SOUTH Bendigo’s Mitch Sidebottom is ready to embrace the challenge of being the hunted at the Victorian Lawn Bowls Open, which begins in the Goulburn Valley on Friday.

Sidebottom is the defending men’s singles champion and, as such, knows he has a target on his back.

“I won’t get to fly under the radar like last year… I’ll be getting hunted this time, so that’s going to make it a lot tougher, but I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Sidebottom said on Thursday.

“The draw I’ve got in the singles, there’s high quality bowlers like Ryan Tainton, Jay Bye-Norris and Mark Ryan, so I’m going to have my work cut out just getting through that first day.”

READ MORE – Last weekend’s BBD weekend pennant wrap

Sidebottom defeated Lee Schraner – now coach of Bendigo East – in last year’s men’s singles final at Shepparton Park.

Sidebottom prevailed 21-15 in what was a see-sawing match where he one stage led 14-4, before Schraner stormed back into the game on the back of a 10-0 burst.

But Sidebottom saw off the challenge from Schraner to regain the ascendancy and claim the title with an underdog victory.

“Lee has gone on to now be ranked No.1 in Australia and win the Australian Champion of Champions, so it will always be special I was able to beat him last year," Sidebottom said.

“Hopefully, I can do it again, but everyone wants to knock off the defending champion, so there’s going to be no easy games.”

As well as defending his singles crown, Sidebottom is also competing in the men’s pairs and triples.

His pairs team-mate is Benalla’s Matt Robertson, who has previously played at Bendigo East.

Sidebottom will play with Robertson and Kyabram’s Russell Locke in the triples.

Sidebottom is one of about 2000 bowlers who are competing in the Victorian Open.

More success on the bowls green would continue a sporting year in which ruckman Sidebottom won a premiership with Tallygaroopna alongside brothers Lachlan and Dylan in the Kyabram District league in September.

With the Victorian Open running from Friday until next Friday there will be a break from BBD pennant competitions.

There are no weekend pennant matches this Saturday or midweek pennant games on Monday.

Sidebottom’s South Bendigo is unbeaten and on top of the weekend division one ladder after four rounds.

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