THE 2010 Grimsby Open Bowls Tournament will be taking place at the Sussex Recreation Ground, Cleethorpes, from Sunday until Friday next week.

Entries for this year's tournament are slightly down on previous years for various reasons, although many regular and new players will be making the trip to Cleethorpes – from both local clubs and from outside of the area.

After the perfect weather enjoyed at the Cleethorpes Open in June, organisers are hoping that the weather will stay fine to enable the expected high level of competition to be played without interruption to the schedules.

If the weather allows all four competitions to be completed up to the quarter-final stages on the scheduled days, there will be a Roving Jack Pairs competition held on Thursday afternoon – which is open to any players wishing to enter regardless of if they have played in the Tournament or not. Entries must be received at Sussex Recreation Ground by close of play on Wednesday.

The Open Singles Competition will be played on Sunday at Sussex Recreation Ground.

Defending champion Dennis Cheater (Walkington BC) opens his defence of the title with a first-round game against Steve Spencer-Davis (Grimsby BC) while last year's runner-up and runner-up in this year's Cleethorpes Open, Allan Dent Snr (Louth IBC), will have to wait to see who he meets in his first game which will be against the winner of the preliminary game between Norman Dodsworth (Sussex BC) or Brenda Land (Waltham BC).

Jonathan Darley (Clee BC) – twice holder of the title in 2003 and 2005 and losing semi-finalist and Player of the Tournament at this year's Cleethorpes Open – has a preliminary game against Pat Lewis (Grant Thorold BC).

The 2008 runner-up and losing semi-finalist at the Cleethorpes Open, Terry Wood (Carr Lane BC), plays Janet Eames (Warsop BC), who is a newcomer to the tournament.

Other strong contenders for the title will be John Belton (Waltham BC), winner of the 2009 Cleethorpes title. He faces Dave Jarrett (Vikings BC).

Another previous winner who always puts in a strong challenge is John Pask (Grantham BC). He plays the winner of Fred Mellows (Eagle BC Lincoln) or Sheila Childs (Barretts BC).

The draw for the Open Pairs Competition – to be played on Monday – sees defending champions Andy Parrott and Brian Eekhout (Vikings BC) begin their title defence against David Thomas and Bernard Sanderson (N Kelsey BC).

Other first-round games which stand out include the clash between the 2005 runners-up, Peter Clarke & Barry Cammell (Sussex BC), against 2009 Cleethorpes Open runners-up Jonathan Darley and Tony Musson (Clee / Blossom Way BCs) – a repeat of their first-round game in last year.

The 2008 title holders, Terry Wood and Robert Dalby (Carr Lane BC), will face the strong father and son pairing of Gary and David Langley (Scartho Clee BC).

More match previews at www.sportgrimsby.co.uk/bowls

Last year's runner-up, Allan Dent Snr, this year partners up with son Allan Dent Jnr (Louth IBC). They will be looking to advance towards another title on his CV if they can get past the winners of the preliminary game between Ann Johnson and Margaret Roberts (Habrough BC), and George Hilton and Peter Noble (Ordsall BC).

Last year's semi-finalist Caroline Cullum partners with daughter Ruth (Kingsway Printers BC), with whom she won the Triples last year and she has a tough opening game against the 2009 Cleethorpes Singles winner John Belton, partnered by Dave Nicholl (Waltham BC).

Strong challenges for the title will also come from outside of the area from players such as Anita and Colin Barks (Eagle BC), Bob Stevens and Janet Eames (Bilsthorpe BC), Ted and Iris Coulson (Eagle BC), Bill Bateman and Trevor Barlow (Alford BC) and Marion Williams and Bill Pickering (Boultham Park BC) – all of whom have figured in the latter stages of the competition in recent years.