On Sunday, 23rd March, 24 enthusiastic students gathered at the Milton Bowling Club to compete in the Otago Secondary School Bowls Championship.

With 12 teams playing under the Hong Kong Pairs format, the event saw strong representation from Tokomairiro High School, Logan Park High School, Kings High School, and Columba College. Although students from Bayfield High School, South Otago High School, and St Clair Primary had initially signed up, unforeseen scheduling conflicts unfortunately prevented their participation.

A notable presence came from Logan Park High School, led by Dan Greer, who brought a large contingent of students. Many of these students had previously trained indoors, making this their first experience competing on an outdoor green. Despite morning rain, spirits remained high, and players delivered some spectacular performances, showcasing the promising future of bowls in Otago.

A special congratulations to our overall winning team of: Dylan Carr (Tokomairiro High School/Waihola Bowling Club) and Addison Johnston (Tokomairiro High School/Brighton Bowls Club).

Runners-up were Hunter Dodds (Tokomairiro High School) and Jake Ward (Kings High School/Caversham Bowling Club), who put up a strong performance throughout the competition.

A huge thank you to the Milton Bowling Club for hosting the event and to all the volunteers whose dedication and support ensured the tournament ran smoothly. Your efforts continue to foster the growth and enthusiasm for bowls among our young athletes.

We look forward to seeing even greater participation and competition in future events!

LPHS Bowlers Take on Otago’s Best with Skill, Spirit, and Laughter – Dan Greer

On Sunday, March 23rd, a group of enthusiastic bowlers from Logan Park High School, self-dubbed “The Pinky Toes,” joined competitors from across the region at the Milton Bowling Club for the Otago Secondary School Bowls Championship.

Logan Park has held the championship title for the past 12 years—though the last tournament was also 12 years ago. The event saw a strong turnout from Tokomairiro High School, along with a couple of players from Kings High School and a talented representative from Columba College, who proudly wore the LPHS strip for the day. Logan Park had a solid presence, entering six teams into the competition.

While the overall champions hailed from Tokomairiro High School, Logan Park’s bowlers gained invaluable experience and demonstrated great potential for future events. One standout team, consisting of Emma Baskerville (LPHS) and Isabelle Ebuji (Columba), secured an impressive third place, competing under challenging conditions against experienced club bowlers who play regularly.

Though the final scores didn’t fully reflect the dedication and teamwork displayed during weeks of practice, several LPHS players stood out. Milo Henry Tupuhi and Karla Mahongchai committed to every training session, showing remarkable improvement and strong collaboration. 

Late additions to the team not only brought talent but also a good dose of humor to the green. Slade McKay and Liam Smith became crowd favorites, earning the affectionate nicknames as a couple of “good roosters” from some of the veteran bowlers. Meanwhile, Henry Thompson and Arthur Ransom showed tremendous progress throughout the day—especially Arthur, who picked up a bowl for the first time that morning.

The McCann brothers, Violet Turner, and Chris Stokes exemplified one of LPHS’s core values: inclusivity. Violet’s dedication at practice was evident, and she approached the game with enthusiasm, demonstrating a genuine love for the sport. She embodied the spirit of trying new things, working hard, having fun, and making the school proud.

A heartfelt thank you goes to the Milton Bowling Club and Kylie Johnston from Tokomairiro High School for hosting such a well-organized event and to the volunteers whose efforts made the day possible. Their dedication continues to foster the growth of young bowlers in Otago.

We are incredibly proud of our students and their efforts. We eagerly anticipate Logan Park High School making an even bigger impact in future bowls events. 

Long live The Pinky Toes!

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