Lawn Bowls

Finals Day Invite

We would like to warmly invite all of our Volunteers, Supporters and Sponsors to our Finals Day Lunch. Refreshments will be served at 12.30pm at Paritutu Bowling Club. This is an opportunity to thank all of our volunteers who have helped put on a great tournament, and share a bite to eat and a drink, and watch the finals of the Midlands Funds Management Taranaki Men’s Open Fours and The Devon Hotel Open Fours Pairs Tournament. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Important Information – The Devon Hotel Taranaki Women’s Open Fours 2025

Due to a couple of teams withdrawing at late notice, there have been some minor changes to the draw for The Devon Hotel Taranaki Women’s Open Fours 2025

Section 2 – now has 12 teams instead of 14. – Teams are still in order in the draw they came out, however will play different teams on different rinks.

Section 3 – Rhonda Adams (Fitzroy) is now in section 3 instead of section 2
Section 7 – Linda Clarke (Lepperton) is now in section 7 instead of section 2

For the latest draw and results visit: The Devon Hotel Taranaki Women’s Open Fours 2025 Draw

Thanks.
Tournament Committee
Bowls Taranaki



Midlands Funds Management Taranaki Men’s Open Fours Preview

Yes, it is time for the annual Midlands Funds Management Taranaki Men’s Open Fours which begins Monday. And it starts with 180 teams – an increase of 14 sides on last year.

The increase in numbers is a reflection of the growing popularity of the tournament with visiting bowlers who have flocked to Taranaki from all over New Zealand, as well as six quartets from Australia. There is also a partial team from California, which is headed by former leading New Plymouth footballer Peter Ritchie.

In fact 136 teams are from outside the province – the most since 2006.

The Open remains the pinnacle in provincial bowls in New Zealand, with no other event coming close to matching it in terms of popularity and therefore size as well.

There is a combination of reasons for this – starting with the games which consist of 25 ends. All teams will play two games per day for the first four days, with those sides winning six or more games qualifying for Friday’s post section rounds.

The finals are scheduled for Sunday.

The length of those games and the qualifying rounds greatly enhance the camaraderie amongst the players which is supported in no small way by the hospitality from the host clubs.

Those same clubs, and their scores of volunteers, are the key recipe to the success of the tournament, especially those involved in maintaining the greens, which visitors inevitably rate as the best in the country. It’s another reason why so many return year after year.

And then to top it off there is the competition itself, which for the few that have been skilful and fortunate enough to win one of the great prizes in Taranaki sport over the years, there is the thrill of success.

As the 120th tournament rolls underway – with play around New Plymouth and also in Waitara, Lepperton, Inglewood, Stratford and Oakura – there will be many yearning to have their names etched into the history books and there are many prospects.

Leading visitors include Phil Todd (Johnsonville), Neville Hill (Onehunga & Districts), Billy Fulton (Henderson), Dave Walker (Tahunanui), Petar Sain (Carlton Cornwall), Dan Delany (Royal Oak) and Peter Belliss (Aramoho).

Of the 54 Taranaki teams, John Gray (Fitzroy), Scott Roberts and Grant Anderson (both Tower), Darren Goodin (Paritutu) and Craig De Faria (West End), all past winners, are favoured to make the post section rounds.

The second half of the fortnight, The Devon Hotel Women’s Open Fours, commences on January 28.