Wanaka Bowling Club
Newsletter March 2026
From the Board
The season is racing toward the finish line, and what a cracker it’s been for the Wānaka Bowling Club.
It’s been fantastic to see so many members out on the green putting in the practice, and it’s paying off. The results across Central Otago have been outstanding, with our ladies stepping up onto the national stage. Even better has been the way the whole club has rallied behind the women’s 7s team, from fundraising to sponsorship and good old-fashioned support. That’s club spirit at its finest.
A big thank you to the 72 members who turned up to the Special General Meeting and unanimously backed the motion to fix the green. Work kicks off on 18 May, timed to keep disruption to a minimum. Next season’s surface is going to be something special… and fair warning, once it’s done, the green can no longer be blamed for those “slightly off” deliveries. Time to sharpen the excuses.
With two board meetings left before I wrap up as president, we’ll soon be looking for new faces to step up. For over 100 years, great people have helped guide this club forward. If you’ve ever thought “I could help here,” now’s your moment to jump in and be part of it.
Here’s to finishing the season strong. Good bowling everyone.
Mark
Champ of Champions Central Otago
News Flash: Congratulations women's fours team from left: Raewyn Hall, Rae Hammond, Kim Tilly,Jo Stock, won at Ranfurly this evening (29 March).
Brett Simpson and Mark Daniels
Winners of the Pairs Champions of Champions
Queenstown on 22nd March 2026
Nigel McCallum Winner of the 1-5 Champion of Champions at Roxburgh on 1st March 2026
Dinner Saturday 21 March
Our dinner fundraising for the sevens women's team travelling to Wellington was a great success. Cromwell and Hawea bowling clubs were included. Delicious food included several legs / shoulders of slow cooked lamb. The generous Wanaka community contributed to our auction and our members were very generous. Thankyou everyone and good luck to our travelling team.
Facebook Comments:
Great to see wonderful support for our biwlers and everyone enjoying themselves. We are sorry we couldn't have been there. Big thanks to Rhonda & her team
Congratulations to the girls who organised a dinner and produced a fantastic meal with all the trims. Many people helped a very successful and enjoyable night with excellent outcome of monies raised for our 7's team. Absolutely wonderful.
Great photos of a very successful evening.
A great successful evening enjoyed by all
Rhonda Hurley is a great co-ordinator n chef like qualities. Every detail was perfect. Congrats to you and your team
CLUB CENTENNIAL, LABOUR WEEKEND 2026
As previously advised, our Club will be celebrating its centennial at Labour weekend this year on 23-25 October.
The weekend will commence with a special edition of Friday afternoon Progressive Bowls on 23 October with all members and visitors welcome to enter. Prizes will be awarded. A welcome conversazione will be held late afternoon at the Clubrooms.
A formal dinner will be held at the Clubrooms from 6.00pm on Saturday, 24 October. Seats will be limited and will be sold on a first-come basis at $75 per head, with drinks at your own cost. Excellent guest speakers have been engaged.
Sunday 25 October will be an opportunity for further socialising and informal games of bowls at the Clubrooms.
Further details, including registration and tickets for the Saturday evening dinner, will be provided in future Newsletters.
We plan on a memorable weekend of fun and fellowship as a way of celebrating our Club's continuing success, so please mark your diaries now.
Ken Mitchell
Convenor, Centennial Committee
Pennants / Interclub
These have all finished for the season.
Special congratulations to our Premier men's team who came runner up. We were all checking Bowls Hub continuously to find out what was happening. Thankyou Pip Kiddey who was eyes on the teams on the day and took photographs of our Premier Team and the winning Div 2 team. They tell me Premier and Div 1 are hotly contested however I spotted several of our senior Div 2 men practising seriously everyday leading up to the finals day, so our men certainly took div 2 seriously. We are all very proud of you.
Premier Runners Up photo:
From left : Murray Finn, Simon Nyhof, Tom Malcolm, Dion Kiddey.
