THE annual skittles tournament for the Peter Bird Cup gets under way at Wellington Football Club in May with 32 teams of six taking part.

Last year’s winners One Night in Bangkok start the defence of their title against Tim’s Princes on June 16.

Teams entered last year from Wellington, Cullompton, Tiverton, Taunton, Nynehead and Huntsham, all chasing the first prize of £300, and many of them are playing in the event this summer.

There is a runners-up prize of £150, and a prize of £50 for the side with the highest team score in their first game.

Peter Bird said: “The competition has always proved popular with skittlers in the summer.

“I would also like to thank Wellington Football Club for allowing me to stage it again.”

The draw and full schedule are as follows: First Round, Thursday 14th May – Shuttern Has Beens v Mowers B; Friday 15th May – Spice Girls v Nynehead; Tuesday 19th May – The Bewilded v Outcasts; Thursday 21st May – Buck’s Allsorts v All Stars; Friday 22nd May – Reservists v Bishop’s Boys; Tuesday 26th May – Brass Monkeys v Leppers; Wednesday 27th May – Tall’Sorts v Boom Boys; Thursday 28th May – Redskins v Scuppers; Tuesday 2nd June – High Flyers v Anyone’s Guess; Thursday 4th June – Wardens v New Comers; Friday 5th June – Monty’s Marvelous Marvels v Wildcats; Monday 8th June – Misfits v Huntsham; Tuesday 9th June – Foresters v The Motley Crew; Thursday 11th June – Devonairs v One Night Only; Tuesday 16th June – One Night in Bangkok v Tim’s Princes; Thursday 18th June – Mowers A v Outsiders.

Second Round: Friday 19th June, Monday 22nd June, Thursday 25th June, Friday 26th June, Tuesday 30th June, Thursday 2nd July, Friday 3rd July, Tuesday 7th July.

Quarter Finals: Wednesday 8th July, Monday 13th July, Thursday 16th July, Friday 17th July.

Semi Finals: Monday 20th July, Tuesday 21st July.

Final: Friday 24th July.