For all those interested in playing bowls at the Paritutu Indoor Stadium this winter, please see the following Winter Programme. All events are run by Paritutu Bowling Club, please contact them directly if would like to enter.
Winter Programme 2025-26 – Indoor Stadium
Lawn Bowls
Grant Hassall – Sports News Taranaki
Jackie Moeahu (Paritutu and Oakura) and Bruce Colgan (West End) were the big winners from Bowls Taranaki’s finals weekend with both players achieving milestones after each won three titles.
Moeahu won champion-of-champions titles in triples, fours and singles, all on Sunday, and in doing so, lifted her overall tally to 10 Taranaki titles. Colgan, after winning the champion-of-champions triples and fours (team pictured) on Sunday, added the open triples on Monday to achieve gold star status for five titles.
There was also double title success during the weekend for Dean Elgar – to give him five for the season, a record in the men’s ranks, and equal to that of June Ward and Briar Atkinson – Darren Scott, Grant Hassall and Tina Atkinson-Watt. The latter two also got their gold stars.
All three of Moeahu’s triumphs were close-run affairs.
Leading for Atkinson, with Atkinson-Watt in the middle, Moeahu’s first win came in the triples 19-12 over Tower’s Alethea Rowlands, Hazel Schwartfeger and Irene Taunt, with threes on the last two ends inflating the margin.
Moeahu led in the fours with Alesha Quay, Bridget Fletcher and Atkinson-Watt skipping. They led Okato’s Sandra Boardman, Ellice Hona, Dianne Watts and Linda Kape 11-4. But playing the last end, the difference was just one, Atkinson-Watt’s Paritutu quartet prevailing 13-10.
In the singles, Moeahu, playing for Oakura, came from 19-12 down to pip New Plymouth’s Margy Carey 21-20. Carey had earlier annexed the pairs with skip Elaine Hodge. They beat Stratford-Avon’s Toni Watson and Pauline Davy 13-11, after the scores had been even playing the last end.
Colgan’s champion triples victory came with Hassall and Scott when they beat Waitara’s Bill Rona, Nigel Newton and Cliff Rona 17-8. Then came the fours, with Cody Hall, Scott and skip Paul Howell, beating Tower’s Brendan Anderson, Graham Baxter, Grant Anderson and Mark Anderson 14-9.
And the final win, the open triples, on Monday, was with Hassall and the irrepressible Craig De Faria when they edged West End clubmates Steve Temperton, Bruce Hall and John Garrud 19-17, with Colgan drawing the winning shot on the last end.
Elgar’s brilliant season concluded when he and Kevan Sellers backed up their Christmas pairs victory by beating New Plymouth’s Peter and Bart Robertson 22-12, and then, by grabbing a three on the last end, denied the latter 21-20 in an outstanding singles decider.
The Abraham’s women’s open triples was a closely-fought affair, with a three on the penultimate end proving decisive as Val McEldowney, Val Symes and Anne Brophy (New Plymouth) edged Lorraine Heal, Leanne Halls and Trish Howard (West End) 16-14.
Manaia’s Paul Midgley became the first to do the Crehan first year singles and champion-of-champions junior singles double in the same year. He beat Eldon Peters (New Plymouth) 21-11 in the former event and then came from behind to deny Shae Fleming (Rahotu) 21-19 in the junior competition, illustrating the national indoor gold star holder has a big future in the outdoor game.
Fleming had earlier, with Joel Chard, secured a second-straight victory in the Hugh Moss junior pairs, after they beat Lepperton’s Colleen Hodges and Craig Metcalfe 24-3 in the final.
Soon after, though, Hodges, playing under the Stratford-Avon banner, claimed the women’s junior singles 21-13 from Taunt.
Congratulations to all those involved in the final day of the season. Play will begin at 8.30am on Sunday 26 April. West End will be hosting with all finals being played on West End – Green 2. Some semifinal games will be completed on Green 3. Please see your scheduled start time in the programme below. The Crehan First Year Singles, Hugh Moss, Abraham’s Women’s Open Triples and the Andersons Pies Men’s Open Triples will all see their finals completed as well. Thanks to everyone involved in those events.
Please be aware, that all teams must be dressed according to the Bowls New Zealand Domestic Regulations, that is that members of a team must wear clothing of the same colour and design or white. Any player or team refusing to comply may default their match. A spare rink will be available to any players wishing to practice ahead of their game.
Good luck to all those involved.
Bowls Taranaki Champion of Champions Finals 2025-26
Good news for the champion-of-champions pairs with both Opunake and Rahotu clear of water. The greens are currently being cut and play will commence as scheduled at 8.30am. Trial ends to be completed prior.
As at 6.45am, we’ve had little rain, the greens are clear and so at this stage play will commence as scheduled at West End at 8.30am in the champion-of-champions triples. Any updates will be posted.
Please note, there is expected to be poor weather this weekend for Champion of Champion events. Please check Facebook and the website for updates to play. If play is unable to commence outside, then all play will be indoors at Paritutu. A decision will be made at around 7.00am in the morning. Thanks.
Our Champion of Champion’s events are soon to be played over March and April.
The following venues have been confirmed. Please check your entries are correct and if any substitutes/changes are required please contact the Centre Office before draws are completed on Monday the 13th.
Men’s Triples – West End
Women’s Triples – West End
Men’s Pairs – Rahotu
Women’s Pairs – Opunake
Entry Lists:
Pairs
Triples
Fours
Singles
Junior Singles
Finals will be played at West End, which will see the completion of the First Year Singles, Open Triples Tournaments and Hugh Moss, will be played on Sunday the 26th April, and if required Monday 27th April.
Pairs and Triples entries close Monday 6th of April.
Bowls Taranaki are looking for a new Selector/Manager for our Under 26’s side. We would like to thank Simon Rowe for his efforts over the past 3 years and congratulate him on his success with our side.
This year our Under 26 side will be travelling to Wellington to compete in the National Under 26 Tournament, starting Friday 21st of August and finishing Sunday 23rd of August, 2026.
We are looking for someone who will select and manage the side, with input and feedback from our Men’s and Women’s Selectors. They ideally would relate well to younger players, and be prepared to be involved with any coaching of younger players. If you are interested and think you would make a good candidate, please fill out the following form and return to the Centre Office. Applications close 1st of May.
Under 26’s Selector/Manager Application Form
Te Maunga Taranaki Bowls have announced that the 2027 Aotearoa Māori Bowls National Tournament will be hosted in the South Taranaki Region, with Hāwera Park Bowling Club as Headquarters.
Bowls Taranaki would like to acknowledge the work of the Te Maunga Taranaki Bowls Committee and wish them and our southern clubs the best in hosting such a prestigious tournament.
Aotearoa Maori Bowls National Tournament
Venue: South Taranaki
Headquarters: Hāwera Park Bowling Club
Date: 5th – 8th February 2027
For more information check out the Te Maunga Taranaki Bowls Facebook page or contact the committee.
Nominations for President, Vice President and Board Member for Bowls Taranaki close on the 1st of May.
If you are interested in being a part of common sense governance of the sport in Taranaki and are interested and available to commit to being involved with the board, please consider a nomination. If you have any questions about what being on the board looks like, feel free to give the Centre Office a call on 027 757 8800
Please see the following nomination forms.
President or Vice-President – Nomination Form
Board Member – Nomination Form