Grant’s to identify New Zealand’s first-ever Corner to Corner bowls champion

Bowlers from around New Zealand will go head to head this weekend for the chance to be named New Zealand’s first ever Corner to Corner bowls champion in the national final happening in Auckland on Saturday 17 April.

Traditionally a light-hearted bowling game played for laughs at the end of the bowling day, Grant’s Blended Scotch Whisky has formalised the competition for the very first time, joining forces with 100 bowling clubs across the country to find New Zealand’s first Grant’s Corner to Corner champion.

Eight national finalists from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin will face off at Auckland’s Pt Chevalier Bowling Club, where they will compete for the grand prize of $5,000 for their club. The national finalists (detailed below) were selected following three months of club heats and regional finals in each centre.

Lion Nathan Marketing Manager Susan Browne says, “The regional finals have been a huge success with the clubs really getting behind players and supporting them. The players have been preserving the relaxed spirit of Corner to Corner, while also bringing a competitive streak to the game as they battle it out for a place in the national final.

“We’ve uncovered some phenomenal talent through the regional finals and now we’re excited to see the best from around New Zealand compete to take home the title and win $5,000 for their club.”

New Zealand celebrities as well as team members for the NZ bowls team will kick off the event in a star-studded curtain raiser Corner to Corner game.

National Final Event:
SATURDAY 17 APRIL, from 1pm (Rain Date: Sunday 18th April, 1pm)
Pt Chevalier Bowling Club,
Auckland

The National Finalists are:

Wellington

Winner
Kerrie Shearer
Waikanae Club

Runner Up
Bruce Miller
Wilton

Christchurch

Winner
Billl Hodge
Parklands Bowling Club

Runner Up
Phil Melville
Tai Tapu Bolwing Club
Dunedin

Winner
Bruce Suszko
Wakari Bowling Club
Runner Up
Laurence Moore
North East Valley

Auckland

Winner
John James
Balmoral Bowling Club

Runner Up
Russell Hocking
Birkenhead Bowling Club

ENDS

About Grant’s
Founded more than 120 years ago, Grant’s Blended Scotch Whisky remains an independent family distiller with a long-standing passion for whisky making. Based on the original recipe developed by William Grant, the master craftsmen select the fines single malt and grain whiskies to skillfully blend a whisky that is deliciously complex with a lingering, smooth finish.

About Grant’s Corner to Corner
Grant’s Corner to Corner is a new concept in bowls. As opposed to normal bowls games which are played end to end on a bowling green, Corner to Corner is played diagonally across the entire green from one corner to the opposite corner and uses no jack. The objective is to play the bowl as close to the corner of the green as possible. Any bowl that is bowled, or knocked into the ditch is automatically removed from play.

Grant’s Corner to Corner Tournament aims to preserve this relaxed spirit but also provide a standard format to allow competition between players and clubs on a national basis.