Saint and Sinners bidding for British titles

Exeter’s top skittles teams are preparing to do battle in the forthcoming Briitish championships. And there’s a lot at stake.

The ladies team the Sinners won the trophy in 2008, again in2011 and were runners up in 2009, a track record they don’t let the Saints men’s team forget, according to the team Captain Dave Rowe.

Dave, whose teams play out of St Thomas Social Club has a theory about why the men just don’t cut the mustard.

“We always win our matches if we start off on the alleys in the balcony area," he explained.

"But once we have to play on at ground level, it all goes wrong. It seems we have a head for heights but not for the ground."

Last year the Saints reached the second round, but the Sinners were knocked out in the first round and then crashed out of the Plate competition.

This year’s championships have gained a new sponsor in Butcombe Brewery and will be known as the Butcombe British Skittles Championships from now on. Teams like the Saints and Sinners will be keen to lift a first Butcombe trophy.

An added bonus this year is that all competitors in the competition will be part of a world record bid for the biggest number of skittlers playing in a tournament.

New sponsors Butcombe Brewery are thrilled to be involved in the championships. Managing Director Guy Newell said their tag line ‘get involved’ is a perfect fit with skittles. ‘Our message to the nation’s skittlers is ‘get involved, play skittles and enjoy a pint of Butcombe.

The championships are organised by Torquay-based Shoot Out Club , experienced sports events organisers. They have been running skittles weekends at venues along the south coast for twenty years.

"Skittles is a fantastic and very inclusive game for all ages," said Shoot Out’s co-director Rachel Bourke. "It’s not difficult to achieve some sort of score but of course to win the championships takes a lot of hard work and experience under pressure.

"We are delighted to be working with the great team at Butcombe and can’t wait to get them playing skittles as well.. This is a truly great combination of beer and skittles."

The competition begins at the end of April with series of knockout rounds. Then 64 finalists emerge from that process. The grand finals take place on Saturday September 20 at Torquay’s Riviera International Conference Centre. Last year’s attracted more than 1,000 skittlers and supporters.

Amongst the new features in this year’s competition will be a range of competitions and prizes to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the championships, plus welcoming Butcombe Brewery on board.