Div 2 winning team
From left Ross Niles, Greg Hurt, Robin Griffiths, Fin McRae.
Other Results
Wednesday West Zone pennants: Wanaka 2 Third
Tuesday Womens Interclub: Afternoon Fours Wanaka Third
February:
There was only the one event was held in February. This was the Wanaka Chamber of Commerce. This took a while to get sorted but they had a great turn out and really enjoyed themselves, wanting to come again soon... Thanks to Willow, Gary, Suzanne & Alison Perkins.
March:
2nd - Cardrona night with 60 people spending up large. The profits were donated to the "Ladies 7's Team" to help with their funds required. Thank you to the Hurleys' team of helpers.
6th - Roofing Hub, enjoyed their night so much, they have asked to have a team in a Stadium Trades night. Stu to follow up. Thanks to the Halls and Muzza for staying on after the Progressive to help out with this booking.
17th- Base NZ a group of 24 with Ross H, Marg P and Phil to help with all new players... some keen to join the club (if only there was a day they could play - all working during our Club days.
26th-G J Gardiners v Stonewood 'Golden Bowl Tournament' run annually by Stu, Rhonda & their team... Derek on the BBQ looking after a couple of our major sponsors that give good money to our club... long may it continue!
For members to get some idea of what the past 13 months of Corporate Bookings have involved - here are some of the figures:=
Takings are in the vicinity of $45,000 (gross - including the bar take!)
51 Events using 67 members helping (many have done it multiple times - thank you to all of you. These fund-raising events couldn't be run without your help and it keeps our subs down. Much appreciated.
There isn't much call for Corporate Events during the Winter months with the lack of green space in the Stadium... this gives us all some time to just relax and enjoy our social bowls inside.
Thanks again to all.
Kathryn Mitchell - Booking Liaison Person for WBC
February and March Corporate Bookings Report
Mens Vet Singles
Final played 25 March 2026. Congratulations Tom Malcolm. Runner Up Brett Simpson
Womens 1-5 Pairs
This hasn't been played out fully but here is the lineup of the ladies. I believe there is a final to be played between Rae Hammond and Deb Hurt versus Raewyn Hall and Jill Muirhead.
Mens 1-5 pairs
Congratulations winners of the mens 1- 5 pairs played 13th March. Greg Hurt and Jim Cowie. Runners up were Ross Hammond and Ross Niles.
Mens Champ Pairs
Played 9 March. Brett Simpson & Mark Daniels
Junior 1-5 Womens Champ singles
Congratulations Deb Hurt (right) winner of 1-5 singles. Runner Up Rae Hammond. Our 3rd year Deb went on to play the Champion of Champions at Roxburgh on the same day that Nigel McCallum had his win. Deb nearly made it coming runner up against the experienced Sandra Eastwood (ADC) pipped on the last end by a shot. It was a bitterly cold day. Well done Deb. The other lineup is of the entries in the women's 1-5 singles. Don't they look lovely in their uniforms.
Womens West Coast Trip
Well done: Three teams of our ladies went to the 3 day West Coast 4s. Congratulations team of Rhonda, Pauline, Jan, Nic who won the Constellation plate.
Mens 1-5 Singles
Congratulations Nigel McCallum our mens 1-5 Singles winner played 8 February. Runner up was another very new bowler Murray Ukich (Muza)
Womens Singles played 17 February 2026
Congratulations. Finalists in our club women's singles champs. Winner Barbara L Wilson, Runner Up Deb Hurt. A lovely display of draw bowls played in cool, calm conditions.
Mens Fours played 17 February 2026
Congratulations winners of club Champ mens fours, Fin McRae, Gavin McDonald, Tom Malcolm (s), Don Cameron, Runners Up Simon Nyhof(s), Brett Simpson, Gordon Hall, Ken Allison.
March Men's Old Mug and Women's Ferns 2026
Congratulations:
Keith Hutton, Roger Marshall, Dave Kerr
Debbie Brent, Jenny Sawers, Pip Kiddey
