A STAR-STUDDED field headed by world number two Robert Paxton, a recent double winner in the men’s and mixed pairs at the world championships at Potters, Norfolk, will compete at the second Open Singles tournament at Chippenham's North Wilts club this weekend.

Clarrie Dunbar’s Keith Bailey, who won the tournament last year, is back to defend his title while runner-up Barry Jenkins also returns hoping to go one better this time around.

A top prize of £1,000 is on offer to the winner of the event, whose sponsors include the Gazette & Herald.

The tournament is part of the planetbowls.com series of 29 open events around the country that culminate in the top 32 players in the rankings competing in a grand final in October for the overall title.

Once again the North Wilts Open has proved very popular with the sold-out notices posted for several weeks and has attracted a full house field of 72 players plus a waiting list of reserves.

The two-day tournament starts on Saturday at 9am, with the final scheduled to take place at 5.30pm on Sunday.

As well as the winner’s prize, £500 goes to the runner up, with prize money awarded down to the losing quarter finalists.

A top-class field will be competing for the £1,000 jackpot that includes the top six in the latest planetbowls.com rankings following last weekend’s tournaments in Bristol and Ipswich. They are leader Steve Tuohy (Egham), Danny Denison (two, Torquay), Gary Fountain (three, Dolphin Poole), Keith Bailey (four, Clarrie Dunbar), Neil Smith (five, Swindon Westlecot ) and Ed Morris (six, Essex County).

Also taking part are Shaun Jones (currently 11th), the reigning planetbowls Grand Prix winner, Ben Paulley (14, Bournemouth), Paul Reynolds (16, Herga Harrow), Christie Miller’s Andy Moore (22) as well as last weekend’s Bristol runner-up Norman Coad (23, Bodmin) and the winner England U25 international Ryan Atkins (Malvern ranked 34).

The field also includes 11 players with 15 planetbowls tournament wins between them since January last year as well as 15 Open runners-up.

These players include Trowbridge’s Andy Colebrooke, winner of last season’s Clarrie Dunbar Open and the Swindon Westlecot Open, Neil Smith winner of the 2014 Ipswich Open and of course Clarrie Dunbar’s Keith Bailey winner of last year’s inaugural North Wilts Open.

The 2014 North Wilts club ladies and men’s singles champions Alex Jacobs and Wayne Snook (now Christie Miller) spearhead the local challenge. Jacobs faces Bristol’s Barry Barry in the first round, while Snook has an extremely difficult round one tie against sixth ranked Ed Morris (Essex County).

Christie Miller’s vastly-experienced Andy Moore has drawn a tasty first-round tie against England U25 international Lloyd Sabatini, winner of the 2014 Wellingborough Open.

Meanwhile, Bailey begins the defence of his North Wilts title on Sunday morning (8.30am) against Adam Meade (Mill Hill).

An extra prize a £50 bounty, backed by Wadworth Brewery, will go to whoever manages to defeat Egham’s Steve Tuohy, the current leader of the planetbowls rankings. The first shot at claiming the bounty prize and a top scalp falls in round one to Westlecot’s John Anderson.

“We are all very happy with the way things have gone again so far,” said tournament director Dave Williams.

“The response again has been brilliant. We filled the 72 slots quickly hence were able to make the draw early.

“As the circuits are getting more popular they are filling quicker all over.

“We have an extremely good field taking part and it should be a very good event with excellent prize money thanks to all our sponsors.

“Yes, as it's our second year we are more confident in holding this type of event with mainly the same people involved in the operation.”

And Williams added: “A lot of people have been asking about the tournament and there certainly is a buzz around the club again”.

Each tournament match will consist of two sets of seven ends with a three-end tie breaker played in the event of a draw.

Spectators are welcome, with admission free and the club bar and restaurant open throughout the two-day tournament.

The second North Wilts Open is being sponsored by Bowlamania, Corsham Print, Beazer Electrical Services, Chippenham Conservatories and Windows, Wadworth Brewery as well as the Wiltshire Gazette & Herald and carries a prize fund of £2,350.

