Back-to-Back Brilliance at the Bowls North Harbour 1-5 Year Singles – contributed article

  • May 4, 2026

History repeated itself in spectacular fashion this weekend as Hayden Wilkinson (Milford) and  Deanne Bronlund (Hobsonville) both successfully defended their North Harbour 1-5 Year Singles titles. Securing back-to-back championships is a rare and impressive feat that highlighted a weekend of high-caliber bowls.

Wilkinson weathers the storm
Hayden Wilkinson proved his 2025 victory was no fluke, navigating a grueling path to the men’s title at Manly. Hayden’s resilience was on full display throughout post-section play, featuring several tight finishes:
First Round: A narrow 21-19 win over Simon Battersby (Browns Bay).
Quarter-final: A hard-fought 21-17 victory against Guy Robson (Warkworth).
Semi-final: A clinical 21-12 performance against John Innes (Orewa).
The Final: An absolute thriller against Shane Don (Hobsonville), where Hayden clinched the title with a 21-20 victory.

Shane Don reached the final after a strong 21-11 semi-final win over Chris O’Sullivan (Waimauku). The men’s draw was full of surprises, including the early exit of a formidable Browns Bay contingent and of the previous winner Shaun Goldsbury, proving just how competitive the 1-5 year representative depth is within the center.

Bronlund leads Hobsonville quinella
The women’s championship showcased the incredible strength of the Hobsonville club. In a remarkable coincidence, the final was a carbon copy of last year’s event: Deanne Bronlund faced club-mate Carol Voshaar, winning with the exact same score line of 21-15.

Both finalists were in peak form heading into the showdown:
Carol Voshaar enjoyed a “vintage” singles season, dominating her semi-final 21-5 against the accomplished Jodie Cottier (Mairangi Bay).
Deanne Bronlund arrived match-hardened after a 21-10 win over Anne Yearbury (Orewa) and a tense 18-16 semi-final battle against Wendy Stein (Warkworth).

Wendy Stein was the weekend’s marathon specialist; her semi-final and her earlier 18-17 win over Michelle Harris (Hobsonville) both went to the time limit before a player reached 21.

A bright future for North Harbour
The tournament was defined by its exceptionally high standard and nail-biting finishes. With so many games decided by only one or two shots, the future of North Harbour bowls looks incredibly bright as these talented 1-5 year players continue to make their mark.