REDDITCH Renegades have secured their place at the British Skittles Championships.

The team were at risk of not qualifying after winning just open of their opening group games.

However, wins over Matson Wolfhounds, Spitfires of Coventry and Raspberry Ripples have seen them qualify once again.

The Renegades make up the largest ever army of finalists from Worcestershire in the Championships.

Ten teams are safely through to the finals being held in South Devon later this month.

Worcestershire has dominated the men’s competition in recent years with a spectacular double last year.

The Numpty Dumpties from Worcester took the title with the Renegades runners-up. Both have booked their places in the finals again.

Amongst the Worcestershire squad are former champions the Highwaymen from Worcester who won their titles in 2012, 2013 and again two years later. They were runners-up in 2016.

New team the Raspberry Ripples from Worcester sailed through their group round with five out of six wins so are definitely a team to watch.

Also safely through to the finals are the Rattler Boyz also from Worcester, who sailed through with four straight wins. Joining them will be Paul Groom’s Dirty Freshmen, the Gunslingers, also all from Worcester

In the ladies championships, all hopes are pinned on the Doolally Dumptys from Worcester and the Double Crossers from Malvern, both bidding for their first titles.

In the mixed competition all hopes rest on the Unstopaballs from Worcester who won four out of their six matches in a very strong regional round.

The tournament is organised by Serious About Events who stage the annual competition at Torquay’s Riviera Centre on September 21. Around 150 teams from all over England and Wales compete in a series of group rounds, with 64 teams qualifying for the finals. More than 1,000 players and spectators are expected to fill the centre for a long day of competition.