News
Auckland defends Octagonals
20 February 2026

Auckland has successfully defended both Octagonal titles, delivering a resilient performance across a weekend shaped by testing conditions, tight margins and high-quality opposition and just a touch of good fortune. With Howick hosting the Premier competition and the Development event at Browns Bay, the stage was set for a full-scale testing ground ahead of Intercentre...

The promise of an open, unpredictable championship, highlighted in our event preview, became reality at the Auckland 1–5 Year Singles, with fresh contenders stepping forward and established names pushed all the way. Across two days of high-quality singles play, competitors showed impressive tactical awareness, shot execution and composure under pressure. Close heads and confident match...

Rangatahi connections growing strong Our Rangatahi Strategy is coming to life in a big way, with school–club connections stronger than ever. This term has seen a real shift; not only is Bowls Auckland supporting introductions, but schools and clubs are increasingly reaching out to each other to create opportunities for young people to get involved....

Representative bowls take centre stage across Auckland and North Harbour this weekend as the Premier and Development Octagonals bring together some of the best talent from across the upper North Island. Widely regarded as a key stepping stone to the National Intercentre, the Octagonals will see teams from Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau, Far...

Bowls Auckland, in partnership with our clubs, is committed to delivering the best possible playing experience for our bowlers. To keep improving, we need to hear from you. We understand that not all players share the same view, but it’s important we get as much feedback as possible. Our latest Player Engagement Survey is now...

Spending long days out on the bowling greens comes with plenty of rewards, but for many bowlers, it also means years of sun exposure. For Auckland bowler Mike Faircloth, that reality became impossible to ignore. After recently losing a close friend to aggressive skin cancer, and with fair skin that burns easily, Mike knew it...

Searching for the Perfect Match Up! There is something quite poetic about a group of singles coming together on Valentine’s Day, but for Auckland’s future stars, love will possibly take a back burner as they chase a title on this particular Sunday morning. A total of 102 competitors, comprising 69 men and 33 women, will...

Bowls Auckland is delighted to announce its Premier and Development representative squads for the 2026 Octagonal Challenge, to be played on 14–15 February 2026. Auckland will field both men’s and women’s teams across the two competitions, taking on strong opposition from Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau, North Harbour, Thames Valley, Northland and Waikato. The Development...

Finals Day at the 2025 JBWere Auckland Open brought the tournament to a close on 30 December, marking a milestone year as Auckland hosted a World Bowls Series event for the first time. With a strong crowd on hand and live broadcast coverage, players faced quality opposition, changing weather conditions, and the pressure that comes...

Michael Irwin Bradshaw 30 May 1955 – 24 December 2025 Yesterday, we farewelled one of Auckland’s true characters of the bowls community, Michael Irwin Bradshaw. Raised in Ellerslie, Mike grew up surrounded by the stories and experiences that shaped his straight-up, no-nonsense approach to life. His sister Gill shared many fond and humorous memories from...