The Shade Systems Champ of Champs Fours delivered another strong weekend of club pride and high-pressure bowls, as Auckland’s club champions came together to chase glory. 

Across both the men’s and women’s fields, the fours discipline again showed why it remains one of the great tests in the game. With four players needing to work in sync, momentum can shift end by end, and the weekend produced no shortage of tactical battles, composed recoveries, and standout moments within the team environment. 

In the women’s event, a second-round upset saw the exit of the Howick side skipped by Hannah Dawson. Carlton Cornwall, skipped by Elizabeth Rereiti, had earlier defeated Pringle Park before eliminating Howick, only to fall to the previous year’s champions, Auckland Bowling Club. Blockhouse Bay, skipped by Margaret Aldous, built an impressive campaign, overcoming Maraetai and Ōtāhuhu before defeating ABC in an exceptional semi-final. They would go on to fall just one point short in the final. 

Champions Royal Oak produced a superb run, taking out St Heliers, Glen Eden, and Bridge Park on their way to the final, showing consistency and composure across a demanding weekend of play. 

The men’s event featured plenty of high-quality matchups throughout. Adam Blucher and his Te Atatū side were stunned in the second round by a determined St Heliers four. Also, potentially falling in the second-round upset category, Royal Oak’s Mike Galloway-skipped four went down 15-10 to Tony Balogh’s Mt Albert side. 

Equally impressive was Sam Brack and his Mt Wellington side of 1-5s, who recorded wins over Glen Eden and Pt Chevalier before falling by just one shot to Mt Albert in the quarter final. Carlton Cornwall also enjoyed a strong run, with wins over Epsom and Mt Eden before eventually falling to finalists Balmoral. 

A special thanks must go to the host clubs, umpires, markers, convenors, and volunteers who helped deliver another full weekend of Champ of Champs bowls. Their contribution continues to be a major part of the success of the series. 

Attention turns quickly to the next stage of the Shade Systems Champion of Champion Series, as more club pairs champions prepare to test themselves against the best from across the region.