“Men and women have strengths that complement each other.” – Edwin Louis Cole

While Cole may not have had bowls in mind, his words perfectly capture the spirit of the 2025 Shade Systems Champion of Champions Mixed Pairs event.

Among the 22 club pairings entered, five standout combinations are poised to make waves. Some of these players have already made their mark in other Champion of Champions disciplines and bring with them the kind of composure and experience that could prove decisive on Royal Oak’s greens.

Chalk and cheese:
That’s one way to describe Adam Blucher & Marion Hakaraia (Te Atatū Peninsula). Loud and aggressive meets calm and composed – and if their contrasting styles can click, this combination could be a nightmare for their opponents.

Blackjack experience meets future star:
Onehunga & Districts’ Danny Delany & Hemoata Brown form a compelling blend. Danny, a seasoned campaigner and former Blackjack, teams up with Hemoata, a promising fifth-year junior making strides toward Auckland Development Squad selection. A strong showing this weekend could turn heads.

Queen of the green:
Bevan Beckham & Lisa Prideaux (Auckland BC) are a formidable team. Prideaux is in red-hot form, and we all know practice makes perfect. Lisa pairs up with training partner Beckham in what is expected to deliver a deliberate, well-rehearsed performance.

Precision and firepower:
Papatoetoe’s Liam Cleal & Andrea Wilson, current 1–5 and Development reps, bring a well-rounded arsenal. Their game plan will hinge on front-end accuracy and the occasional thunderbolt from Cleal to undo the opposition’s hard work.

Singles rising stars rising:
Blockhouse Bay’s Craig Moffat & Penny Yam are two singles champions ready to make their mark. Moffat is fresh off winning the CoC Junior Singles event hosted by Auckland BC, while Yam is the reigning Auckland 1–5 Singles champion. Together, they’re a dangerous combo.

Of course, mixed pairs is often joked about as a “recipe for divorce” – or at least a test of patience! Two married couples will put that theory to the test:

• Sacha & David Collins (Titirangi), newer to the sport but progressing fast
• John & Marika James (Balmoral), seasoned campaigners who relish the chance to compete side-by-side

Catch the action at Royal Oak
All matches take place at Royal Oak Bowls this weekend. Head down from midday Saturday for free sausages courtesy of Shade Systems, and don’t miss the crowd-favourite Bowl-a-500 competition – the jackpot remains unclaimed and must go!

Plus: Des’s famous scones, toasties, and hot chips are on the menu all weekend.

🌟Check out results here