Thrudball, one of the UK’s longest-running Blood Bowl tournaments, returned to Swindon Supermarine for its 20th annual event. The weekend combined competitive tabletop gaming with fundraising activities including a charity auction, raffle and cake sale.
Around 150 players attended from across Britain, while others travelled from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands to take part.
Organisers say the charity auction alone raised more than £8,000, with the overall fundraising total expected to approach £10,000 once all donations have been counted.
Over the past two decades, Thrudball has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charities including Mind and the Roy Castle Foundation.
Blood Bowl, created by Games Workshop, is a fantasy-themed version of American football featuring teams of orcs, elves, dwarfs and other fictional characters. Although Warhammer is the company’s best-known franchise, Blood Bowl continues to attract a dedicated international community.
The tournament has been held in Swindon since 2021 after relocating from Bognor Regis.
Councillor Mike Davies, a long-standing member of the Blood Bowl community, said:
“Swindon was a natural new location for this fantastic tournament when the organisers changed at the beginning of the decade, being easy to get to for travellers from Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands as well as from around the UK.
“Swindon Supermarine have a lovely hall and bar along with the grounds that mean people can camp, making the tournament an amazing family environment for the weekend.”
He said:
“The atmosphere is always really welcoming and the tournament sells out quickly each year, proving its long-lasting appeal across the generations.”
The tournament takes its name from Thrud the Barbarian, a fantasy comic character from the 1980s, and has become known as much for its fundraising efforts as its competitive play.
Swindon also has an active tabletop gaming community, with Blood Bowl players able to meet at venues including the Warhammer store in the Brunel Shopping Centre, Firestorm Games in Old Town, Tom’s Tabletop Bunker at Studley Grange Garden Centre and Atomic Games in Kembrey Business Park. Local players can also connect through the Swindon and Wiltshire Blood Bowl League on social media.
