The men’s and women’s clubs amalgamated in 2003, and today the club offers year-round play on natural and artificial greens.

No figure looms larger in the club’s history than foundation member Steve Ozich, who won an Auckland Centre title as lead in a winning Henderson four in his 91st year and lived to the age of 103. His name lives on in the Ozich Lounge and in the club’s main annual tournament, the Steve Ozich Memorial.

👉Read Bowls NZ full story

Ozich Fours: Great Bowls with a Few Special Touches!

-- Weng Lim

The Ozich Fours brought plenty of friendly competition to Henderson’s centenary celebrations, with 18 teams taking to the green for four games of 10 ends.

There were some familiar faces among the field, including World Bowls President Brett O’Riley, alongside Bowls Auckland Chair Ian Dee and fellow board members, Glen Eden's President Sosiana Simson, and our very own Tony Lumb, to name a few.

A live draw saw teams select their own opponents, adding a little extra intrigue to the day. After lunch, a ‘spider’ competition provided another opportunity for some fun – and a rather special prize!

Three teams finished unbeaten, with Steve, Allan, Chris and Marianne from Balmoral taking top honours. Takapuna’s Robyne, Brett, Dennis and 15-year-old Alex claimed second, while Henderson’s Kerry, Kevin, Ann and Catherine finished third.

Our Patron, Sharon Alexander, was on hand throughout the day, enjoying the action and lending a hand in the kitchen. She also donated a bottle of 1960s port for the spider winner, Brett O’Riley – a prize with a bit of history behind it!

Adding to the centenary celebrations, Tony Greig, grandson of the legendary Steve Ozich, presented the trophy to the winners and generously donated a commemorative bowls cloth for every participant.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers who kept everyone well fed and the green in great shape, as well as Weng and Gwen for officiating the tournament.

The weekend wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of Davis Funeral Home, Team Fiona Li – Harcourts, Home Waitākere Gardens Retirement Living Village and Morrisons Funerals.

A fitting celebration of good bowls, great company and a club with 100 years of stories behind it!

Taylor Bowls Interclub Heads for the Finish!

The pressure is on! After an opening weekend packed with tight contests, big performances and a few surprises, Taylor Bowls Interclub is heading for a thrilling finish this Saturday.

Here’s what to watch:

• Men’s 8s: Royal Oak Atlas lead the Premier Division, but Pringle Park and Howick are hot on their heels. Promotion battles are heating up across the lower divisions, too, with every rink point counting.
• Women’s 8s: Mt Albert has built a two-game lead, with St Heliers leading the chase. Glen Eden are also making their mark in third place.
• Any Combination 8s: It’s incredibly close! Rocky Nook lead Henderson by just one rink point in the Blue Section, while Carlton Cornwall Flamingos and Mt Eden Fire are locked together at the top of the White Section.
• Half Day 6s: Blockhouse Bay and Te Atatū are tied on four match points in the Blue Section, setting up a big showdown. Meanwhile, the White Section heads to Maraetai, with smaller clubs continuing to make their presence felt.

There’s also been a special milestone, with Ponsonby Bowling Club hosting its first centre event since the apartment development more than 12 years ago. Great to see them back in the mix!

With promotion, relegation and section honours on the line, there’s plenty to play for. Who’ll finish on top?

👉Get the full rundown 

Ready to Take Your Bowls to the Next Level? EPAC Is Here!

Keen to sharpen your game, grow your coaching skills or take the next step towards representative bowls? The Emerging Players and Coaches (EPAC) Programme is here for summer 2026-2027!

Led by qualified Performance Coach Shaun Goldsbury, EPAC offers an exciting development pathway for aspiring players and coaches looking to build their skills, gain experience and explore their potential.

Running across four months; November, December, February and March – the programme will provide you with guidance, support and challenges to help you take ownership of your own development and keep moving forward. Sessions are optional, so you can pick and choose the ones that work for you.

Ready to get involved?

• Who can apply? Full playing members of Bowls Auckland-affiliated clubs, including aspiring players and coaches.
• When? November, December, February and March, with dates to be confirmed.
• Cost: $15 per session for players to cover facilities and resources.
• How to apply: Complete the EPAC application form (below) and include a sports CV. Players must also register through Bowlshub.

Whether you're aiming for representative honours, looking to build your confidence on the green or keen to develop as a coach, EPAC is a great opportunity to learn, challenge yourself and take your next step in bowls.

For further information, contact Les at les@bowlsauckland.co.nz

👉 EPAC Application Form

100 Years of Unity through Sport. And bowls is proud to be part of it.

-- Bowls NZ

This October and November, New Zealand and India are celebrating 100 years of connection through sport.

Cricket. Football. Hockey. Beach volleyball. Basketball. Esports. Kabaddi. And BOWLS!

For Bowls New Zealand, the celebration comes to Royal Oak Bowls this November, as the Blackjacks take on India in a three-match international series.

Royal Oak Bowls, Auckland
16–18 November 2026
5.30pm–8.30pm each night

Come on down, get behind the Blackjacks, experience the culture and be part of a celebration 100 years in the making.

Auckland Diwali Festival 2026

The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival returns, lighting up Aotea Square, Queen Street and Rutland Street with vibrant colour and joyful celebration on 31 October and 1 November 2026.

Dive into a lively celebration of culture and creativity at this free family-friendly festival, where traditional and contemporary performances light up stages alongside art installations, markets, and various food vendors serving up the best of India's vegetarian cuisine. Make sure you stay for Sunday's firework show, kicking off at 8:50pm.

The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival is one of the largest Diwali celebrations in the Southern Hemisphere, making this an event you don't want to miss!

👉 Find out what’s on

Here's What's Closing Soon

• 1 November: 1–5 Year Flett Open
• 8 November: Auckland Pairs

Don’t leave it to the last minute! Rally your teammates, get your entries sorted and lock in your spot.

👉Enter now

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