Finbar McGuigan was already making a name for himself in the bowls world before this past season. But in 2024/2025, his results not only kept coming, they got even better.
So much so, that Finbar has been crowned Bowls New Zealand’s Male Player of the Year for 2025.
Playing out of the Stokes Valley Bowling Club in the Hutt Valley, Finbar came into the season as Bowls Wellington Cap #348 and Blackjacks Cap #117. His outstanding performances this year only reinforced his reputation as both a Wellington Centre and New Zealand national representative.
This season, Finbar achieved a remarkable feat by winning all four major Open events in the Bowls Wellington calendar:
- Singles
- Pairs (with Mike Carroll)
- Triples (with Blake Signal and John Brien)
- Fours (with Blake Signal, Mike Carroll, and Sonny White)
In doing so, he became the first player in the Centre’s 100-year history to complete a clean sweep of the Opens.
It wasn’t Finbar’s first taste of success at the Open either. He previously won:
- Pairs in 2024 (with Mike Carroll)
- Singles in 2022
- Pairs and Fours in 2021 (with Carroll, Seamus Curtin, Jason Puddick, and Caleb Hope)
- Triples in 2020 (with Carroll and Euan Wong)
On top of that, he was part of the team that won the 2025 National Inter-Centre Championship, which was the Centre’s third consecutive title. He also played in the winning squads in the Lower North Island Octagonal and the Tararua Quadrangular.
At the national level, Finbar’s achievements have been just as impressive. He helped the National Under-26 Fives to victory, represented New Zealand in the Oceania Challenge, where he claimed silver in the Pairs with Seamus Curtin, and competed in both the Triples and Fours in this year’s Trans-Tasman Test Series. He has also been named in the World Cup team set to compete in November.
None of this comes as a surprise to Bowls Wellington General Manager and Stokes Valley clubmate Blake Signal.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play with Finbar a lot,” says Blake. “He’s the sort of guy who gives 110% every time. He’s a brilliant teammate who brings out the best in others. We all want to bowl well not just for ourselves, but for him too.
“This year it seemed everything he touched turned to gold. But honestly, it was the same last year as well. He’s just winning a lot!
“What tops it all off is that he’s a really nice guy. Sure, he can be a bit quiet until you get to know him, but that’s part of his charm. Everyone at the club is proud of him and inspired by what he’s achieved.
“And through it all, he has remained humble, which is exactly how we Kiwis like our sports heroes.
“Even though his busy schedule keeps him travelling around the country, he still makes time for the club. Whether it is helping out at working bees, joining our tradie’s nights, supporting functions and award evenings, or introducing new people to the game, he is always willing to contribute.
“This award could not have gone to a more deserving person.”
Congratulations, Finbar. We look forward to seeing much more of you, both on and off the green.