The 2025 Shade Systems Champion of Champions Mixed Pairs event proved a standout on the calendar, bringing together top male and female club champions from across Auckland to battle it out for mixed pairs honours. Held over 28 & 29 June at Royal Oak Bowls, the event featured 22 teams from across the region, including appearances from Maraetai and Titirangi, two clubs rarely seen on centre stage.
After two days of high-quality competition, it was Adam Blucher and Marion Hakaraia from Te Atatū Peninsula who lifted the trophy. The duo combined superbly throughout the tournament. Blucher’s vocal, attacking style was perfectly balanced by Hakaraia’s calm, consistent draw game. In the final, Blucher even coaxed the occasional bold shot out of Hakaraia, including a spectacular plant to remove the shot bowl and score a decisive six.
While the final featured its fair share of fireworks, it remained tightly contested. All four players displayed impressive touch and tactical awareness, executing aggressive conversions under pressure. After their game-changing six, Blucher and Hakaraia took control, maintaining momentum and dictating the tempo to secure a well-earned win.
For Hakaraia, the victory was particularly sweet—her first centre title after several near misses across her career. For Blucher, it marked title number three, adding to his two previous COC Triples crowns.
Bowl‑a‑500 fun on the sidelines
Running alongside the competition was the popular Shade Systems Bowl-a-500 competition. With no jack to use as a visual aid, landing the bullseye proved no easy feat. Gavin Brown came close, landing the outer target multiple times and earning bonus attempts, but ultimately, no one hit the jackpot.
From more than 100 entries, it was Ryan Bright, a young social bowler from Maraetai, whose name was drawn as the lucky grand prize winner!
Thank you to our hosts & partner
A massive thank you to Royal Oak Bowls for once again providing first-class facilities and hospitality. Des and the kitchen crew were a hit, with the return of Des’s iconic scones proving a crowd favourite. And of course, a special thanks to Shade Systems, our valued series sponsor and commercial partner — not only for supporting our year-round play with covered greens, but for being present at events, engaging with clubs, and even handing out free sausages and choccies to players and spectators!
That’s a wrap on the 2024–2025 Bowls Auckland season. We look forward to celebrating all our winners at the end-of-season awards luncheon—and kicking off the new season soon with Winterclub.
