The TSB Bank Bowls New Zealand Museum is currently looking for a Curator. Hours are flexible and this could be a rewarding position for someone interested in local history or the sport of lawn bowls. Set against the background of Mount Taranaki, it is the only Bowls Museum in the world and contains over 8000 exhibits of the game as played by the men and women in New Zealand. Bowls is the 3rd largest participation sport in New Zealand and is played world wide. Old trophies from historical events, the Library of Jubilee, and other historical bowling information complete the museum. The museum is set in park surroundings near to historic New Plymouth Bowling Club.
For more information contact the Centre Office via email or by phone on 027 757 8800
https://tsbbankbowlsmuseum.omeka.net/
Ian Lewis
Finalists from the World Junior Bowls Championships Mixed Pairs event.
Congratulations to Briar Atkinson and Camron Horo for being selected to represent New Zealand in the 2026 World Junior Bowls Championships to be held in December in Hong Kong. John Gray (Fitzroy) will manage the side.
Full article from Bowls New Zealand:
The World Junior Championships provide a valuable platform for emerging players to test themselves against some of the world’s best young bowlers, gain international experience, and continue their progression towards future elite representative honours.
Blackjacks #61 Atkinson and #120 Horo have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their sport, consistently performing at a high level while embracing opportunities to learn and grow. Their selection reflects not only their ability on the green but also the dedication and work ethic they have shown throughout their bowls journey.
At the 2025 event held in Northern Ireland, Atkinson took home the silver in the Women’s Singles, Horo bronze in the Men’s Singles, and the duo won the Mixed Pairs discipline.
Bowls New Zealand Head Coach and Convenor of Selectors Mike Kernaghan said the pair have earned their back-to-back selection for this event through strong performances and a willingness to continually improve.
“Briar and Camron are exciting young talents who have shown great promise through their performances and commitment to development. Competing at the World Junior Championships after their success in 2025 will again provide them with an excellent opportunity to gain valuable international experience and represent New Zealand with pride.”
Mike Kernaghan – Head Coach
Good luck to Briar and Camron.
Taranaki take on Waikato on the 5th and 6th of September for the Ron Buchan plate. Congratulations to the following players selected.
Taranaki Men at Waikato – Frankton Junction
Seniors:
Cam Horo, Daryl Read, Adam Collins, Jason Peters, Kelly Hill, Nigel Berry, Nathan Goodin, Steve Temperton,
Manager: Kevan Sellers
Selector: John Gray
Junior:
Ross Sinclair, Shae Fleming, Ian Dawson, Jimmy Quay, Chris Ropitini, Cody Hall, Craig Murray, Joel Chard, Trevor Taunt, Paul Spurdle, Steve Fevre, Craig O’Sullivan
Manager: Kevin Gledhill
Unavailable/rested: Bruce Colgan, Darren Goodin, Craig De Faria, Kurt Smith, Blair Clarke, Gavin Benton, Simon Rowe
Taranaki Women versus Waikato – Paritutu
Seniors:
Kristin Stampa, Tina Atkinson-Watt, Monique Bastin, Shona Lawn, Alethea Rowlands, Cindy Gray, Irene Taunt, Rita Davey, Trish Howard, Gale Fache
Manager: Cathy Andrews
Selector: Chris Commane
Junior:
Jill Forbes, Theresa Needham, Ashleigh Megaw, Linda Kape, Mihi Hona, Angela DeBique, Sheryle Taylor, Colleen Hodges, Alesha Quay, Shelley Clark, Lois Debique
Manager: Denise Heaven/Cathy Andrews
Unavailable/rested: Bridget Fletcher, Susan Cottam, Jasmine Merrick, Briar Atkinson
Full results from the Women’s fixture will be available on our website. Results for the Men’s fixture will be available through BowlsHub from Bowls Waikato.
