WORCESTER’S top skittles team the Highwaymen have taken the British title once again in a scintillating display of talent and determination.

The team’s third British title catapults them into skittling record books as the first men’s team ever to win three titles in the 12-year history of the competition.

Their previous wins were in 2012 and 2013.

Sixty-four teams had qualified for the men’s finals of the Butcombe British Skittles Championships after some tough early qualifying rounds.

After a faltering start when they lost their first match, the Highwaymen came back to win their group round with a convincing total of 884 points.

Then came the quarter-finals where they beat Colliton Club from Dorchester by 301 to 278. Next appointment was with the 2010 champions, the Mixers from Paignton, in the semi-finals.

Once again they dominated the opposition by 301 to 293.

Finally came the big moment, the grand finals where they were pitted against the Saints from Exeter whose previous best performance in eight years of competing had been to reach the second round, and they were hungry for victory.

At that point captain James Rushton admitted to the packed audience at the Riviera International Conference Centre in Torquay that he was really nervous, despite his team being the favourites to win.

In the event, he had no reason to be as the Highwaymen led all the way, finishing with a score of 345 pins to the Saints’ 314.

“I don’t know why I was so nervous,” he said after the presentation.

“I think there was so much at stake, not just this victory but the record for three wins.

But then once we got going, somehow we all relaxed into the final.

“Now here we are with three British titles and a place in the record books. It’s the most fantastic feeling.”

The team, who play out of the Anchor Inn in Diglis, were presented with a trophy, medals, a cheque for £1,000, Butcombe beer and special champions’t-shirts Meanwhile in the men’s pairs competition there was further triumph for Worcestershire.

Gary Jones and Steve Hooper, who play for the Dirty Freshmen, took the title after beating nearest rivals Tommy Allen and Andy Sibley from Cirencester by 73 points to 70.

Other Worcestershire competitors, the Dumpty Numpties and Dirty Freshmen, were knocked out in the group round stages of the men’s team finals.

Similarly, in the mixed competition, the Unstopaballs failed to win their group round.