Two special Have-a-Go Days on 20 and 29 October marked the beginning of a new partnership between Bowls Auckland and Special Olympics New Zealand (SONZ), bringing together more than 200 students across West and Central Auckland.
Hosted at Henderson and Royal Oak bowling clubs, both days were filled with smiles, laughter and plenty of enthusiasm as students got the chance to try bowls, many for the very first time.
While Bowls Auckland’s Rangatahi Roll Up Programme has been extending into the all-abilities space over the past year, its work with specialist schools helped make these days possible, particularly as most of the students attending had never set foot inside a bowls club before!
It didn’t take long for everyone to get involved. What began as an opportunity to pick up a bowl and give something new a go soon turned into friendly competition, with students playing games in teams, cheering each other on and showing plenty of teamwork and sportsmanship.
For many, the highlights went beyond the bowls themselves. Students enjoyed getting out and about, meeting people from other schools, making new friends and sharing the experience of trying a new sport together.
Briar Kerapa, Special Olympics Regional Sports Coordinator for Central and West Auckland, described the events as a highlight of the year, particularly seeing students feel so welcome and capable at both clubs.
Briar also highlighted how quickly the students embraced the game, with many moving from picking up a bowl for the first time to playing team games and cheering each other on.
A big thanks to Henderson and Royal Oak for hosting these inaugural days, along with all the members and helpers who gave their time to make them happen. A special mention also goes to the group of mainstream students from Macleans College who came along to support the Central Auckland students.
These events show what can happen when clubs, members, and community organisations work together. We’re looking forward to continuing the partnership with SONZ and creating more opportunities for rangatahi of all abilities to get involved in our bowling community.
