THE 2005-06 Bendigo District Bowls Association pennant season begins tomorrow.
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More than 1000 bowlers will take to the greens in nine divisions this season, with eight sides in each division.
The Advertiser today takes a look at each of the BDBA's A1 pennant teams and sums up their chances this summer.
KANGAROO FLAT A1 premierships since 1939: One.
President: Geoff Boyd.
Secretary: Max Crow.
Skippers: Dave Nelson, Damian Mason, Max Watts and Wally Boyd.
Last season: Premiers - 184 points, 195 shots.
The Advertiser says: The reigning premiers finished last season on top of the ladder, 34 points clear of the second-placed Bendigo.
Had a thrilling finals series, scraping home by one shot against Bendigo in the semi-final and then winning the grand final against Eaglehawk by just two shots.
The club has tremendous depth as shown by its A2 side beating South Bendigo by 25 shots in last season's grand final.
Has been strengthened by the inclusion of former Bendigo A1 skipper Noel Blachford, who will probably play as the third to Dave Nelson.
The last word: Kangaroo Flat will enter the season as the premiership favourites and it's going to take a mighty effort from another club to stop it from going back-to-back.
EAGLEHAWK A1 premierships since 1939: Six.
President: John Wheare.
Secretary: Max Volk.Skippers: Phil Godkin, Russell Evans, Russell Simmonds and Frank Tonn.
Last season: Second - 146 points, 70 shots.
The Advertiser says: Finished third on the ladder after the home and away season last summer, but won its way through to the grand final where it went down to Kangaroo Flat by two shots in a thriller.
Eaglehawk has two experienced A1 bowlers coming into its side in previous A1 skipper Noel Wilkinson, who has returned, and regular Group Five leader Ron Payne, who has transferred from Bendigo.
The last word: Eaglehawk will be the biggest threat to Kangaroo Flat this season as it chases its first pennant since 2001-02.
BENDIGO A1 premierships since 1939: 12.
President: Mick Lalor.
Secretary: Tori Babitsch.
Skippers: Ian Ross, Ken Rusbridge, John Boromeo and Wayne Robins.
Last season: Third - 150 points, 147 shots.
The Advertiser says: After finishing the home and away season second on the ladder last summer, lost its semi-final to Kangaroo Flat by one shot and then dropped out of the race with a 15-shot loss to Eaglehawk in the preliminary final.
Bendigo has lost Noel Blachford to Kangaroo Flat and Ron Payne to Eaglehawk, but this week recruited Tony Sessions from South Bendigo, which will make a big difference to its side.
Bendigo's A2 team finished on top of the ladder last season, and although it didn't win the pennant, it shows it has the players to bring into the A1 side if needed.
The last word: Bendigo has regularly played in the A1 finals but has had trouble winning the flag.
The club's most recent A1 pennant grand final victory was in 1979-80, but with the inclusion of Sessions, who was the second best performed skipper in the association last season, Bendigo will be a force this season.
BENDIGO EAST A1 premierships since 1939: Nine.
President: Don Washington.
Secretary: John McDermott.
Skippers: Aaron Tomkins, Peter Loe, Brian Griffin and Marc Smith.
Last season: Fourth - 142 points, 91 shots.
The Advertiser says: East had won back-to-back premierships before last season when it collapsed at the finishing post, losing its final three games to miss out on the opportunity to win a hat-trick of flags.
This season, East has lost the services of third John Crawford, who has transferred to South Bendigo, and skipper Darren Burgess, who is having a year off.
East has recruited Grant Baxter from Hastings.
The last word: East will probably make the finals again this season, but it's hard to see it reaching the grand final.
SOUTH BENDIGO: A1 premierships since 1939: 13.
President: Norm Gaskin.
Secretary: John Carter.
Skippers: Frank Byrne, Greg Sherman, John Crawford and Stewart Pickering.
Last season: Fifth - 108 points, 0 shots.
The Advertiser says: Was looking good with the inclusion of John Crawford from Bendigo East until a few unsettling problems emerged this week, which has seriously affected its chances.
Hopefully, the club can settle down again and its many young bowlers will ensure it has a good centenary season.
The last word: South Bendigo will find it difficult to grab a spot in the top four, let alone win the pennant for the first time since 1993-94.
GOLDEN SQUARE A1 premierships since 1939: Nine.
President: Gerry Mason.
Secretary: David Luke.Skippers: Ray Noble, Malcolm Finch, Paul O'Brien and John Berry.
Last season: Sixth - 81 points, -207 shots.
The Advertiser says: Finished sixth last season and has lost the services of its best performed skipper in Eric White, who has transferred to Kyneton in what will be a big blow to the side.
Square will beat some of the sides above it on the ladder but not enough to make the finals, unless it can gain the services of a couple of top-line players early in the season.
The last word: Square's first pennant in 40 years looks out of reach, with the side likely to finish sixth.
CASTLEMAINE A1 premierships since 1939: Nine.
President: Ray Warren.
Secretary: Bill Jury.
Skippers: Peter Brain, Kevin Shuttleworth, Tony Olsson and Rod Philips.
Last season: Seventh - 67 points, -106 shots.
The Advertiser says: Will struggle again this season and its cause isn't being helped by not having a grass green to practice on until later in the season.
This would be a disadvantage to any side, however, when visiting sides travel to Castlemaine to play on the synthetic, it may end up being an advantage to Castlemaine.
The last word: Castlemaine doesn't appear strong enough to make the finals and looks like finishing in the same position as last season.
STRATHFIELDSAYE: A1 premierships since 1939: Nil.
President: Cliff Butler.
Secretary: Ron Baetge.
Skippers: Trevor Featherstone, Brian Mansbridge, Spruiker Cahoon and Rocky McGowan.
Last season: Eighth - 58 points, -190 shots.
The Advertiser says: Won three games in its first A1 season last summer, but will find it difficult to win more games than that this time.
Rocky McGowan is back, which will make a difference, but Strathfieldsaye could have done with the recruitment of a few more players.
The last word: Likely to finish on the bottom of the ladder again, but Strathfieldsaye will cause some clubs some problems along the way.
The starting time for pennant this season has been brought forward to 1.30 pm.