Kaikorai green also being used for NEV singles
TWO venues will be used for one of Dunedin’s top bowls events.
The North East Valley 10,000 Invitational Singles, which has once again attracted a worldclass field, begins today.
As well as the host club, the Kaikorai club will be used in qualifying play.
While one of North East Valley’s greens was looking very good, a decision had been made the other was not.
‘‘It’s just not quite ready,’’ club manager Terry Scott said.
‘‘We returfed it this year and we believe that because we’ve got such a high calibre of players attending this tournament that we’ve go to try to provide the best facilities for them.
‘‘Kaikorai’s green will be good and our other green we’ve got here will be good. We’ve put a lot of effort into it. I don’t think there will be any issues here.’’
Scott said the North East Valley green would run around 15 seconds, which was an ideal pace for the top players.
Preparations for the tourna ment had been going well, the organising team having put plenty of effort in to ensure it ran smoothly.
A topquality field will start the event.
Defending champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Aaron Wilson is back.
The Australian beat Canadian Ryan Bester in last year’s final. Bester is also back after winning silver at the Commonwealth Games.
Kevin Anderson and Scott Thorburn round out a classy quartet of overseas representatives.
Among the top New Zealanders in action will be Jamie Hill and Gary Lawson.
Hill has not won the event but has always been in the mix late in the tournament.
Lawson had been a doubtful starter due to injury, but has pulled through and will turn out.
The tournament consists of 32 players split into four sections — two to be played at North East Valley and two at Kaikorai. All postsection play — which begins on Sunday afternoon — will take place at North East Valley.
The event, which is in its 28th year, consistently attracts topclass fields.
To show the calibre of competition, every winner has represented his country.