Hundreds of bowlers throughout the country are descending on Auckland this weekend in a bid to
qualify through to the city’s flagship event, The Trusts New Zealand Open.

Held in Auckland annually, the event continues to grow in popularity and is now in its 11th year – as
competitors travel from far and wide looking to snag a slice of the lucrative $40,000 prize pool.

Star power: The formidable duo of former Blackjacks Chris Le Lievre and Jamie Hill, left, will be hoping to make a return to the TV rink next week, as they look to put their best foot forward in the men's pairs.

Long regarded as a prestigious title, winners of the New Zealand Open find themselves in some top quality company with former Blackjacks among the winning circles, along with some Australian powerhouse combinations in earlier times and high performing provincial players who have made a name for themselves in the televised finals in years gone by.

Paving the way for a new men’s singles champion, last year’s winner and former Blackjack Richard Girvan has ruled himself out of contention – instead remaining committed as Blackjacks’ assistant coach as the team mastermind a strong performance at the Commonwealth Games in Broadbeach later this year.

His absence will now see 2017 runner-up Chris Le-Lievre come to the fore as favourite, though the Australian-based Kiwi will face strong competition from multiple national title holder Petar Sain, Rob Ashton, Mike Bradshaw, Raymond Martin and former national singles pathway champion Pat Houlahan. Other strong contenders will be former New Zealand rep Dwayne Cameron, promising local Scott Evans, Howick’s Neil Fisher and Orewa’s David Eades – all likely to top their section come game day.

Meanwhile, Browns Bay maestro Elaine McClintock is locked and loaded in a bid to defend both the
women’s pairs and singles crowns, while the Central Otago based composite of Margaret O’Connor,
Christine Buchanan and local recruit Anne Doreen line up again for another attempt at capturing the
women’s triples.

All to play for: Browns Bay bowler Elaine McClintock will be back in action at The Trusts New Zealand Open next week as she looks to defend her singles and pairs' crowns.

In other disciplines, men’s pairs champions Le-Lievre and Jamie Hill have advanced to the main draw, with Hill also combining with Le-Lievre in the men’s triples, joined this year by recently crowned national fours champion and fellow Eastbourne Eagle Justin Goodwin - with the trio posing a hefty threat to any opposition enroute to aspired victory.

With no automatic entrants to the main draw of the men’s singles, 64 spots will be up for grabs, while 36 sections of four go to battle in a bid to advance as section winners, though a wide open field will see a further 27 extra top qualifiers progress to form the full draw of 64 combinations.

The women’s singles will see 21 section winners progress, while the next best 10 players will also qualify for their efforts. Players to watch include New Zealand development rep Ashleigh Jeffcoat and Queenstown campaigners O’Connor and Buchanan.

The triples event will see 12 section winners advance, while only three extra sides will win the right
to progress through as next best qualifiers to form the final 16, while the men’s field will require an
additional 31 qualifiers to join reigning champions Scott Evans, Scott Mouton and Tony Grantham –
replacing Rory Soden who has proved unavailable for this year’s title defence .

The qualifying event will take place from February 10 through to February 12 at greens throughout
Auckland, with the main fixtures getting underway from February 13 onwards. All finals will be held
at the Blockhouse Bay Bowling Club and will be televised live on Sky Sport.