Coaches of the men and women's Wanganui bowls teams are confident of a top showing at the revamped Intercentre National Championships in Auckland this weekend.
The annual competition used to be fought out by regional winners from throughout the country, but this year, each centre will be involved at the
same event. Teams from the Far North to the deep south are represented.
Wanganui men's coach Lyndsay Wheeler said his team had drawn a strong section, including last year's winners Counties/Manukau and Nelson, which boasts New Zealand player Shannon McIllroy, who was ranked World No 4 last year.
"We've got a tough draw that also includes Southland and Wairarapa, but with last year's winners and the strong Nelson team featuring Shannon McIllroy will make it even harder," Wheeler said.
"While not all our players were available for this tournament, I'm happy with the line-up we've got. They are formidable players in their own right. Alan Dickson is in good form and finished in the top eight at the nationals, while Bruce Winterburn is fresh from skipping the winning four at the Aotearoa Maori Bowls Championship in Rotorua a few weeks back."
