They keep coming back. Ninteen international bowlers will contest the 23rd annual Speight's Invitation singles in Dunedin at Labour Weekend.

This includes the seven bowlers in the New Zealand men's team that finished runner-up to Australia at the Eight Nations tournament at the Commonwealth Games venue in Glasgow last month.

Four of the Black Jacks team will be pitted against each other in section two at the North East Valley Bowling Club.

They are Blake Signal (Wellington), Andrew Kelly (Canterbury), Shannon McIlroy (Nelson) and Dan Delany (Auckland).

The other Black Jacks will have an easier draw. Sydney-based players Richard Girvan and Ali Forsyth are in sections one and three, respectively. Tony Grantham (Auckland) is in section four.

The event, first held in 1990, has always attracted New Zealand's top bowlers. It is the longest-running annual elite tournament organised by a club in New Zealand.

The total prize money for this year's event is $16,000. The winner will collect $5000 and the runner-up $2500. The winner of the plate event will collect $1300.

Eight former champions will be competing again, including defending champion McIlroy, who has won the event three times.

Thirty-two players have been invited. Four bowlers from the North East Valley club qualify for the event through an elimination tournament.

Evan Roberts and Roger Stevens have already qualified and two more will be added after club eliminations this weekend.

The event starts on Friday, October 25, at the North East Valley club, and the final will be held on Labour Day from 1pm.

Invitation singles
The field
Section 1: Paul Houlahan (Central Otago), Richard Girvan (Sydney), Raika Gregory (Waikato), Andre Smith (Marlborough), Bob McAuley (South Otago), Peter Wilson (Dunedin), Terry Scott (NEV).
Section 2: Shaun Scott (NEV), Kerry Becks (Dunedin), Shayne Sincock (Canterbury), Blake Signal (Wellington), Andrew Kelly (Canterbury), Shannon McIlroy (Nelson), Dan Delany (Auckland).
Section 3: Chris Le Lievre (Auckland), Justin Goodwin (Auckland), Mike Kernaghan (Dunedin), Ali Forsyth (Sydney), Philip Skoglund (Manawatu), Andrew Curtain (Canterbury).
Section 4: Dave Archer (Dunedin), Mark Watt (NEV), Steve Beel (Bay of Plenty), Tony Grantham (North Shore), Craig Merrilees (Southland), Jim Scott (NEV), Bill Clements (Central Otago), Peter Hodson (Nelson).
Four North East Valley players will be added.