Skye Has No Limits!

Skye Renes of Pt Chevalier was in outstanding form, powering through the early knockout rounds before coming up against Selina Goddard in a semifinal that had everything. The scores were locked at 10-all, 14-all, 17-all and 20-all before Skye produced the bowl that mattered most, holding her shot to win 21-20.

Waiting in the final was defending champion Lisa White, who had overcome Hannah Dawson 21-17 in the other semifinal.

Skye settled quickly, building an 11-4 lead before Lisa fought back with a couple of three-counts. There was no letting up, though, and Skye found the answers she needed to close out a 21-13 win and claim the 2026 Women’s Open Singles title.

A pretty special way to cap off a weekend that showcased the depth and quality of women’s bowls, and a fantastic moment for Skye. Congratulations, Skye! 

And, ngā mihi to Royal Oak and all our host clubs, umpires, markers, volunteers and supporters who helped make the weekend such a success.

👉Read full preview

BESTIES: A little taste of what’s next

What happens when you bring a small bunch of young women and a few sets of bowls together on a Saturday morning? Our first BESTIES.

Held alongside the Women’s Open Singles at Remuera on 19 September, the pilot gave young women who discovered bowls through our Rangatahi programme a chance to try something different – representing their school, playing with a friend and getting a taste of competitive bowls.

The format was short, relaxed and social, with enough competition to keep things interesting. No big pressure or expectation, just turn up with your bestie, have a go and see what happens.

And there was plenty of competition. Both finals were locked at 3-all heading into the final end, with Zarah and Ruveesha from Glendowie taking the top spot, followed by Penny and Sabrina from St Cuthberts in second.

But the result was only part of it. The girls also got to see another side of bowls, with some of our top women players competing nearby. It was a reminder that there’s more than one way to be part of sport, and bowls can offer a different pathway.

The girls had a great time, and so did their parents. In fact, they enjoyed it enough to set up a group chat so the girls can get together and play more bowls.

For a pilot with a small field, it feels like a pretty good place to start. BESTIES is about giving young women the chance to play, compete, represent their school and spend time with their mates in a sport they might not otherwise have considered.

We’ll see where it goes from here.

Interclub 8s & Half Day 6s: Entries Close Sunday!

So, if your team is still sitting on the sign-up sheet, now’s the time to get organised and enter! 

A couple of important reminders:
✳️Only one player needs to be linked to each team entry in Bowlshub.
✳️Social and associate members are welcome to play in the Half Day 6s.

We’re looking forward to seeing plenty of clubs involved in Interclub this season!

Aotearoa Māori Bowls has named its squads for the Oceania Challenge in November, with a strong Auckland contingent selected across both the Tāne and Wāhine squads.

There’s also plenty of Auckland representation off the green, with Robyn Reihana named Wāhine Coach, Peter Blucher Tāne Coach and Doreen Jensen Wāhine Team Manager.

Congratulations to everyone selected, and all the very best for the Oceania Challenge at Ōrewa in November!

👉Read full squad here

Check Your Bowls | Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

This Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we're encouraging Kiwi men to take a moment to Check Your Bowls.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand men, yet too many conversations about men's health still go untalked about. Taking the time to understand your risk, know the signs, and speak with your doctor could make all the difference.

Just as we keep an eye on our bowls on the green, let's keep an eye on our health too: ✅Know your family history
✅Talk to your GP about prostate checks
✅Encourage your mates to do the same
✅tart the conversation

Because looking after yourself isn't weakness, it's strength.

--Source Bowls New Zealand

Update your Bowlshub details

With the new season upon us, now’s a good time to check that your Bowlshub contact details are up to date.

Keeping your details current helps ensure you don’t miss important event information including; entry confirmations, draws and event updates.