The World Bowls Series is coming to Auckland.
The Auckland Open will form part of the international series when leading overseas players take on some of New Zealand’s best homegrown talent on December 28-30.
Howick Bowling Club will be the event host and headquarters but various other greens will be used.
The World Bowls Series was launched earlier this year to create a connected global calendar, and Bowls Auckland chief executive Dean Bartlett said the organisation was thrilled to have Auckland as a stop on the series of events.
"This is a fully-fledged international tour stop, complete with ranking points, broadcast coverage and increased prizemoney, so it’s fantastic to have it in our backyard," Bartlett said.
"We’re really excited to have a fantastic group of athletes coming from New Zealand and around the world. There is going to be some great bowls on display and we’re encouraging all bowls lovers to come along and check out what’s sure to be world-class competition."
A field of 114 teams will compete in the mixed 2+4+2 pairs format in which the lead bowls two, the skip bowls four, and the lead bowls the last two, over 14 ends.
Australian bowls star Barrie Lester has confirmed his entry, as has New Zealand great Peter Belliss, who will join wife Reen.
"I’m looking forward to a great competition," Peter Belliss, a recent inductee to the World Bowls Hall of Fame, said.
"I love bowls and to see Auckland hosting an event of this calibre is just fantastic. I’m in my 70s now, but I still love the sport, and Reen and I will be giving it a good crack."
Surprise national champion Matt Berry partners with Leah Morgan, while boxer Mea Motu’s son, David Motu, will also be in action, partnering with his aunt, Agnes Motu, as the pair look to build on a strong 2025.
Players will compete for ranking points that contribute to their standing on the new World Bowls ladder, an international benchmark designed to create year-round relevance similar to global tours in tennis and golf.
The Auckland Open has been transformed to meet the series criteria, total prizemoney doubling to $10,000, the addition of World Bowls ranking points, and enhanced broadcast coverage. — Allied Media
