WEYMOUTH Cougars’ annual festival of football took place at the Marsh and was once again a huge success.

Cougars Sixes have been a regular part of Weymouth’s sporting calendar since 1992.

The mayor and mayoress, Cllr Kevin Brookes and his wife Anne, attended this year’s event which saw 84 teams compete in age groups from under-7s through to the under-15s.

Some teams travelled from as far afield as Bristol, Bath, Wales and Eastleigh, as well as the normal array of Dorset and Hampshire-based teams.

This year the Cougars had three new names to add to their list of champions. Wales provided two of their winners, as well as two runners-up.

Bargoed YMCA and Monmouth Town won the under-11s and under-10s respectively, with Monmouth also finishing runners-up in the under-12s and 13s competitions.

Bristol-based Longwell Green were the under-13 champions, while Weymouth took the honours in the under-14s and 15s, defeating Chickerell United and Evo Bath respectively in the finals.

Portland United Sports remained unbeaten to take the under-12s cup but Redlands FC were very unlucky to finish as runners-up in both the under-10s and 11s.

Melcombe Regis dominated the under-9s competition with the A team finishing as champions and the B team as runners-up.

The minis age groups proved a huge success with the under-7s and under-8s providing a feast of football. As the tournament for these age groups is non-competitive, all the players taking part received mementos.

A spokesperson for the club said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those without whose help and support this competition would not be possible. Especially to Claire and Matthew from the Dorset Cake Company, Gary for the loan of the PA and all those who loaned us equipment. As always, we are particularly grateful to our referees, who do an amazing job.

“Our many helpers who help set up and run the barbecues and refreshment areas, especially those parents and friends who worked so hard to keep us all fed and watered.

“There were many others, too numerous to mention, without whose input the weekend could not have reached such a successful conclusion.

“Our thanks also go to the Weymouth & Portland Borough Council grounds staff for looking after the pitches and surrounding areas so well. We would also like to thank all those individuals and companies for their pitch sponsorship. Finally to all the players, coaches, mums, dads and all who attended and had any input into the tournament we thank you.”