Quoits resurgence a 'big success story'

Younger people like Cameron Robbie and Johnnie Redden have also been playing the game

An ancient game has been surging in popularity in a county that now has 31 teams across four divisions.

More than 250 people, from teenagers to 80 year olds, are playing quoits in the Allen Valley Quoits League in Northumberland.

The game involves throwing a five-and-a-quarter pound (2.4kg) metal ring (a quoit) over a distance of 33ft (10m) towards a metal pin which is three inches (7cm) above the ground in the middle of a square bed of clay.

League secretary Richard Macdonald said the game's popularity was "a big success story" as a lot of leagues in other areas were "struggling", especially for younger players.

Mr Macdonald, 66, said: "It's the young players we need, because we are all getting older."

At the age of 22, Johnnie Redden is carrying on the tradition.

He joined when he was 13 alongside his father and said the sport helped him meet new people.

"They're all good lads, you always see them about, especially in the tight community of Northumberland," he said.

Cameron Robbie, 23, added: "It's a good sport to get into. There's a lot of young farmers so you can meet new people."

Richard Macdonald has been running the league for 36 years

Mr Macdonald has been running the Allen Valley league, which has teams between Corbridge and Alston, for 36 years.

He said he believed it was the largest quoits league in the world.

He also said the game was not for the "faint hearted".

"It requires a bit of skill and a little bit of strength," he said.

Bill Aynsley, 80, said the camaraderie was the most important aspect of the game

Each player has two quoits, and two points are scored if the quoit goes over the pin, or one if it is the closest to the pin.

The winner is the first to score 15 points, or 21 in tournaments and doubles matches.

However, Bill Aynsley, 80, said it was not all about winning.

"It's just the camaraderie," he said.

"It's nice to win, but it's not the end of the world. As long as we don't get relegated, that's the main thing."

Helen Harkness is one of the new players

Newcomer to the game Helen Harkness said playing quoits was "brilliant".

"It's fantastic and you get very muddy at the same time," the 40-year-old said.

"I think people are wanting to get back to being social.

"It's such a good way of getting out of the house and meeting people and spending the evening.

"And everyone likes going to the pub to be honest and if you can get a bit of competition into it as well, that makes it even better. "