Clash of the Champion Singles

Auckland’s top club Singles champs head to Remuera this weekend for the Shade Systems Champion of Champions Singles and there are plenty of storylines to watch.

Fresh off her Centre Singles win, Hannah Dawson faces an immediate challenge against former winner Rima Strickland, while defending men’s champion Mike Galloway returns with another title in his sights.

The women’s draw is stacked with rising talent, including Auckland 1–5 reps all eager to make their mark against some of the centre’s most seasoned campaigners.

One of the feel-good stories this year is the growing spread of clubs represented, with Piha and Maraetai both of their female champs in the mix. A great sign for the continued growth of women’s bowls across Auckland.

In the men’s field, every player arrives as a club champion, meaning there will be no easy road to Sunday’s finals. Emerging contenders and seasoned names, including defending champion Mike Galloway – he’s the man everyone will be chasing. 

Play starts Saturday, with finals day on Sunday at Remuera alongside the 1–5 Triples finals.

👉Read our full preview
👉Follow results here

1-5 Triples crowns up for grabs

The final 1-5 title of the season is on the line this weekend as Auckland’s players head to the greens for the 1–5 Year Triples.

While the women’s field is more compact this year, there is still no shortage of quality, with Royal Oak, Howick and Carlton Cornwall all boasting strong combinations capable of going the distance.

The men’s draw is packed with depth across 32 teams, including several standout dual-centre combinations adding even more intrigue to the event.

Maraetai’s in-form trio of Ross Peden, James Drake and Glen Fitzgerald arrive fresh off a club championship win, while Royal Oak, Howick and several experienced 1-5 combinations look primed to challenge deep into Sunday.

With triples demanding communication, momentum control and adaptability, consistency across the weekend will be everything as players chase one final junior title for the season.

👉Read full preview
👉Follow results here

Mercedes Cup returns to Auckland

By John Hukins

Wow, what a fantastic achievement from our junior Rockets team! After winning the Auckland competition, they headed north to compete in the Mercedes Cup last weekend and delivered a very strong performance to take out the title.

A huge congratulations to Lee, Rebecca, Peter, Jason, Steve and Nicole, a brilliant effort and something the whole club can be incredibly proud of.

Go the Rockets!

NZ Sign Language Week 2026

As we celebrate New Zealand Sign Language Week 2026 and 20 years of being recognised as an official language, it’s a great opportunity to learn new ways to communicate within our bowls community.

To help mark the occasion Bowls New Zealand has shared handy videos you can use on the green.

Celebrating the heart of the Club

By Kashmira Umrigar

Howick Bowling Club recently took time to recognise the people who are the backbone of the club and keep it rolling, by hosting its annual Volunteers’ Evening on Friday 1 May.

The evening celebrated the many members who generously give their time across all areas of the club, from bar duties and catering to corporate bowls, greenkeeping, and general support. Their contribution plays a huge part in making club events and tournaments possible throughout the season.

A special thanks also went to Bowls Auckland for its ongoing support, along with Rene from Maarte Catering for keeping everyone well fed with some very popular pizza slabs.

Coaches continue their Development journey

By Les Eagleton

Some 20 qualified Foundation coaches gathered at Bowls Auckland’s office last Sunday to participate in a one-day Development Coaching Course.

The group featured coaches from across the region and beyond, including attendees from Bay of Plenty and North Harbour – creating a valuable opportunity to share ideas, experiences and different coaching perspectives.

While several sessions were classroom-based, plenty of time was spent out on the green exploring new TGFU (Teaching Games for Understanding) activities and practical coaching approaches. The sharing of resources and ideas proved a real highlight, helping coaches expand their toolkit for use back at club level.

Participants will now complete the assessment process as they work towards becoming qualified Development coaches.

Attendee Richard Fuller from Rocky Nook Bowls said the course was “very informative and enjoyable” and highlighted the value of connecting with other coaches while building confidence for future coaching opportunities for his club and beyond.

A big thank you to Mt Eden Bowling Club for hosting the course, along with presenters Fiona Matheson and Brendon Walton for sharing their expertise.

Craigs Mac Elliot Classic delivers memorable weekend

By Gerard Hulst

Carlton Cornwall’s annual “Craigs” Mac Elliot Classic once again delivered a superb weekend of competitive bowls and club camaraderie over ANZAC Weekend, with 22 teams contesting the prestigious event.

Held in honour of former Carlton bowler Mac Elliot, who was killed in the Battle of the River Plate during WWII, the tournament continues to blend tradition, history and high-quality competition.

The two-day classic came down to a winner-takes-all final round between the only unbeaten teams – a composite side skipped by Adam Blucher and a strong Manurewa combination. Blucher’s team including Steve Hoeft, Brendon Kelly and John Petelo proved unstoppable, claiming the title with an emphatic final-round victory. Manurewa secured second, while Carlton Cornwall’s Petar Sain, Ted Walker, Barry Green and Ian Dee finished third.

Adding to the occasion, the second day and prizegiving were live streamed via Carlton Cornwall’s YouTube channel, while sponsor Craigs Investment Partners confirmed their continued support for 2027.