BNZ CoC Singles 18 – 20 July 2025

There were lean pickings for North Harbour’s two representatives, Millie Nathan and Kevin Rainsford, at the national champion of champions singles which were completed at Auckland’s Royal Oak club at the weekend.  It was an especially disappointing return for Millie, from the Birkenhead club and who otherwise has had a stellar season. She lost any chance of making post-section when she lost all three of her matches on the opening day.

Manly’s Rainsford, after a heavy first round defeat, did recover to win his next three matches and did have the satisfaction of making the knock-out rounds, doing so with a 21-5 win over the eventual winner of the title, Far North’s Rory Soden.  Kevin thus became the only player in the tournament to beat Soden, who had already qualified for the play-offs when the pair met in the final round of qualifying.  However, Kevin was well beaten in the post-section’s opening round, 21-2 to Northland’s Dean McMurchy.
North Harbour’s only claim to glory came indirectly.

The talented Soden, playing now for Kaitaia Church Road Club, was not so long ago a member at the Browns Bay club and was a regular centre representative at Development levels. Among many distinctions he achieved while in the Harbour were two centre titles.  He recovered from his minor setback to Rainsford with some impressive play in post-section, clinching the title with a 21-7 win over Martin Kreft, from Dunedin’s St Clair club.

The women’s final was fought out between two international players, Lisa White, playing for the Kapiti Coast’s Raumati club, and the 2024 national singles champion from Counties-Manukau’s Papakura club, Leanne Poulson.  White, a Black Jack in 2012, won the title, 21-14.

The national champion of champion events will continue next weekend in Dunedin with the men’s fours. North Harbour will be represented by Peter Clark, Tony Clark, Paul Daniels and Mal Wallace, from Bowls Orewa.