PENSILVA'S champion women skittlers are hoping it will be third time lucky as they bid to regain their Blackthorn British Championships trophy next month.

The only Cornish team to qualify for this year's competition, the Everhopefuls' success story started in 2005 when, as first-time entrants, they won the Championships.

Then came two years in the doldrums, when they qualified for the finals but failed to take top honours. But in 2008, the Everhopefuls regained their form and finished as runners-up to the Sinners, from Exeter.

Victory second time around came in 2010, but last year they only made the quarter-finals.

For more on this story, and the week's other sports news, don't forget to order a regular copy of The Cornish Times, on sale every Friday