Exeter Skittlers battle for British titles
Exeter will be missing two of its most successful teams in this year’s finals of the annual Gasket Guy British Skittles Championships taking place Saturday (Sept 17).
Mixed team champions Two Tribes will not be there to defend their British title after they failed to qualify in the preliminary rounds of the competition. They lost three of their four matches against the High Flyers of Totnes and One Step Beyond from Weymouth and so ruled themselves out of a never-before-achieved hat trick in the mixed competition.
In the men’s competition however, Two Tribes men’s team from St Thomas Social Club are safely through but the Saints from the same Club, who pulled off their best ever performance as last year’s runners-up, lost out in the play offs to Weymouth’s Motley Crew by just a 14 point margin.
Meanwhile the Loungers who play out of The Kings are in the finals for the second year running.
Exeter is strongly represented in the women’s competition, as twice champions the Sinners, also from St Thomas Social Club, are safely through to the finals. They lifted the trophy in 2008 and 2011.
This year’s competition has a new sponsor, Gasket Guy, who custom make and install commercial fridge and freezer door seals. Boss Brian Pengelly congratulated all the qualifiers.
‘They have travelled many miles and played a lot of matches to get this far and we wish them all every success,’ he said. ‘But we also commiserate with the teams who didn’t make it this time and hope they will be back again next year.’
The event is organised by Serious About Events of Torquay who also run a range of sports and themed weekends throughout the year. Serious About MD Rachel Bourke predicted another keenly fought final this year.
‘Some of the big names haven’t made it through to the finals this year,’ she said. ‘So there could well be some new names on the podium.
‘Nothing beats the amazing and unique atmosphere at the grand finals. One thousand skittlers and supporters under one roof – now that is really something!’
Note to editors
Pin by pin - Gasket Guy British Skittles Championships statistics:
• More than 30 days equivalent of skittles action
• 150 teams taking part
• 500 matches played
• 150,000 balls thrown
• 300,000 skittles stuck up
