Exeter teams in battle for British titles

Exeter is sending a strong message to this year’s Butcombe British Skittles Championships. No less than seven teams are through to the grand finals in Torquay on Saturday (Sept 20).

St Thomas Social Club is fielding five of the qualifiers, including the Allstars who have qualified for the fifth year running in the mens’ competition, along with the Saints who were knocked out in the second round last year.

Team secretary Dave Rowe said Saints’ confidence had been massively boosted by a win against the Mixers from Torbay, men’s champions four years ago and runners up in 2012.

Flying the flag in the women’s competition, it’s all down to the Sinners, with their impressive track record, experience will be on their side. They have been twice champions in 2005 and 2011, runners up in 2009 and Plate winners in 2010. But the last couple of years haven’t been kind as they went out in the first round of the finals and then were knocked out in the Plate competition.

‘It’s all or nothing with the Sinners,’ said Dave Rowe. ‘The Sinners are either knocked out in an early round or get all the way to the finals. We’re hoping it’s a case of the latter this year.’

St Thomas Social Club is also represented in the mixed championships with Two Tribes making it to the finals for the first time, meanwhile fellow team mates the Stuffing Balls making their debut in the competition, have qualified at their first attempt.

Meanwhile the Heavitree Heros, from Heavitree Social Club had their breakthrough last year qualifying after five attempts and are back again on Saturday, proving it wasn’t just a fluke.

Meanwhile the Torminators ((correct)) have qualified for the first time, after failing to come through last year at their first attempt.

New sponsors of the national competition are Butcombe Brewery, based at Wrington in North Somerset.

Managing director Guy Newell, congratulated the 64 teams who have now made it to the grand finals in Torquay.

‘Everyone at Butcombe Brewery congratulates the qualifiers for their skill, hard work and determination. There have been some epic battles, some shocks and surprises along the way but the team spirit has been fantastic. Skittlers are a great bunch of people and we are proud to be sponsors of this event and what promises to be an incredible finals day.

'We also salute the teams who didn’t make it this time but hope to see them again next year.’

This year’s competition, organised by Shoot Out Club of Torquay, has attracted 150 teams, who embarked on a series of regional rounds. The final 64 will be battling it out at Torquay’s Riviera International Conference Centre on Saturday September 20.

Shoot Out Club’s Rachel Bourke predicts a close fought contest.

‘There are several skittles records at stake,’ she said. ‘We are hoping to set a world record for the largest number of skittlers in a competition.

‘Plus we could see the first team to win four British championship titles, and the first team to win three consecutive titles . There could be a lot of skittles history in the making.’

Ends