Clif Shanks Memorial 2-4-2 Pairs Invitational Tournament

Labour Weekend - Sunday 21, Sunday 22, Monday 23 October 2023

Royal Oak Bowls delivered a successful Clif Shanks Memorial 2-4-2 Pairs Tournament over Labour Weekend. With a 32-team field of some of the best bowlers from across Auckland and surrounding districts playing for a $7,600 prize pool, the tournament was the first to be played across the Club’s new covered A Green and newly renovated, natural B Green. As such, the tournament was a real test of bowls skill. Deserved winners were Nick Thompson and Ryan Hill of Auckland Bowling Club who beat Trish Croot from Manly and her son Mitchell Cameron who had recently joined Royal Oak Bowls. The combined average age of the finalists was somewhere in the 30s. Gulp!

Plate Winners were Royal Oak's John Carruthers and Will Whitburn who won a thrilling Final picking up four on the final end over Steve Arms and Mark Griffiths from East Tamaki.

Shoot Out Winners were Aggie Motu and Taiki Paniani from Bridge Park Bowling Club.

Despite the fact Royal Oak hadn't run the event for three years due to Covid and Greens Reconstruction, everything ran like clockwork - the bowls standard was fantastic, the feedback from the bowlers was generous, the food was tasty, the weather was great, and the volunteer support was awesome. The icing on the cake was having Clif Shanks' daughters visit for the Final and help present the prizes.

2023 Clif Shanks 2-4-2 Winners: Nick Thompson and Ryan Hill from Auckland Bowling Club