DRAW Saturday (March 21) Pick of preliminary round matches - 9am: Paul Reynolds (Herga) v Andy Colebrooke (Clarrie Dunbar); Steve Remington (Christie Miller) v Neil Smith (Swindon Westlecot); Jamie Curtis (Welford-on-Avon) v Katy Smith (S West); Janet Hardie (North Wilts) v Nigel Gould (Welford). The eight preliminary round winners progress to round one.

Pick of first round matches - 10.30am: Denis Holborow (S West) v Danny Denison (Torquay United); Steve Tuohy (Egham) v John Anderson (S West). Noon: Nick Revell (Bournemouth) v Paul Maynard (Desborough, Maidenhead); Andy Moore (CM) v Lloyd Sabatini (Whiteknights, Reading); Helen Tuohy (Egham) v Ian Jefferies (S West); Shaun Jones (Malvern Hills) v Margaret Dyer (Clevedon). 1.30pm: Maurice Byron (NW) v Barry Forse (St Andrews, WSM). 3pm: Brian Lees (Welford) v Hardie or Gould; Eddie Morris (Essex County) v Wayne Snook (CM); Reg Birmingham (unattached) v Dave Snell (S West); Carl Fountain (Dolphin) v Jo Morris or Sean Gingell; Barry Jenkins (Egham) v Robert Paxton (Taunton Deane); Barry Barry (Bristol) v Alex Jacobs (NW); 4.30pm: Sue Cooke (NW) v Keith Williamson (S West); Norman Coad (Bodmin) v Kyle Anderson (S West); Chris Easton (CM) v Craig Hatherall (S West); Gary Fountain (Dolphin) v Brian Hawkins (CD).

Eight early round two matches commence at 4.30 and 6pm.

Sunday (March 22) Remaining six first round matches - 8.30am: Scott Edwards (Adur) v Mark Atkins (Malvern Hills); Adam Meade (Mill Hill) v Keith Bailey (holder, CD); BJ Byles (Whiteknights) v Thelma Bailey (Clarrie Dunbar); Gary Jackson (S West) v Steve Snook (CM); Ryan Atkins (M Hills) v Sam Watts (Oxford City & C); Eric Davies (Swansea) v Ben Paulley (Bournemouth).

Round 2: 10am (six matches) and 11.30am (two matches).

Round 3: 11.30am (four matches) and 1pm (four matches).

Quarter-finals: 2.30pm Semi-finals 4pm Final 5.30pm (approx).

THE indoor season is rapidly drawing to a close with Easter just around the corner.

Hence the national indoor championships and competitions will draw to their conclusions in the next couple of weeks or so.

The final stages in 13 ladies, men’s and mixed national competitions will be decided next week in Nottingham while 11 events including the main four men’s and ladies championships events will be contested at Melton & District from Good Friday, April 3 until April 12.

Local clubs North Wilts and Clarrie Dunbar will be bidding for glory in three of the events at Nottingham next week - Ladies Over 50s Two Wood Triples, Ladies Over 60s Pairs and Men’s Over 50s Triples.

First-up next Monday, March 23 are the Clarrie Dunbar trio of Brian Hawkins, John Freeman and Keith Bailey in the O50s men’s triples.

They face Martin Timms, Simon Davies and Mick Hawkins (Welford-on-Avon) at 12.30pm in a last 16 tie and if victorious play in the quarter-finals later in the day.

Monday also sees North Wilts duo Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs begin their quest for three national indoor titles.

Together with Jean Collier as their lead they face Victory (Portsmouth) skipped by Kath Patrick in a last eight, quarter-final tie in the O50s two wood triples at 5pm.

If successful they would then meet either Acle (Norfolk) or Essex side Falcon (Chelmsford) in the semi-finals Tuesday morning (9.30am).

The third team competing at Nottingham next week are Clarrie Dunbar duo Ailsa Midwinter and Teresa King in the latter stages of the Over 60s Pairs on Wednesday morning.

They face Glenda Jones and her partner from Hounslow (9.30am) in the last 16. If successful would then play Rivermead (Reading) or Egham (Surrey) in the quarter-finals at 6pm.