Women’s results (from Taranaki): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xbDdbK9-vU03wycMy5bc3csoX8Lf8xNoXQomDzXfu9A/edit?gid=361516322#gid=361516322
Men’s results (from Waikato): https://results.bowlshub.co.nz/club-group/01df90e7-e383-4351-99c3-734dfaba1d58#events
Taranaki v Waikato 2026-27 Conditions of Play
Good luck to all those involved.
Bowls Taranaki is launching an exciting new youth‑focused tournament — the Vic Blance Challenge — designed to grow the game and inspire the next generation of bowlers.
Bowls Taranaki is proud to announce the inaugural Vic Blance Challenge, a fresh and energetic tournament created to promote lawn bowls to new and emerging players aged 21 years or younger. This event celebrates accessibility, youth development, and the welcoming spirit of our bowls community.
The Vic Blance Challenge invites Men’s, Women’s, or Mixed teams of three, playing 2‑bowl triples, with one requirement:
- At least one player must be 21 years old or younger on the day.
This format encourages clubs, families, and friends to team up and support young bowlers as they develop their skills in a fun, competitive, and inclusive environment. The event is open to all — brand‑new players and existing members alike.
Entries are through the Centre Office or via the website: https://taranakibowls.co.nz/vic-blance-challenge/
📅 Event Details
- Date: Sunday 27th September 2026
- Time: 1.00pm start (expected finish 4.00–4.30pm)
- Venue: Indoor Stadium, Paritutu Bowling Club, 445 St Aubyn Street, New Plymouth
- Entry Fee: $5 per person
- Extras: BBQ food included, cash prizes
- Equipment: Bowls provided
- Footwear: Flat‑soled shoes required
- Contact Person: Kevin Gledhill – 0272620239
All proceeds from the Vic Blance Challenge will directly support youth bowls programmes across Taranaki, helping us grow participation, strengthen pathways, and nurture the next generation of provincial representatives.
The Vic Blance Challenge honours the legacy of Vic Blance by championing the future of our sport: young people discovering bowls, learning the game, and becoming part of our community.
The Coaches Association are putting on some free coaching on the 29th August from 10am-12pm at Paritutu indoor stadium for all 1-5 year bowlers and also new bowlers. They will be covering Laws and Etiquette on the green also skills and the basics of bowling. Will finish off with a game
If interested, please confirm to Janice 0274490734 or Rhonda 0273494448 by 24th August if attending.
New Plymouth bowler Kurt Smith has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Smith teamed with Hasting’s Mark Noble to make the final of the Para men’s pairs.
But the final was one hurdle too far, with the duo going down to Australia’s Damien Delgado and James Reynolds 8-1, 7-2.
Despite the defeat, Smith was thrilled with the silver achievement, a feat that had captured the attention of many in Taranaki. And deservedly so. Smith had an outstanding tournament, with many observers rating him the best of the five New Zealand leads on display throughout the carnival, including able-body players Tony Grantham and Seline Goddard.
Smith debunked the truism that pairs is a leads game in the final. While Delgado played very well, Smith held the shot on eight of the 10 ends. Reynolds, though, consistently converted the head, with some impeccable play.
Luck was on Reynolds’ side on the opening end twice, when attacking play saw the Australians grab a three. It set the tone for set one.
The second set was much tighter, with Australia just one point in front playing the last end.
After losing their opening game to Australia in a tiebreaker, Smith and Noble won their next three. Aan academic fifth-round loss to England was soon forgotten when the result was reversed 6-5, 5-3 in the semifinals.
Smith admitted after the final that he would have “signed the dotted line” had he been offered a silver medal a few months ago. The support he has received had been huge.
“The phone has been blowing up the whole time. I haven’t been able to keep up with it. A big thank you to all my friends and family back home for all those messages and support. It’s been unreal.”
After the medal ceremony, Smith admitted to feeling emotional. “It’s all just surreal. Just a real special moment. I’ve got a couple of family members in the crowd,” he said. “I’m getting ready to go home and see the rest of my family and friends. It will be awesome.”
A refrigeration engineer, educated at Francis Douglas Memorial College, Smith took up bowls with the Oakura club in 2015. The 36-year-old won the Taranaki junior singles in 2020 and has been a regular member of representative sides, initially with the development and latterly the seniors.
