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Taranaki’s fabulous fortnight of bowls is here.

Grant Hassall explains.

Yes, it is time for the annual Midlands Funds Management Taranaki men’s Open fours which begins today. And it starts today with 180 teams – an increase of 14 sides on last year.

The increase in numbers is a reflection of the growing popularity of the tournament with visiting bowlers who have flocked to Taranaki from all over New Zealand, as well as six quartets from Australia. There is also a partial team from California, which is headed by former leading New Plymouth footballer Peter Ritchie.

In fact 136 teams are from outside the province – the most since 2006.

The Open remains the pinnacle in provincial bowls in New Zealand, with no other event coming close to matching it in terms of popularity and therefore size as well.

There is a combination of reasons for this – starting with the games which consist of 25 ends. All teams will play two games per day for the first four days, with those sides winning six or more games qualifying for Friday’s post section rounds.

The finals are scheduled for Sunday.

The length of those games and the qualifying rounds greatly enhance the camaraderie amongst the players which is supported in no small way by the hospitality from the host clubs.

Those same clubs, and their scores of volunteers, are the key recipe to the success of the tournament, especially those involved in maintaining the greens, which visitors inevitably rate as the best in the country. It’s another reason why so many return year after year.

And then to top it off there is the competition itself, which for the few that have been skilful and fortunate enough to win one of the great prizes in Taranaki sport over the years, there is the thrill of success.

As the 120th tournament rolls underway this morning – with play around New Plymouth and also in Waitara, Lepperton, Inglewood, Stratford and Oakura – there will be many yearning to have their names etched into the history books and there are many prospects.

Leading visitors include Phil Todd (Johnsonville), Neville Hill (Onehunga & Districts), Billy Fulton (Henderson), Dave Walker (Tahunanui), Petar Sain (Carlton Cornwall), Dan Delany (Royal Oak) and Peter Belliss (Aramoho).

Of the 54 Taranaki teams, John Gray (Fitzroy), Scott Roberts and Grant Anderson (both Tower), Darren Goodin (Paritutu) and Craig De Faria (West End), all past winners, are favoured to make the post section rounds.

The second half of the fortnight, The Devon Hotel women’s Open fours, commences on January 28.