Brothers Greg (17), James (15), Thomas (20) and Lawrence (24) played in the fours at the championships in Dunedin this month.
They found the competition harder than they had been used to in interclub bowls for the Forbury Park club.
"It is more difficult in open-class competition," Greg said. "They play more consistent bowls."
Thomas, a biochemistry student at the University of Otago, agreed.
"It is sudden-death bowls. You have to make every bowl count," he said. "But we were on a high, playing in such a strong competition."
Greg and James won a bronze medal in the boys' pairs at the New Zealand secondary schools championships in Auckland in 2009 and are in the top echelon of teenage bowlers.
"The nationals was harder than the secondary schools championships," James said. "Some of the bowlers I played against gave me a few tips."
Lawrence, who has just been appointed a mathematics teacher at Kavanagh College, was the latest recruit to the family four. Patrick (22), a fifth brother, also plays social bowls.
The Kavanagh College sports co-ordinator persuaded Greg, James and Thomas to enter the schools fours competition at the end of 2008. They won the title and became hooked on bowls.
The brothers were in the school badminton team and added bowls to their repertoire.
"We enjoy the sport. It is fun," Greg said. "We especially like winning."
Greg won the Zone 6 Kitty Hawk singles last year to qualify for the national finals in Auckland.
"I enjoy trying to master the tricky shots," he said. "There are a lot of technical skills needed in bowls and I enjoy the challenge."
The brothers' mother, Maryanne Bishop (nee O'Connell), was a keen Otago distance runner 25 years ago and once ran five marathons in six weeks. Her best time was 3hr 13min.
