Multiple world champion Peter Belliss will head a strong entry of former national titleholders and former Black Jacks when the qualifying rounds for the New Zealand Open start on Auckland and North Harbour bowling greens today.
Belliss will compete in all three disciplines playing under the banner of the Birkenheadclub, to which he belongs as a dual member along with his old Wanganui club Aramoho.
Belliss will play in the pairs with a former Wanganui bowler, Lance Tasker, with whom he won a national title 20 years ago, and in the triples with Tasker and nine-times national champion Danny O'Connor.
This trio will be joined in the national championship fours, to be hosted by the Harbour centre over Christmas-New Year, by current Black Jack, Australian-based Richard Girvan.
Though most of the bowlers seeking the men and women's singles, pairs and triples open titles are from northern centres, there is a smattering from the lower North Island and the South Island, including a winner of national pairs and fours titles, Canterbury's Alvin Gardiner.
All of last year's winners, including both singles champions, Waikato's Tony Fabling and Auckland's Karen de Jongh, will have automatic entry into the post section tournament next week at the Henderson club with a total stake of $35,000.
