Push to become champion penny shover

The aim is to push the coins across a wooden board

The world championships of one of the UK's oldest sports was being fought in a Devon pub on Sunday.

More than 100 people entered the Shove Ha'Penny World Championships at The Borough Arms, Barnstaple.

Although most of the entrants came from England, competitors also made the trip from as far afield as Australia.

The sport, which can trace its traditions back to the 15th Century, involves pushing coins across a board by hand.

'Big in Australia'

Borough Arms owner Barry Dart said: "It is a very skillful game actually. It is not just something you can pick up overnight.

"Shove ha'penny is quite a big thing in Italy, France and Australia."

The current world champion Gary Short of Newport was defending the title he grabbed in his home town last year.

Mr Dart said players from Barnstaple had developed their skills in the town's shove ha'penny league to prepare for this year's competition.

The aim of competitors is to shove coins from one side of a board into nine "beds" on the opposing side.

Scores are taken down by an impartial referee.

Mr Dart added: "We play on boards that are 100 years old. People dust them, clean them every week and even frame them so they don't get warped."