Bowls: Champ Ann Muir back in action at home

New Zealand doubles bowls champion Ann Muir playing at her home club Kensington. Photo/Ron Burgin

Just days after winning the final of the Heartland Bank National Open Women's Pairs Championship in Dunedin, Whangarei's Ann Muir was back on the greens at the weekend - this time on home turf at Kensington.

Muir won the doubles title in Dunedin after combining with a partner she barely knew.

A string of events saw Muir combine with Dunedin's Carolyn Crawford as the bowlers from opposite ends of the country teamed up for the biggest upset of the competition.

The pair only came together because their original partners both had operations late last year and had to withdraw from the competition.

Despite the nationals being Muir and Crawford's first outing together, the pair clicked from the outset.

They bowled over current world champions Jo Edwards and Val Smith 22-15 to win the final.

"I knew who Carolyn was but I'd never played a game with her and I really knew nothing about her," Muir said.

"It's a dream come true for me but she [Crawford] made it very easy."

Muir is the first Bowls New Zealand president to win a national title while holding the top job. It was her second national title as she was lead in the Kensington club four that won the title in 2005.

The retired teacher, who has a Commonwealth Games bronze medal, has dedicated over 40 years to playing, coaching and administrating the sport.