Campi Trophy: The Ultimate Triple Threat!

Epsom Bowls was buzzing last weekend with the excitement of the annual Campi Trophy, featuring 25 teams of 75 women playing the intense two-bowl Triples. The live draw added a sense of suspense, keeping everyone on their toes about who would face off against whom!

The teams battled it out over seven games—four on Saturday and three on Sunday—each with a tight one-hour, 20-minute time limit. With every round, the leaderboard shifted, determined by games won, ends won, net total of shots, and the least number of shots against. After each round, the ladder was updated and displayed, fueling the competitive spirit.

Day One saw two teams winning all their games, another with three wins and a draw, and four more with three wins each. Despite the fierce competition, Day Two didn’t bring many surprises as the top three teams maintained their positions after the fifth game, securing their places with victories in the final two rounds.

The final results were:

• Winners: Julie Keven, Donna Davison & Jane Seagar
• Runners-Up: Marisa Posa, Katy Merrett & Eva Bell
• Third: Lana Dowell, Hannah Dawson & Dana Taylor

A special moment was having Bev Campi, a passionate supporter of lawn bowls and the original donor of the Campi Trophy alongside her late husband, present the prizes. In her short but heartfelt speech, she thanked the officials, coaches, volunteers, and Epsom Bowls, encouraging all players to continue striving for excellence.

Despite the chilly weather, the sun was shining, and the camaraderie among players was as warm as ever. Congratulations to all the participants, and we can’t wait to see you next year!

Canoe Cup: Campbell’s Crew Cruise to Victory!

The 2024 Canoe Cup was an action-packed weekend at Bridge Park Bowling Club, with sunny skies and a bit of a stiff south-westerly breeze on Saturday, making things interesting on the greens. Sunday was equally bright but calm, making for perfect bowling conditions.

27 teams from five Auckland zones and one Counties zone kicked off the tournament on Saturday morning, all vying for a spot in Sunday’s finals. The competition was fierce, with eight teams securing two wins by the end of Round 2. By the end of Round 4, only a handful of teams had managed to stay unbeaten, setting the stage for an exciting final day.

On Sunday, the top eight teams were drawn for the knockout rounds, each match lasting two intense hours. In the end, it was Steve Campbell’s team that dominated, winning all seven games—a remarkable achievement. As the final end of the Canoe Cup wrapped up, a light drizzle began to fall, a fitting end to a weekend where the weather played as much a role as the players themselves.

Here are the prize winners:

• Canoe: Steve Campbell (s), Simon Gao, Frans Bos, Colin Ayris-Webster (South East)
  Runners-Up: Charles Grey (s), Sam Brack, Simon Pomeroy, Tane Maoara (Eastern)

• Flyte: John Aisher (s), Wez, Jim, Craig (South East)
  Runners-Up: Glenn Taylor (s), Fraemer Akaruru-Teinaki, Oseta, Nga (South West)

• Plate: Freddie TeWhare (s), Neil Prenderville, Wayne Loader, Brad Jones (Central)
  Runners-Up: Hamish Nicholls (s), Dave Guy, Hamish, Steve Waltham (South East)

• Bowl: Jean-Claude Fuller (s), Zac Buckingham, Mike Hawthorne, Mark Walker (West)
  Runners-Up: Dean Keven (s), Craig Moffat, Paul Davison, Colin Dunning (Eastern)

• Consolation Event Winners:
  1st: Clintin Smith’s team (South East)
  2nd: Liam Cleal’s team (South East)
  3rd: David Gordon’s team (Central)
  4th: Shivan Padayachi’s team (South West)

Thanks again to Bridge Park and Epsom and their wonderful volunteers for being such fantastic hosts, and to all the zone coaches who prepared the teams through the seven weeks of Winter Coaching. A big shout-out to the officials who made the weekend run smoothly—we truly appreciate your efforts!