NZOC Media Release
14 April 2026
First athletes named for Glasgow 2026 as NZ Team marks 100 days to go
The New Zealand Olympic Committee and Bowls New Zealand are proud to announce the first athletes selected to the New Zealand Team for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Today also doubles as an important milestone in the lead up to Glasgow 2026 with 100 days to go until the Games.
The six women and six men selected to compete in their respective events:
Women's Singles: Tayla Bruce
Women's Pair: Katelyn Inch, Selina Goddard
(Reserve: Women’s Singles, Selina Goddard)
Men's Singles: Shannon Mcilroy
Men's Pair: Ali Forsyth, Tony Grantham
(Reserves: Men’s Singles: Ali Forsyth, Men's Pair, Shannon McIlroy for Tony Grantham only)
Women's Para Pair (B6-B8): Teri Blackbourn, Julie O’Connell
Men's Para Pair (B6-B8): Mark Noble, Kurt Smith
Mixed Para Pair (B2-B3) *: Kerrin Wheeler, Sonya Woodrow and their Directors, Colin Wheeler and Kimberly Carraher.
*Conditional on confirmation of international classification for both athletes by the IBD with a confirmed sport class status or review with a fixed review date of 2027 or later.
The women’s team is headlined by 2023 Women’s World Singles Champion, Tayla Bruce, who will contest the Women’s Singles in Glasgow.
“It’s such an honour to be selected for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,” said Bruce.
“It’s a true pinnacle event for our sport, particularly because it allows us to have the special opportunity to be part of the wider New Zealand Team. I’m really looking forward to competing, making the most of the experience, and representing my country with pride,” she said.
Also selected are the 2023 Women’s World Para Pairs Champions, Teri Blackbourn and Julie O’Connell, who will contest the Women’s B6-B8 Pair.
“It’s still sinking in that we get to wear the fern at the Commonwealth Games,” said Blackbourn.
“To be playing with Julie at the highest level is a dream come true, and sharing the experience alongside our Blackjacks teammates and the wider New Zealand Team makes it even more special. We’re going to enjoy every step of the journey, starting now, as we build towards this incredible event. What an absolute honour,” she said.
Experienced head, Shannon Mcilroy is selected for his fifth Commonwealth Games, having previously represented New Zealand at Delhi 2010, Glasgow 2014, Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022.
“I’m incredibly honoured to get another opportunity to compete at my fifth Commonwealth Games,” said Mcilroy.
“Every Games has given me a new experience, and this one will be no different. The shortened format has made me excited about the opportunity to represent the New Zealand Team again. This is our Olympics, so I look forward to the challenge ahead and hopefully, with strong performances, we can bring home some medals,” he said.
New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Nicki Nicol extended her congratulations to the selected athletes.
“Officially welcoming athletes to the New Zealand Team is always a special moment in any Games cycle. Congratulations to these Bowls athletes on earning selection for Glasgow 2026. They have worked incredibly hard for this opportunity, and we know they will wear the fern with pride as part of the wider NZ Team at the Commonwealth Games.”
Bowls New Zealand CEO, Mark Cameron, said he was proud of the athletes heading to Glasgow.
“Congratulations to the athletes selected to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games. Being named in a Commonwealth Games team is a significant honour and reflects years of dedication, resilience and commitment to excellence. We are immensely proud of this group and know they will wear the silver fern with pride as they compete on the world stage.”
Official Apparel Partner to the New Zealand Team, Kathmandu, will be kitting out all athletes selected for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Athletes announced today are wearing the NZZN mark t-shirt, a tribute to the iconic 1974 Commonwealth Games logo that has transcended generations.
Closer to the Games, the NZZN t‑shirt will also be available from Kathmandu, giving New Zealanders the opportunity to wear this iconic symbol and Go All Out in support of the New Zealand Team.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Bowls and Para Bowls competition will take place from 24 July to 2 August 2026.
Glasgow 2026 Lawn Bowls Bios
Shannon Mcilroy – Men’s Singles
Shannon Mcilroy will compete at his fifth Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2026 in the men’s singles.
A World Singles Champion, Mcilroy’s standout achievement came in 2016 when he won gold at the World Bowls Championships. He has been a long-standing member of the New Zealand Blackjacks, representing New Zealand across multiple World Bowls Championships and major international events over the past 15+ years.
Mcilroy remains one of New Zealand’s most experienced international bowlers and continues to compete at the top of the world game.
Off the green, family is his top priority. He is married to fellow international bowler Amy Mcilroy, and together they are raising their two sons, Izzy and Luka, in Nelson.
