The West Wilts Table Tennis League held their annual Championships at their Centre at John of Gaunt School, Trowbridge, at the weekend.

The event, originally scheduled for the weekend of February 7th/8th had to be postponed due to the snow that particular weekend.

Because of this all events were played through to finals stage instead of the usual separate Finals evening.

Saturday afternoon saw the Junior and Cadet events. With events played in groups it gave players plenty of games even if the entries were slightly down on last year.

In the Junior Singles final the ever improving Chris Pickard was no match for the very experienced Alex Kearney losing in three straight games.

It was a closer contest in the Cadet Singles final and although Lee Phillips was beaten in three straight games by the older Alex Maclachlan it was only by two points each game.

Lee paired up with Alex Maclachlan in the Junior Doubles and took on the much older (and experienced) pairing of Adam Valovec/Chris Pickard and although taking a game from them eventually lost three games to one.

Lee and Alex made amends in the Cadet Doubles by beating brother Jamie (Phillips) and Ben Edwards three games to one.

Saturday evening brought the first of the Inernational flavour in the guise of Dutchman Albert Bolhuis.

He triumphed in the Handicap Singles beating David Walton in a thrilling five game final, having already beaten Polishman Marcin Jaskolski on the way.

He triumphed again in the open Intermediate Singles, easily beating the much younger Chris Pickard in three straight games.

He missed out on his hat trick by losing to Terry Earley in the final of the Division One handicap.

The Division Two handicap event went to Duncan Moxey beating Digby Barker in three straight games.

The Handicap Doubles final saw Lee Phillips again pair up with Alex Maclachlan and this time they triumphed over the father and son pairing of Ray and Adam Valovec.

Polishman Marcin Jaskolski came into his own in the Mens Singles and doubles on Sunday.

Heading his group matches in the Singles he first of all came up against Junior Singles winner Alex Kearney and although Alex took a game off Marcin he had no answer to the very quick hitting and steady Marcin.

He then took on the number one seed, and defending champion, Trevor Lloyd who was beginning to feel the strain of playing all day in several events.

This match was worthy of the final as it was a thrilling five game match. Outstanding hitting and counter hitting by both players was the main feature, which eventually saw Marcin triumph 11-9 in the fifth and Trevor lose his crown.

Meanwhile other finalist, unseeded Chris Watkins, beat several top seeds on his way to the final. However there he was well beaten in three straight games.

Marcin paired up with Glen Freeman for the attack on the Mens Doubles and eventually met Trevor again in final where he paired up with Ricky Jemmott, who were the holders of the title.

This again was a thrilling final going to five games and eventually going Marcin/Glen’s way, made even more remarkable as they had not played together before the day!

Trevor was again on the losing end when he took on Ray Powell in the final of the Veteran (over 40s) event.

By this time Trevor was beginning to really feel the effects of a very long day and although it proved an exciting match mistakes were made by both players with Ray coming out on top.

Just prior to that event Trevor had his success in pairing up with Ricky again to beat Glen Freeman and Ray Powell in the Veteran Doubles and then beating Terry Parkins in a five game final of the 50s Cup.

Terry did in fact get a winners trophy when he paired up with Malcolm Phillips to beat David and Phillip Marshall in the Consolation Doubles.

The Dorothy Ford Trophy for the most outstanding performance of the Championships was awarded to Marcin Jaskolski and the Trowbridge Merit Shield for the best overall performance to Chris Watkins.

The League are indebted to PSP Insurance & Financial Solutions and the John of Gaunt School for their financial support of the Championships.