The Shade Systems Champ of Champs Pairs came down to the wire, with two high-quality finals bringing the tournament to an exciting conclusion at a packed New Lynn Bowling Club.

Starting on Saturday, 51 teams from 30 clubs took to the greens across three venues; Remuera, New Lynn and Royal Oak. It was pleasing to see both Maraetai and Waiheke continue their resurgence in the Series, alongside 28 other clubs from across the region.

On the women’s side, the event showcased the breadth of our wonderful sport, with youth and experience on full display in club colours. This contrast came to the fore in the semi-finals, as two young gun teams of Dawson and Taylor (Howick) and Scott and Brosnan (Royal Oak) faced the more experienced combinations of Pereeti and Cheng (Auckland BC) and Jensen and Petro (Ōtāhuhu Railway) respectively.

In the end, experience prevailed, with Auckland BC and Ōtāhuhu Railway securing hard-fought victories in their respective semi-finals. The result set up a grandstand final. Auckland BC trailed by two shots heading into the final end after a seesaw battle featuring bowls of the highest quality. However, they could manage only a single shot, leaving Ōtāhuhu Railway as the 2026 champions. During the presentation, skip Jensen suggested it was the club’s first women’s centre title, making it a proud day for everyone involved.

In the men’s competition, Mt Wellington edged past Howick by a single shot in the Round of 16, while New Lynn accounted for the highly fancied Mt Eden pairing. Quarter-final victories for both sides set up blockbuster semi-finals. Brack and Rogers (Mt Wellington) again held their nerve to overcome the strong Blockhouse Bay pairing of Geaney and Al-Darra, while on the other side of the draw, the formidable Royal Oak combination of Galloway and Fisher was defeated by New Lynn’s Wishnoski and Walter on their home green.

That set the stage for a final between Mt Wellington and New Lynn. New Lynn held the advantage for much of the match, although Mt Wellington collected a five-shot haul midway through to stay within touching distance and keep the crowd on the edge of their seats. Despite attempts to extend the contest, New Lynn proved too strong, claiming a 16–11 victory and the 2026 championship title.

As champions, Ōtāhuhu Railway and New Lynn now earn the right to represent Auckland at the National Champ of Champs Pairs in Hastings in mid-June.

Congratulations to all participants, and thank you to the officials, umpires, staff, volunteers and host clubs whose efforts made the event possible.

A special mention must also go to our event partners, Shade Systems NZ, who were on site to present the trophies and provide gift packs for the runners-up and champions.

The next event in the Series is the Champ of Champs Triples, to be played on 6–7 June.