Tony Grantham – Men’s Pairs
Glasgow 2026 will be Tony’s third Commonwealth Games (2014, 2022, 2026), where he will compete in the men’s pairs and fours.
Originally from Whanganui, Grantham developed his passion for bowls through his family and has been involved in the sport for more than 30 years. After time away, he has worked hard to return to the international stage, highlighted by winning the National Champion of Champions Singles title in 2021 and runner-up finishes in the national singles and fours in 2022.
His career highlights include winning the World Champion of Champions Singles and earning his national gold star. Proud to wear the silver fern, he is honoured to represent New Zealand again.
Outside of bowls, Tony enjoys spending time with family and friends and values the flexibility of his work, which supports his training and competition.
Ali Forsyth – Men’s Pairs
Glasgow 2026 will be Ali’s fifth Commonwealth Games (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026), where he will compete in the men’s pairs and fours.
Originally from Nelson, Forsyth developed his passion for bowls through his father, starting with indoor bowls at a young age before transitioning to the outdoor game in the mid-1990s. He claimed his first New Zealand title in 2001/02 and has since built an extensive international career, including becoming the current World Fours Champion.
In 2007, Forsyth moved to Australia to further develop his game, later settling in Melbourne where he continues to compete. He is proud to represent New Zealand again and is excited for the opportunity in Glasgow, particularly teaming up in the pairs.
Outside of bowls, Ali enjoys life in Melbourne with his fiancé Kelly, an international bowler for Canada.
Tayla Bruce – Women’s Singles
Glasgow 2026 will be Tayla’s third Commonwealth Games (2018, 2022, 2026), where she will compete in the women’s singles.
Bruce previously competed at Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022, where she won two bronze medals in the women’s triples and fours. Inspired to take up bowls after watching the World Championships in Christchurch in 2008, she has since built an impressive career, including three national titles—most recently the women’s singles in 2022—and winning the World Bowls Championship Women’s Singles title in 2023.
Off the green, Tayla values time with family and friends and enjoys art, music, travel and food. She also works as a relief primary teacher and as an Athlete Lead for the Tātai Whetū Waitaha Athlete Support Programme.
Selina Goddard – Women’s Pairs
Selina Goddard will compete at her third Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2026, having previously represented New Zealand at Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022.
A three-time Commonwealth Games medalist, Goddard won bronze in 2014 and added two more bronze medals at Birmingham 2022 in the women’s pairs and fours. She has competed across the pairs, triples and fours at Commonwealth Games level.
Goddard began bowls in Auckland, inspired by her parents, and has since claimed four national titles and bronze at the World Champion of Champions singles in 2017. She was also part of the team that won the Taylor Trophy at the World Championships and reached World Bowls Series world No.1 in 2025.
Off the green, she runs her own marketing and graphic design business and enjoys a coastal lifestyle.
Katelyn Inch – Women’s Pairs
Katelyn Inch will compete at her third Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2026, having previously represented New Zealand at Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022.
Inch won bronze in the women’s pairs at Birmingham 2022 alongside teammate Selina Goddard. She has also competed at international level across multiple disciplines, including pairs and fours.
Raised in Oxford, she discovered bowls through school and local clubs, playing at both Canterbury and Oxford Bowling Clubs.
Her career highlights include winning gold at the 2020 New Zealand National Singles and Pairs, and gold in the 2019 Asia Pacific Women’s Fours. She was also part of the New Zealand team that won the World Championships in 2023.
Outside of bowls, Inch works as a paramedic on the Sunshine Coast, balancing her sporting commitments with a fast-paced healthcare career. She enjoys time at the beach, bush walks, reading medical journals, and relaxing with family and friends on the farm in Oxford.
Julie O’Connell – Para Women’s Pairs
Julie O’Connell will make her Commonwealth Games debut at Glasgow 2026 in the Para women’s pairs alongside Teri Blackbourn.
O’Connell became a World Champion in 2023, winning gold in the inaugural Women’s Para Pairs at the 2023 World Bowls Championships with Blackbourn. She has also represented New Zealand successfully at national and international level across para events.
Originally from Invercargill, she has recently relocated to Christchurch with her husband Terry and continues to balance bowls with work as a medical transcriptionist.
Off the green, she enjoys time with her grandchildren, she is motivated by her late coach Brownie, who continues to inspire her journey in the sport.
Teri Blackbourn – Para Women’s Pairs
Teri Blackbourn will make her Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow 2026, competing in the Para women’s pairs alongside Julie O’Connell.
