Bowls: Plenty of competition for champ Kernaghan

Jo Edwards will be looking to impress. Photo / Greg Bowker

Dunedin's Mike Kernaghan will defend his New Zealand men's singles title when the national bowls championships start in Christchurch today.

Kernaghan and the man he beat in last summer's final, Canterbury's Alvin Gardiner, are among the headline contenders in the Heartland-sponsored tournament which features 1400 bowlers from around the country and a handful of Australians.

The blue ribbon men's singles qualifying heads off the tournament which runs through to January 4.

Organisers are delighted with a field that features 14 previous national singles winners along with numerous other previous and current New Zealand titleholders.

The entire national Black Jack squad is competing as they vie for spots in the Transtasman series team to be announced at the end of the tournament on January 8.

Previous national champions Ali Forsyth and Tony Grantham, who missed selection in the recently completed Asia-Pacific championships where the Kiwi men's team were the best performed of the 18 countries, will both be looking for a good showing to attract the attention of the New Zealand selectors.

Current national Blackjack players and previous national champions Mike Nagy, Shannon Mcllroy, Andrew Kelly, Blake Signal and Paul Girdler are also in the field.

Young Taranaki player Cameron Nairne, who had a stellar season in 2014-15, is considered the best unheralded prospect.

The women's singles, featuring 120 players in 30 sections, and men's pairs will start tomorrow.

The women's field is also one of the best assembled in years with current internationals Jo Edwards and Val Smith expecting strong challenges from current Australian representatives Kelsey Cottrell and Sarah Boddington.

Also competing will be last year's winner Leigh Griffin of Wellington who will defend her title after a great performance in the recent World Champion of Champions singles.

The younger brigade will also keep their rivals sweating as they press for national selection with Mandy and Angela Boyd, Katelin Inch, Tayla Bruce and Amy McIlroy strong prospects.