Elmwood Park bowler Mandy Boyd has joined an exclusive club, winning the women’s singles at the 2026 Summerset National Bowls Championship to claim her 10th national title.

Competing on her home turf on a windy Christchurch day, Boyd proved too strong for a determined Leeane Poulson (Takapuna), winning 21–16 in a final that went down to the wire.

The victory marks Boyd’s first national singles title and caps off a stellar week in which she also won the women’s pairs alongside Kirsten Edwards. The 34-year-old now boasts a remarkable 10 national titles, made up of one singles, three pairs, and six fours titles.

“I’ve lost two national singles finals in the past so it’s nice to finally win one,” said Boyd.

“To find some form in the singles has been awesome, it’s been a great week and it’s an amazing way to get to title number ten.”

The win sees Boyd join Millie Khan and Cis Winstanley as one of only three Kiwi women to win 10 or more national titles.

The final was a hard fought affair, with Boyd and Poulson tied at 7-all after seven ends. Boyd won the next 4 ends in a row to shoot ahead 15-7, however Poulson refused to go down without a fight, executing pinpoint bowls in the blustery conditions to win 6 of 7 ends and come within a point of Boyd at 17-16.

Boyd held her nerve in the following end, nailing a crucial drive under pressure to pick up three shots, before closing out the match the next end to secure a 21–16 victory.

“It was a really good final. I found it quite nice out there to begin with but I lost my way a bit as the match went on with the wind making it tricky. Thankfully I managed to hold on, play a couple of important bowls and get it over the line,” said Boyd.

“I never expected to get this far in the singles and I certainly didn’t think I’d get two titles at the same event so I’m really stoked.”

Earlier in the day, Boyd was made to work hard to reach the final, falling behind Katelyn Inch (Oxford) in the semi-final. Inch opened up an 13-8 lead before Boyd reeled her in, winning six of the next seven ends to take control and eventually close out a 21-14 win.

The final of the men’s pairs was another nail biter as brothers Ethan and Hamish Kelleher (Halswell) took on Gary Lawson (Elmwood Park) and Tony Grantham (Mt Albert) who were chasing a third pairs title in four years.

Lawson and Grantham took an early lead to be up 4-9 after six ends, however the brothers fought back, winning the next four ends in a row to lead 10-9.

From that point on there was little to separate the pairings with the lead seesawing between the teams. The score was tied 14-all into the last end, with a brilliant drive shot from Ethan helping the Kelleher brothers to take the win 15-14 in a thrilling match.

In the day’s other final Darron Wolland (Balcutha) was clinical to pick up another national title in the Open Disability Singles, proving too good for Jono Radka (Papanui). Wolland took the lead early and never relinquished it, winning 21-2.

A total of 864 athletes competed at the 2026 Summerset National Bowls Championship which was held across 21 clubs in Canterbury.