Hundreds of skittles players were still nursing sore heads this morning after the Blackthorn British Skittles Championships drew to a triumphant close.

Hangovers lasted into today as winners and losers alike caroused until the wee hours yesterday, with many still in full karaoke swing at 5am.

More than 600 players and spectators turned up for the annual event, the fifth of its kind, at Sand Bay Leisure Resort in Weston-super-Mare.

The tournament saw 48 teams from across the South West plus, for the first time, a side from the West Midlands going head to head in the grand final to see who could scoop the title of the UK's premier skittles team.

Team chants and free-flowing ale created an "electric" atmosphere alley-side.

The mixed event saw the Club Mixers team from Wellington in Somerset doing battle with the Satellite Scorching Hoppers from Gloucester.

The Gloucester team, comprised four members from the 2007 reigning champions, The Gloucester Gladiators, who had failed to qualify, maintained the edge and the title, with a final score of 333 to the Mixers' 319.

The women's event, which had seen the meteoric rise of newcomers The Sinners from Exeter, culminated in a triumphant win for the team as they beat 2005 champions, The Ever-Hopefuls from Pensilva in Cornwall 342-320.

The championships' referee Rachel Bourke congratulated The Sinners on their success: "They were the first team we've ever had competing who have remained undefeated throughout all the qualifying matches, both home and away, to scoop the title.

"And although it was a friendly grudge match for The Ever-Hopefuls after their previous defeat, both teams were still cheering each other on every step of the way, which is just indicative of the sportsman-like feeling that ran through the whole event."

In the men's final, the Mixers team from Totnes took on Bath City, who have managed to qualify for the final for the past three years, only to fall down at the last hurdle.

But this year, the title belonged to the boys from Bath, who beat the Mixers by a resounding 352 to 329.

Speaking after the event, Ms Bourke said: "It was a phenomenal day and the atmosphere was electric.

"It was deafening inside as all the supporters and competitors were cheering and chanting, even after they had been knocked out.

"After the finals everybody was on an almighty high and we had cabaret, followed by a disco and a performance from The Blues Brothers Tribute from Cornwall."

Even after the band finished, the disco rolled on, with karaoke starting at 2am.

This year's event saw a record number of entries, 25per cent up on last year.