Blackbourn became a World Champion in 2023, winning gold in the inaugural Women’s Para Pairs at the 2023 World Bowls Championships with O’Connell. She has also added multiple international para medals, including silver in the World Cup Para Women’s Singles and bronze in the Para Mixed Pairs in 2025.
Away from bowls, she is a proud mum to her two sons, Lachie and Tyler, and enjoys a busy family life balancing bowls with working in administration.
Kurt Smith – Para Men’s Pairs
Kurt Smith will make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow 2026 in the Para mixed pairs.
Smith is a leading figure in New Zealand para bowls, highlighted by winning gold in the 2025 New Zealand Open Disability Pairs and the 2025 Trans-Tasman Para Trophy. He also claimed bronze in the Para mixed pairs at the 2025 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur alongside Teri Blackbourn, continuing his rise on the international stage.
He was named Bowls New Zealand’s 2025 Disabilities Player of the Year in recognition of his consistent performances across both national and international competition.
Based in Taranaki, Smith balances sport with work as a refrigeration and air conditioning engineer and co-owns a family business. Off the green, he is a passionate sports fan and enjoys time with his young son, Zander.
Mark Noble – Para Men’s Pairs
Playing his 4th Commonwealth Games (2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Mark Noble will compete at his fourth Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2026 in the Para men’s B6–B8 pairs alongside Graham Skellern.
A two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist (2014 and 2018), Noble brings extensive experience to the international stage, having also competed at Birmingham 2022. He remains one of New Zealand’s most experienced para bowlers, with a career spanning more than four decades at elite level.
In recent years, Noble has continued to represent New Zealand in para international competition, including World Cup and Trans-Tasman campaigns, while remaining a consistent performer on the national disability bowls circuit.
Now into his 45th season of bowls, he began playing in 1977 at Petone after being introduced to the sport through his parents and is now based in Hastings.
Off the green, Noble is New Zealand’s only correspondence chess grandmaster. He is married to Janeen and enjoys family life with their son Walden and their dogs Apollo and Amore.
Kerrin Wheeler (and Director – Colin Wheeler) – Vision Impaired Mixed Pairs
Kerrin Wheeler will make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow 2026 in the Vision Impaired mixed pairs, competing alongside his father and director, Colin Wheeler.
Wheeler is a New Zealand vision impaired bowler who has represented the country at international level across vision impaired disciplines, including World-level competition.
Born and raised in Dunedin, he continues to compete while balancing work at a local auction house. Away from bowls, he enjoys spending time with his wife Kim, their three children, and family dog Skye.
A standout feature of his journey is the opportunity to represent New Zealand with his father as his director, a partnership that has been central to his bowls career.
Colin Wheeler | Director – Vision Impaired Mixed Pairs
Colin Wheeler will serve as director for the Vision Impaired mixed pairs at Glasgow 2026, supporting his son Kerrin Wheeler on his Commonwealth Games debut.
Wheeler is a life member of the North East Valley Bowling Club, where he has also contributed significantly through greenskeeping and long-standing club service.
He has been married to his wife Rose for 47 years and is a proud father to Kerrin, with the opportunity to support him on the international stage a major highlight of his bowls journey.
Sonya Woodrow (and Director – Kimberly Carraher) – Vision Impaired Mixed Pairs
Sonya Woodrow will make her Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow 2026 in the Vision Impaired mixed pairs alongside director Kimberly Carraher.
Woodrow is a vision impaired bowler who competes at national level in New Zealand bowls, with her guide dog Vesna a constant part of her sporting and daily life.
Away from bowls, she is a proud mother of three and grandmother of two. Sport is part of her family legacy, with her uncle Barry Magee an Olympic bronze medalist and Commonwealth Games representative.
In 1990, Woodrow was part of the Commonwealth Games Baton Relay in New Zealand, where she carried the Queen’s Baton and met members of the Royal Family—an experience she treasures to this day.
Kimberly Carraher | Director - Vision Impaired Mixed Pairs
Kimberly Carraher will serve as director for the Vision Impaired mixed pairs at Glasgow 2026, guiding Sonya Woodrow in her Commonwealth Games debut.
Carraher is a respected member of the New Zealand bowls community and represents Forbury Park Bowling Club. She was named Bowls New Zealand Club Member of the Year in recognition of her contribution to the sport.
Her love of bowls stems from her late grandfather, and she remains closely connected to the sport through both playing and club involvement.
Away from the green, Carraher is a proud mother of three and values time with her close-knit family.