Bowls: Quality fields in women's championships

More than 1000 bowlers have been drawn to Tauranga for the 53rd national women's championships starting tomorrow.

Nearly half of that field start with four games of qualifying in singles on the first day.

They will compete on 30 greens at 13 clubs from Katikati in the west, Whakatane in the east and Rotorua to the south.

The headquarters club, Matua in Tauranga, will host the finals in singles and pairs on February 16, and the fours on February 22.

All the reigning champions are back to defend their titles, including the legendary Millie Khan.

She is going for three in a row in the fours, with her side of daughters Jan and Marina and "adopted" daughter Mina Paul.

Only the late Rhoda Ryan has achieved a fours hat-trick before, and Khan led for her in two of those wins.

Sharon Sims comes back from transtasman duty in Sydney to defend her singles crown, while surprise pairs winners Sandra Robertson and Jenny Fleming make the trip from the top of the South Island to defend the title they won in Dunedin last year.

The fields of nearly 500 in singles, 350 pairs and 168 fours include 49 reigning or former national champions, and present or past internationals.

All 10 of the present internationals returning from the transtasman event which finished in Sydney on Thursday will take part.

- NZPA