Record turn-out for Battle Marbles

This year the British Legion was victorious in all matches, winning both the men's and ladies' competitions.

The two teams then went head-to-head with the British Legion men beating the British Legion ladies to take the coveted Dave Cusack Cup for the overall champions.

Shirley Lewis from the Battle Bonfire Boyes team won the James Woodhams Memorial cup for the highest scoring lady, and Simon Smith won the Pelham Wait Memorial Shield for the highest scoring man.

The Bert Gobles Challenge Cup was retained by the Battle Men.

In the fancy dress competitions, the Battle Club won the Jack Wait Shield for their brilliant Jamaican Bobsled Team, with the team from the King's Head taking the silver medals for Michael Jackson Through the Ages.

The Battle Marbles Shield for the best dressed ladies' team was won by The Senlac with their version of Snow White and the Five Dwarfs with the Abbey Ladies dressed as The Abbey Maids to take silver.

It was also a record year for entries in the Children's Easter Bonnet Competition with 45 children taking part.

The hats were so good that although three children received slightly larger Easter egg prizes, everyone took home an Easter egg prize, apart from one under-a-year entrant, who was given a soft toy.

The competition was followed by the traditional "scramble" for 1,000 free marbles which was wonderful to watch, with all children who took part managing to pick up at least a few marbles.

The torrential rain forecast for 10am arrived just before noon when the semi-final rounds were just starting, so the decision to move the event into the Memorial Hall meant that the last eight matches were 'home and dry'.