Little known outside the organisation, the inter-Warwickshire WI Darts Trophy has always been fiercely contested.

This year, the Long Itchington ladies want to do well in honour of their much-missed best player.

Branch president and co-founder Nona Bishop was a community marvel, "a friend of everyone who was capable of doing anything you could think of", as those who paid tribute put it after her death in April, aged 86.

Mrs Bishop ran clubs well into her 80s, organised dances, helped found the community centre, made outstanding sausage rolls and cakes and was presented with an award by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service for her dedication to meals on wheels volunteering.

On top of that she was a parish councillor, a key member of the carnival and other committees and a Stockton Good Neighbour.

And she was also a dab hand at darts, captaining the village WI squad.

Daughter Jean Salt said: "The Wright family, her maiden name, had Elizabeth my grandma who was a county champion.

"Then there was uncle Mac who owned the Malt Shovel pub at Gaydon and uncle Fred, who used to own the Jolly Brewer in Leamington, and the King's Head in Cubbington. We could tell you all sorts of things about darts.

"I'm not that good, but mum was - and somewhere in her effects I found a certificate saying the Long Itchington WI were runners-up once. She was nearly 6ft tall which I think helped and she was also very good at skittles."

The branch has entered the competition annually but in recent times has gone out at the first round.

This year could be different though, and training for December's tournament is already well underway at the Green Man pub. Mrs Salt added: "It's for fun, but we would like to at least get further. We're sort of doing it in memory of my mother.

"We've got a member called Sandy Timms who is good, but she's had an operation on her arm and can't play, so she's our coach and tells us what we are doing wrong. The walls of the Green Man are getting some stick at the moment!

"We have a lot of fun and get into the spirit of things. We practice on a Monday and more and more are beginning to join us. It's a night out!"