Lawn Bowls at Auckland Commonwealth Games 1990

The 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games lawn bowls competitions featured three main events: singles, pairs, and fours. Rob Parrella took home gold in the lawn bowls for Australia. In the men’s pairs, Ian Schubert and Trevor Morris won gold for Australia. The Fours team Audrey Rutherford, Daphne Shaw, Marion Stevens & Dorothy Roche also won the gold medal in their competition.

New Zealand headed the Medal Tally for Lawn Bowls at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games with one gold medal and an overall tally of 5 medals. 

Australia was placed second with 3 gold and 1 silver medal.

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Lawn Bowls at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games

Lawn bowls, a sport steeped in tradition and requiring both precision and strategy, was a prominent feature at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games.

Held at the Pakuranga Bowls Club on the south side of Auckland, the lawn bowls competition brought together some of the finest bowlers from across the Commonwealth, competing in a range of events that showcased their skill, focus, and sportsmanship.

The lawn bowls competition at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games featured three main events: singles, pairs, and fours.

Each event tested the bowlers’ ability to strategize, deliver precise shots, and work effectively as a team.

Rob Parrella

Italian-born Rob Parrella won a silver medal at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane and he took the bronze in 1994 at the Canadian Commonwealth Games held in Victoria, British Columbia.

Women’s Lawn Bowls

In Auckland, the fours team Audrey Rutherford, Daphne Shaw, Marion Stevens & Dorothy Roche defeated New Zealand 20-18 to take the gold medaL

Oldest gold medal winner Dorothy Roche OAM, was 61 years and 10 months old when she won a gold medal in the women’s fours in lawn bowls at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games, the oldest person to win gold at a Commonwealth Games.

Lawn Bowls

Playing lawn bowls is a sport that combines strategy, precision, and a deep sense of camaraderie. Unlike many fast-paced sports, lawn bowls is a game of patience and skill, where players aim to roll biased balls so that they stop close to a smaller ball called the “jack.”

The seemingly simple objective requires a keen understanding of the green, the ability to read the terrain, and a deft touch to control the pace and direction of the bowls. The game is accessible to people of all ages and abilities, making it a popular social sport in communities around the world.

What sets lawn bowls apart is its emphasis on sportsmanship and community. The game is often played in a relaxed yet competitive atmosphere, where players engage in friendly banter while focusing on their shots.

Whether played casually on a sunny afternoon or in a more competitive setting like the Commonwealth Games, lawn bowls fosters a sense of connection among participants, blending the challenge of precise play with the joy of shared experience.

Australian Lawn Bowls Gold Medal Winners

Photos, Stories and Pages in this feature series:
The Ceremony | The Pool | The Track & Field | Jason Statham diving | The Green | The Range | The Ring | The Velodrome | The Picture Editor’s Desk

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Mark Anning

Mark Anning has worked in the media since the mid-1970s, including manager & editor for international wire services, national & suburban newspapers, government & NGOs and at events including Olympics & Commonwealth Games, Formula 1, CHOGM, APEC & G7 Economic Summit. Mark's portrait subjects include Queen Elizabeth II, David Bowie & Naomi Watts. Academically at various stages of completion: BA(Comms), MBA and masters in documentary photography with Magnum Photos. Mark's company, 1EarthMedia provides quality, ethical photography & media services to international news organisations and corporations that have a story to tell.

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