Since becoming part of the Bowls NZ high performance system, his growth has been immense. Among his 2025 achievements were a bronze in the World Cup pairs and victories in the NZ para pairs, the NZ interclub with Paritutu, and the Taranaki champion-of-champions pairs.
Smith’s grandfather, Ron, played bowls at the Toko and Stratford clubs and was runner-up in the 2000 champion-of-champions triples. Brother Chad currently plays for Waimea while father Wayne, a vocal member of the crowd greenside in Glasgow, intends to play this coming season.
In attending the Games, Smith became the eighth Taranaki bowler to do so, and the third one to win silver.
After winning gold in 1974, Dave Baldwin took silver in 1978, a feat repeated four years later when women were introduced to the festival, with Pearl Dymond part of the triples team. Aidan Zittersteijn, representing the Cook Islands, won a bronze in the men’s pairs in 2018.
Other past competitors have included Stratford baker Edward Leach (1930), Maurice Symes and John Murtagh (1986) and Brian Baldwin (1998). Symes, who has been involved in the coaching of Smith over recent times, won a bronze in the pairs in 1990. He was then living in Wellington.
Grant Hassall
https://sportsnewstaranaki.co.nz/news-article?id=2129&fbclid=IwY2xjawTc4JxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFwRnVucGdUNGNTV29BbFFFc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHj8pe-efZyz0-WLnOZNjUUHD5wiMCv4rfUauST586wvA1NDU0zn6uZgBm3Lg_aem_O2-Cm9f8yqhkLvoZ3e0C9w
Interested in playing the sport of Bowls? Think you have the skills to win and be the best?
Bowls Taranaki are hosting a free coaching session at the Indoor Stadium at Paritutu, Tuesday 4th August 2026 from 5-7pm. For anyone aged 13-26. Please register through our website: https://taranakibowls.co.nz/youth-bowls-2/
Bowls will be provided, just please wear some flat soled shoes or sneakers. For more information contact the Centre Office.
Follow our Bowls New Zealand Team and Kurt Smith (Paritutu/Oakura) as they chase the medals in Glasgow, Scotland.
Para Men’s Pairs (B6-8) Kurt Smith, Mark Noble
29th July – 6.15am v Australia
29th July – 23.45pm v South Africa
30th July – 19.30pm v Scotland
31st July – 20.55pm v Singapore
1st August – 23.45pm v England
2nd August – Semifinals and Finals: tbc
Coverage is broadcast on Sky Sports with additional free to air coverage on Three.
Schedule correct as of 23rd July: olympic.org.nz
Congratulations to the following players who have been selected to represent Taranaki.
Our Men’s sides start their pre-season programme with a fixture against Whanganui in August, and our Under 26s side have been selected to represent Taranaki in the National Under 26s at Naenae in late August. Our Women’s sides will be selected after pre-season events have been held against Whanganui.
Senior Men:
Camron Horo, Darren Goodin, Craig De Faria, Adam Collins, Kelly Hill, Daryl Read, Kurt Smith, Bruce Colgan, Nigel Berry, Jason Peters, Steve Temperton, Nathan Goodin.
Selector: John Gray
Manager: Kevan Sellers
Development Men:
Ross Sinclair, Shae Fleming, Ian Dawson, Blair Clark, Gavin Benton, Simon Rowe, Steve Fevre, Joel Chard, Jimmy Quay, Craig O’Sullivan, Chris Ropitini, Craig Murray, Paul Spurdle, Trevor Taunt, Cody Hall
Selector: John Gray
Manager: Kevin Gledhill
Under 26s:
Camron Horo, Briar Atkinson, Nathan Goodin, Luca Dobson, Keyarn Katene
Selector/Manager: Kevan Sellers
Following our AGM, there have been small changes to the draft Centre Programme. Please see the updated and approved Centre Programme for 2026-27
Bowls Taranaki Centre Programme 2026-27