Past BDBD chairman Marilyn Blake has dubbed the event one of the most “fiercely contested” of its kind in Victoria in terms of hosting rights.

“It’s been the biggest (tournament) since I’ve been here, and I’ve been here for 20 years,” she said. “We’ve been preparing for this since being notified 17 months ago.

“It’s really fantastic for women’s bowls and it attracts teams from all over Victoria. 

“We’ve got teams down from Mildura, Phillip Island, Gippsland and the Western District.”

Tournament secretary Margaret Wilkins says the event will have significant benefits for the BDSA and Ballarat itself. 

“It provides a great financial benefit to the clubs,” she said.

“There’s lots of tourism here. They’re all in accommodation, they’ll all eat at restaurants and they’ll hopefully do some shopping as well. 

“It’s a prestigious event and it’s lovely to think that Ballarat is big enough to be able to cope with this many ladies because not every division is able to do that.”

The week started with an official welcoming dinner at the Ballarat Golf Club on Sunday night.

Competitors locked horns in fours format across greens at 18 clubs in the BDBD on Monday, before playing out the initial pairs rounds on Tuesday.

Sectional winners from both the pairs and fours will play on Wednesday and Thursday before finals start at Central Wendouree on Friday.

Bowls Victoria president John Fisher has overseen the event the past few days and was given a tour of the region by BDBD president Ross Jones on Monday.

Fisher said he was impressed with the infrastructure in place in the BDBD.

“The facilities and greens are great and there’s plenty of variation,” Fisher said. 

“The ladies on the BDBD committee have done a fantastic job over the past 18 months in having everything well prepared.

“It’s run like clockwork as far as I can see and, from Bowls Victoria, we’re very pleased.”