IF you read through the entries to the Acle Open Tournament it is like the “Who's Who” of Bowls. Those who have already confirmed their entry to the Open to be staged at Acle Indoor Bowls Club on January 3, include World Champion Billy Jackson, World Ladies Champion Debbie Stavrou, and World ranked No 2, Mark Royal, World ranked No 5 David Gourlay.

IF you read through the entries to the Acle Open Tournament it is like the “Who's Who” of Bowls.

Those who have already confirmed their entry to the Open to be staged at Acle Indoor Bowls Club on January 3, include World Champion Billy Jackson, World Ladies Champion Debbie Stavrou, and World ranked No 2, Mark Royal, World ranked No 5 David Gourlay.

Also included in the line up is local talent Mervyn King, World Matchplay Champion, Jamie Chestney, World Under 25 Champion, and Graham Smith from Spalding ranked at 26th. Also appearing will be Simon Skelton, England Number 10 and newly crowned Welsh Open Champion, Robert Chisholm.

If you are a bowls enthusiast the only place to be on January 3 will be Acle.

You may well ask what is going on in this Norfolk village to cause such a plethora of bowls talent to descend upon it.

Denis Goodley, manager of the this very progressive club explains: “Tim Stone, our own very talented club champion for the past seven years, along with ten more club players, have been playing in the Professional Bowls Tournaments during the last few months and learned that a new Premier Bowls Circuit was being formed in the Midlands and wondered if we should also join.

“Enquiries were made and we were welcomed with open arms, such is the reputation of the Acle club. We launched this Tournament on the web and it was filled within 10 days.”

Other clubs on the East Midland Premier Bowls circuit are Lincoln, Ely, Spalding, and Boston, with the Finals in May to be staged in Nottingham.

Good prize money is being offered at all events and Scottish and Newcastle Brewery and Adams Brewery are supporting the Acle event. Sponsors have already agreed to support the 2011 Tournament, so impressed are they with the line up.

Goodley continues: “It is a great opportunity for local players to test themselves against some of the best players in the World and what better place to grab a few scalps than on your own home carpet in front of your own club members. This is going to be one of the greatest array of talent ever seen at a local bowls club and we are proud to be hosts to such an event.

“This ties in nicely with our Pathway to Excellence Scheme, we have in place at the club, which is part of our Clubmark standard. We have a progress chart to bring our youngsters through from beginner to youth section member, to local league, then county league and eventually England triallists.”

Acle have produced 10 England Junior Internationals since it was opened in 1993 and this year have England International trialists in the Men's and Ladies International Teams and the England Under 25 Team. At one point, 25pc of the Ladies England Under 25 came from Acle.

The club coaches are to be congratulated on their enthusiasm. They visit six schools, introducing bowls to over 70 children every year and the club benefit from this by having a thriving youth section of 30 youngsters, which meets very Friday from 4.30pm.

The club is continually looking for new talent so if you are interested in becoming the next World Bowls Champion and travelling the World,with all expenses paid, then why not take the first step by joining Acle Indoor Bowls Club.

The coaches may not be able to turn you into a World Champion overnight but you will be given every opportunity to do so and there is even a Bursary set aside for juniors to help with expenses if necessary.