FOUR teams from Worcester are preparing for the finals of the Butcombe British Skittles Championships this weekend.

Heading the pack and hot favourites to win back their title are two-times champions the Highwaymen from the Anchor Inn at Diglis.

The team won the men’s championships in 2012 and 2013 but crashed out in the second round of the finals last year, but they’re determined to clinch the treble.

Hot on their heels are three more teams equally anxious to lift the silverware.

The Dumpty Numpties and the Dirty Freshmen are new names to the competition but some members have competed in previous teams.

As the Dirty Dozen, the Dirty Freshman lost out in the first round of the finals to the eventual winners the Wiltshire Wonders, while the former Numpty Dumpties were runners-up in the men’s competition in 2009.

Worcester’s hopes in the mixed team competition rest on the Unstopaballs who reached the quarter-finals in 2013 but didn’t enter last year.

The championships, sponsored by Butcombe Brewery, is now in its 12th year. Butcombe managing director Guy Newell praised all the teams for their commitment to the championships.

“Getting through to the finals is a real achievement,” he said. “Many of these teams will have fought some fierce battles to win their places in Torquay.

“We congratulate each and every one of them. This is our second year of sponsorship and we can’t wait to enjoy the amazing atmosphere in the finals once again. Beer and skittles really are a great combination.”

This year’s championships have undergone some rule changes. Instead of a plate competition for first round losers, all the teams will play in leagues first, before a series of knock-out stages to determine the winners.

“This means the teams will have to play more matches to get to the podium,” said competition organiser Rachel Bourke.