The 1-5 Year Fours event showcased some incredible emerging talent, following on from winter coaching and tournaments like the Canoe, Campi, and ABCA Cups. Qualifying rounds took place at Remuera and New Lynn Bowling Clubs, with a strong field of 32 teams. First-time entrants included teams from Mt Eden, Remuera, and Glendowie.
In Section 1, Howick’s David Weir skipped his all-representative team to win all three of their matches. However, newcomers from Glendowie and Remuera made impressive debuts, each securing two wins and qualifying for post-section play.
Section 2 featured Royal Oak’s Steve Fisher, whose all-representative team also won all their matches but competition remained fierce, and by the final round, every team except one was still in contention for a spot in post-section play.
The finals, hosted at Royal Oak, attracted one of the largest crowds seen at a centre final in recent memory, highlighting the support for 1-5 players. Glendowie shone brightly, defeating Remuera in a decisive 19-9 victory. Two matches stood out for their intensity, both going to tiebreakers. David Cowley’s Howick team faced Craig Moffat’s Blockhouse Bay in a tense match where Penny Yam’s bowl secured Blockhouse Bay’s win as the dust settled after an accurate drive from Cowley. Mt Wellington versus Pringle Park also went down to the wire, with Mt Wellington scoring a four on the final end to force the draw but falling short by an inch in the extra end, advancing Pringle Park to the semifinals.
The quarterfinals saw major upsets, as Glendowie narrowly defeated Royal Oak’s Fisher skipped side, 13-12 in a tight back-and-forth battle, and Papatoetoe Hunter’s Four, skipped by Liam Cleal, outclassed David Weir’s Howick side 22-10.
Special thanks go out to the host clubs—Remuera, New Lynn, and Royal Oak—for their outstanding facilities and support, and to the volunteers, officials, and supporters who made the event a resounding success.
The 1-5 Fours continues Sunday, 20 October at Carlton Cornwall Bowling Club, alongside the finals of the 1-5 Pairs. Check out the full results here.
