month is bristling with confidence and hopeful of medalling.

Six men and six women will represent the Island in the World Tenpin Bowling Championships in the United Arab Emirates against opposition from around the globe.

Antoine Jones and Conrad Lister, silver medal heroes from the 1998 Commonwealth Games, will be looking to add to their unexpected Kuala Lumpur success when they take to the lanes in Abu Dhabi.

Steven Riley, Mike McCallum, Chris Leverock and Bermuda's most consistent bowler this year, Dean Lightbourn, make up the rest of the men's team.

June Dill, Dianne (Bobbie) Ingham, June Pitt, Patricia Price, Charletta Samuels and Tracy Lambe are the women carrying the Island's hopes.

The team will fly out to the UAE via London on November 13, arriving the following day. They will have only one day to practise before the three-week tournament opens on November 16.

"In our sport, this is equal to the Olympics,'' said Dill. "With teams of six men and six women from about 70 countries, we know we will have to be at our best.

"But every time we go to a championship, we are looking to win a medal. I think we've all been bowling well and we can compete with the best as long as we remain focused.

"Over the last two years, bowling has really taken off in Bermuda and the Commonwealth silver medal really proved that. Since then, it's been difficult to get on Warwick Lanes without a reservation.'' Dill was looking forward to an event which would make history, as the Muslim host nation would be fielding a women's team for the first time.

The lack of practice time was a concern for Dill as the team have been given no idea of the lane conditions in Abu Dhabi.

"They have not told us how many units of oil they have put on and conditions vary according to that,'' said Dill. "It affects how much the bowl will hook or if it will slide.

"Our only pratice day is November 15 and so we won't have much time to rest after our journey before we have to start practising.

"But we cannot fly out earlier because the tournament lasts three weeks -- and to expect more time than that off work is asking a bit much.'' The team flopped at the Pan-Am Games in Winnipeg this summer, with the exception of Lightbourn, who went close to an individual medal.

"At the Pan-Ams, the lane conditions were tough,'' added Dill. "Whoever reads the lanes quickest and makes the right adjustments to score will succeed.''