Bowls: Championships packed with international talent

New Zealand bowls great Gary Lawson believes an influx of overseas-based players means one of the strongest-ever fields will start the men's national championships in Wellington today.

The Sydney-based Cantabrian said an increasingly international flavour will further boost the fields at the next two nationals, with the 2007 Asia Pacific and 2008 World Championships both to be hosted in Christchurch.

"I think it's the best we have put together for a long, long time," Lawson said yesterday. "All the top New Zealanders are playing, and there are three or four guys from Australia and a couple from Canada."

Lawson, an eight-time national champion, said Canadian Ryan Bester was among the best in the world.

"He won the world pairs last year, and he's only 21 and he's playing for Canada at the Commonwealth Games where I believe he's a chance to win gold.

"I just hope Wellingtonians get out and see this guy because he's world class. If he gets his game going and handles the conditions, he will win something. I rate him the best driver in the world right now."

Bester won the singles title at the Asia Pacific championships in Melbourne in November and is spending four months in New Zealand as part of his preparation for the games.

He will team up with compatriot Mark Sandford of Milton today at Wainuiomata as the 91st men's and 56th women's nationals start with two days of pairs section play.

"I think more guys from Australia next year and the year after, with the world championships, will come over, and we will get some really classy fields," Lawson said.

New Zealanders based across the Tasman competing include Lawson, Rowan Brassey, Andrew Todd and Glen McDonald (all The Hills), Sean Robertson (Queanbeyan) and Richard Girvan (Taren Point).

Lawson and Brassey will undoubtedly be the favourites to win the pairs, while The Hills four will be tipped to win the blue ribbon event later in the tournament.

It is the first time Lawson and Brassey have teamed up in both disciplines at the nationals and the first time under an Australian banner.

But Lawson said it was only a crackly phone line that saw his four enter under The Hills banner.

"When we entered we were in Australia and the person couldn't hear us properly over the phone, so we just said put them all down as The Hills.

"When we get there that will change."

Defending women's pairs champions Anne Bateman and Janice McLean (Kensington) along with Marlene (Pakuranga) and Raelene Castle (Ponsonby), Jan (Beckenham) and Marina Khan (Tokoroa), and Sharon Sims (Northern) and Mary Campbell (Taupo) lead the women's field.

This year's overall entry of 1480 players is down from last year's 1548 entries in Christchurch. The tournament, with its headquarters at Naenae, finishes with the fours finals on January 8. The singles and pairs finals are on January 3.

- NZPA