ORGANISERS are celebrating 40 years of the Wychavon Parish Games.

In 1978 the then Wychavon Sports Council started the games which are still going strong.

The aim is still the same — to offer all district residents the opportunity to participate in active sports and pub games.

There are competitive and community elements, whether through developing relationships within the parish teams or the derby atmosphere in contests.

This is why there is a strict rule about participants having to reside within the parish they represent.

There are two types of event – the knockout games of crib, darts, dominoes and pool, which start in July and August on a home and away basis, as well as skittles on Friday evenings.

Then there are the one-day events — angling, bell boating, bowls, cross-country, men’s five-a-side football, petanque, rounders and junior and senior table tennis at set venues.

Various new sports have been added over the years but the core have remained the same for 40.

Although there are no plans to expand the games, the committee always look at suggestions for new events.

The 2018 games start on Saturday, June 23, with the bell boating on the River Avon behind Pershore Leisure Centre.

This is followed by the five-a-side football at Badsey Recreation Ground on July 1 and the rounders at Pershore High School on July 8.

The cross-country is at Pershore High School on July 16 with 80 runners involved last year.

After the petanque at Waterside, Evesham, there is a gap in the one-day events. Meanwhile, the knockouts start and go on to their finals in October and early November.

The bowls is at Bredon on September 16 with the angling on the River Avon in Evesham on September 22.

The final two knockouts are the senior and junior table tennis at St Egwin’s Middle School on October 7.

The winners and runners-up are presented with trophies at the presentation evening in late November which is hosted by the previous year’s winning parish.

There are trophies for the highest-placed small parish for under 500 on the electoral roll and the medium parish for between 501 and 999.

There is an award of merit for the parish that has entered every event but not been first or second in any of them.

The runners-up cup was won last by Broadway and the prestigious silver salver for the overall winner has been claimed by Bretforton since 2014.

Each event is run by a local volunteer with knowledge of the particular sport. Initially, the games were funded by Wychavon District Council but now each event is sponsored by a local company.

Together with Wychavon Sport being backed by Severn Trent, it means the games can continue.

The closing date for this year’s events is June 15 although it may be possible to take one-day event entries afterwards.

More details are available at wychavongames.org or from the secretary Sue Collins on 01905 841269.