More than 630 bowlers will converge on eight bowling greens around Wanganui next week for the return of the Clubs New Zealand Men's Fours Outdoor Bowls tournament for the first time in 10 years.
The 41st edition of the working men's club tournament traces its lineage back to 1974 whenthe first event was held in Wanganui, after Castlecliff and St John's club member Len Moase was instrumental in getting it off the ground.
This year, the St Johns club is the host as 158 teams will be vying for the Moase Cup.
Spokesman Royce Tunbridge said Wanganui East's green will be the headquarters for the tournament, with games also being played at the Aramoho, Castlecliff, Durie Hill, Gonville, Gonville Women's, Laird Park and Wanganui club greens.
Teams will play three times on Monday and Tuesday, then twice on Wednesday, with those earning six wins or qualifying top of their section going on to post-section play.
From that point there will be three tiers of competition the Moase Cup, the Jim Dempsey Trophy and the Kelly Plate, with the semifinals and finals of the cup and trophy being held at Wanganui East on Friday.
Christchurch's Papanui club have won the cup the last two years in a row.
Wanganui last hosted the big tournament in 2004. St Johns club teams have won the Cup twice the first in 1975 and the second in 2008 when Sean Johnson, Ray Park, Kevin Coombe and Phil Corney brought the prize home from New Plymouth.
