THERE was disappointment for Worcester’s Highwaymen after they failed to collect their third consecutive Butcombe British Skittles Championships title.

The team, who play out of the Anchor Inn, Diglis, were hot favourites to claim the crown and set a record for successes in a row.

Despite an easier journey into the finals this year, Highwaymen showed their previous form with a win over arch-rivals Rattlers in the first round.

But they came unstuck against Wiltshire Wonders, who went on to take the coveted title.

The Dirty Dozen, also from Worcester, went out in the first round, once again to Wiltshire Wonders.

But there was consolation when Highwaymen’s Scott Evans was runner-up in the men’s singles competition.

A disappointed James Rushton, captain of Highwaymen, was generous in defeat.

He said: “Wiltshire were brilliant. I couldn’t fault them. They got six spares in a row. That’s the way it goes.

“But we’ve had a brilliant time, even though we had a tough first round.

“It’s just a shame about the record but they deserved to win.”

This year’s British championships began in April with a series of leagues and play-offs.

It involved nearly 150 teams from all over the United Kingdom with 64 qualifying for the finals.

The competition is being registered as the biggest skittles tournament with Guinness World Records.