Blackthorn British Skittles Championships
With karaoke not even starting until 2am, it is not for the weak-stomached or sleep lovers, but the smiles on the players' faces and the belly laughs echoing across the busy alleys showed they would not have it any other way.
No fewer than 48 teams from across the South West, and for the first time West Midlands, have gathered for a two-day extravaganza of the traditional English pub sport.
Throughout the spring and summer, a record 173 teams have been battling in regional group matches and knockout rounds for the right to become the UK's premier skittles team.
Men's, women's and mixed teams have got their bowling, and drinking, shoes on to take the prestigious title and walk away with a share of £5,250 prize money, plus a booty of goodies.
Yesterday, was the warm up for today's team events, with men's and women's pairs and singles.
The first clatter of skittles rang out at 10am and did not let up as battle commenced.
Every bowler has a style of his or her own, from the composed, smooth ball down the middle, to the bouncing bombs and those who shuffle and sidestep their way down the alley.
But the technique that catches the eye, and makes the most noise, is definitely the Dorset flop.
While in other parts of the country, skittlers use one arm to fling their balls down, many players from Dorset use two as they belly flop their way down the alley as they launch the ball forward.
And one of the best proponents was Andy Mowlam, of the Motley Crew team from Weymouth.
The 46-year-old is a relative novice at skittles, having only played for eight years.
"That's the way I've always thrown since I started," he said. "We call it the Dorset flop and most of us do it down there. Most of the time it works."
Team captain Andy Rosewell, 56, is a seasoned veteran, having started playing when he was 16.
He said: "The Blackthorn Championships is an absolutely brilliant social event and the biggest skittles championship in the country.
"The camaraderie with your teammates and the other players is fantastic."
Yesterday's singles were played in four legs, or hands, in which each player got three balls.
If competitors knock down the nine skittles and if they have balls remaining they are put back up and he or she bowls the remaining balls, which means the perfect score for a leg is 27.
Another Dorset flopper, Simon Ross was the closest to that magical mark, posting four scores of 17 in a row as he and his Dewlish Monsters partner Andy Crabb made it through to the latter rounds with an impressive score.
But the modest 35-year-old said his personal best four- handed score of 68 was a lot of luck.
Gloucester Grasshopper Wendy Campbell smashed an impressive strike as she got into her groove yesterday afternoon and sparked chanting from her teammates who play at the England's Glory pub in London Road, Gloucester.
"We love to go out there and have a good time but we still want to win, and if we do it's a bonus," said the secretary of the Gloucester Ladies Skittles League.
"Skittles is a great game for the social side and you make a lot of good friends.
"But I'd like to see more of the younger generation taking it up."
The Pirates of Posset, an old word for Portishead, were the winners of the Western Daily Press' best named skittles team competition, winning a set of named polo shirts and a supply of cider.
Captain Sarah Collins and her pairs partner Veronica Millerchip enjoyed a cracking first day's competition, making their way to the latter stages of the competition.
The newly formed team is made up from players from different teams in the Portishead area, but most play at Clarence House Sports and Social Club.
She said: "It's a brilliant competition, we're all enjoying it and we're playing very well so far.
"I've been playing skittles since I was 17 years old. I just love the atmosphere, the social life and it's just good fun and we have a laugh.
"We all came up with the team name. I've never won anything so I was surprised that we won the competition." While most players prefer flat shoes as they play, Veronica only ever takes to the alley in her high heels.
"I've always played in heels ever since I started," she said, admiring her footwear.
"I tried playing in flat shoes once but because they're that much lower I ended up scraping my hands on the floor.
"I was really nervous in our first game but now it's really good."
For the main event today, teams of eight are pitted against each other in straight knockout; no messing and no room for error. Top seeds in the men's event this year are Mowers from Wellington, Somerset.
In the women's event, Coleford Bowlovers are back to defend their Championship title having finished top of their group to qualify.
Championships Referee Rachel Bourke said: "This is the fifth year of the Blackthorn and it is going from strength to strength.
"The Grand Finals weekend has become the skittling Holy Grail with new teams hearing the stories and desperate to experience it for themselves.
"We have seen some amazing skittles take place over the past six months to see these teams take their places at the Grand Finals.
"This has been the largest entry in the championships ever and it is great to see new teams that have never qualified before getting though to the grand finals. With nearly 600 players and spectators it will be a fantastic weekend of skittles for all to enjoy and we, as much as the players, can't wait to see how it unfolds."
For information on the 2009 Blackthorn British Skittles Championships ring the Shoot Out Club on 01803 210210 or visit www.shootoutclub.co.uk/bbsc.
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