More than 700 bowlers from throughout Victoria and southern New South Wales will travel to Bendigo for Country Bowls Week, which starts on Monday, March 15.

Players from more than 80 clubs have entered this year’s tournament, including entries from Phillip Island, Camperdown, Camperdown Gold, Geelong and District and Gippsland.

Last year’s victors, Camperdown Golf’s Graeme Fitzgerald and Max Johnson will be returning to defend their title in the pairs, but will be challenged by several talented partnerships including teams skipped by Mark Simmons (Marysville), Norm Hollis (Donald), Ian Young (Minyip), Mick Wilson (Phillip Island), Noel Polmear (Point Lonsdale), Phillip Skehan (Kilmore) and the Linehan Brothers, Peter and Michael, from Lancefield.

The fours division will also be hotly contested, with the highly credentialled team skipped by 'Big Dave' Hessel from Deniliquin aiming for consecutive titles.

The Hessel-led line-up will face strong competition from the likes of teams skipped by Mark Simmons (Marysville), Keith Linton (Phillip Island), George Bateman (Camperdown Golf), Robyn Cloke (Leopold).

Country Week co-ordinator Geoff Briggs said although there would be several past winners of both the pairs and the fours, his picks to win included teams from Lancefield and Minyip.

“It is extremely difficult to predict who the winner will be,’’ Briggs said.

“Several bowlers from previous years will not be here, but a most pleasing factor is that 84 new players will be making their first appearance in the tournament.

“My stabs at picking the winners are Michael and Peter Linehan (Lancefield) to with the pairs and Ian Young and his team from Minyip to triumph in the fours.’’

This year will see a new event added to Country Week, with the involvement of APIA Insurance as an associate sponsor.

The 'APIA Pot of Gold' will see a substantial prize awarded, including $400 per pair and $800 per four, awarded to the single highest winning game in sectional play in both the pairs and the fours.