PNBHS 1951-54 – Gordon Club

In 1952 Phil played for the 7th XV rugby team and the third XI cricket team. He played for the 2nd XI in 1953 where he took 7/35 against Wanganui Collegiate – well done.

He won the senior cricket ball throw in 1954, the same year he played for the 1st XI where he “always bowls well. Safe in the field and has made some useful scores”. He took 6-37 against Napier Boys’ High and was selected for Central Districts School Boys to play the New South Wales Colts. In 1954 he was also the Platoon Sergeant for C Company.

Phil was the son of a politician, cabinet minister and former PNBHS staff member Philip Oscar Skoglund, and nephew of champion lawn bowls player, Peter Skoglund.

His first national title came in 1958 at age 20, the youngest NZ National Bowls Championships Singles Champion. He went on to be the National Singles Champion in 1966, 1970, 1971, 1972.

He competed in five World Championships (1966, 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988)

In 1988: Won Gold in the triples; 1984-1988: Two Silver medals in the fours; 1980: Two Bronze medals – pairs and fours; 1984: Bronze medal in the triples.

He competed in five Commonwealth Games – 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1990 Commonwealth Bronze in the pairs 1974, in the fours 1990 and Silver in the fours 1978.

In 1988 Phil was awarded an OBE for Services to Bowls and in 1990 he was inducted into the NZ Sports Hall of Fame. In 2013 he was an inaugural inductee into the Bowls NZ Hall of Fame.

Phil was a four-time Manawatu Sportsman of the Year and PNBHS Staff member, Denis Duffy wrote his biography. Phil passed away in 2015 and it was an honour to be able to hold the funeral service in our school hall.