Some of the country’s brightest young bowls talent was on show over the weekend, as 36 players took part in the St George National Under 26 Pairs at Mt Eden.
Played across two full days of competition, the event brought together a strong field, all looking to test themselves against their peers in a high-quality environment. With championship honours on the line, the weekend delivered a fantastic display of skill, composure, and emerging talent.
With several premier players in the field, the standard was set early, and it didn’t take long for the top combinations to rise in pursuit of a place in the championship top eight. Round one produced a couple of tight contests, with Adam Blucher and Liam Hill edging Anthony Ouellet and Jordan Keene 14–9, while James-Cameron Powell and Taui White overcame Lee Warburton and Adam Baillie 14–8.
With short turnarounds between rounds and the added challenge of swapping greens midway through the day, the format demanded adaptability as much as shot-making, and the field responded well.
Finals day brought another lift in intensity. In a repeat of last year’s final, Hannah Dawson and Henrietta Scott once again ended the hopes of Blucher and Hill, this time in the quarter-final round. Meanwhile, surprise qualifiers Avinesh Padayachi and Edward Tutai Jnr were outclassed by the Blackjacks pairing of Camron Horo and Briar Atkinson.
In the televised semi-final, Dawson and Scott made a strong start while White initially struggled to settle on the TV rink. Powell played a key role in keeping the Wellington pair in contention before momentum shifted when White found his rhythm. The pair went on to overturn the deficit and eliminate the defending champions 16–13.
The second semi-final proved more one-sided, with Horo and Atkinson racing out to an early 8–0 lead. Despite their efforts, Warburton and Baillie were unable to close the gap, eventually going down 18–4.
The final promised a high-quality contest, but it was the Wellington duo of Powell and White who took control. The defending World Under-25 Mixed Pairs champions, Horo and Atkinson, struggled to find their best early, with several missed conversion attempts proving costly. White, growing in confidence, controlled the length and the lead battle, resulting in the points continuing to build, culminating in a commanding 17–4 victory to secure the title.
Over in the consolation event, a fast-paced three-round format saw teams battle it out on wins and shot differential. Mt Eden’s Jackson Haynes, paired with Balmoral’s Daniel Chivers, claimed top honours with three wins and a +21 differential. Finishing second, and the only other unbeaten combination, were Hobsonville’s Liam Staines and Jeremy Smeal.
Beyond the results, the weekend was another encouraging reminder of the depth of emerging talent in the game. Events like the Under 26 Pairs play a vital role in the player development pathway, allowing rangatahi (young people) to compete in meaningful matches, build connections, and grow their confidence in a performance environment.
A big thank you must go to Mt Eden for hosting the event, along with the volunteers, officials, broadcast team, and supporters who ensured the weekend ran smoothly. Their contribution created a positive experience for all involved.
Congratulations to all players who took part, and especially to those who featured in the closing stages. The future of the game is in very good hands.
In case you missed our two broadcast matches:
🎥 Semi Final: https://www.youtube.com/live/xktXUFCBJ_Y
🎥 Final: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I4v7ZwZF1c
For full results: https://tinyurl.com/4uvup9n6