Welcome to the 6th Blackthorn British Skittles Championship homepage!

Saturday 19th September 2009 saw yet another thrilling climax to end a grueling 5-month long campaign by a record 164 teams in the 6th Blackthorn British Skittles Championship Grand Finals. The 48 qualifying teams from across the skittling counties got underway under a sun-kissed Sand Bay Leisure Resort, Weston-super-Mare to find the Men's, Ladies and Mixed Blackthorn Champions for 2009. It was teams from Gloucester, Devon, Dorset, Worcestershire, Somerset and home town Weston that entered the packed out arena for the final match of their epic campaigns.

Amazing individual and team performances, together with grit and determination on a sweltering stage after a whole day skittling, saw three of the last six take away the winner's trophies, medals, Blackthorn goodies and the coveted title of Blackthorn British Skittles Champions 2009.

The winners

The winning prize money of £1,650 for the Men's, £1,000 for the Ladies and £1,200 for the Mixed teams, were awarded as follows:

• Men's Champions: Weston St. John from Weston-Super-Mare
• Ladies Champions: Coleford Bowlovers from Coleford, Gloucestershire
• Mixed Champions: Orchard Mix from Mere, Dorset

Runners up

Runners up in each event with Men's receiving £800, Ladies £500 and Mixed £600 together with Blackthorn goodies were as follows:

• Men's runners up: Numpty Dumptys from Worcester
• Ladies runners up: The Sinners from Exeter, Devon
• Mixed runners up: Wild Bunch from Frome, Somerset

plate winners / runners up

The last 16 teams in each of the 3 events lined up according to the previous evening's live draw and got the ball rolling shortly after 10am. For teams that fell at the first hurdle, a plate event was held and the results were as follows:

• Men's plate winners: Morganite from Worcester
• Men's plate runner-up: Mixers from Totnes, Devon

• Ladies plate winners: Baker St. Follies from Gloucester
• Ladies plate runner-up: Gloster Belles from Gloucester

• Mixed plate winners: Dorchester Pic n Mix from Dorchester
• Mixed plate runners-up: Mix Ups from Pensilva, Cornwall

All 48 teams who reached the Grand Finals received a special rate accommodation sponsored by Martyn Leisure Resorts and Hotels for the Saturday night and were entertained by an amazing performance from Skool Disco, DJ Alan Webb and a late bar Karaoke.

Press Officers award

The Press Officers award for presenting the best local press coverage for the event was again won by Dave Rowe of The Saints, the runner up title was won by Brian Sage from Wrington Sports, and Paul Watkins from Uffculme Bellies gained third place.

Press officer winner - Dave Rowe