Barr and Hooker claim singles titles as Newbury's table tennis championships return

The Newbury Closed Senior and Junior Table Tennis Championships returned at the weekend after an absence of more than two years following the Covid pandemic.

Some 50 players competed in 14 separate events at Kintbury's Jubilee Centre.

Dave Barr successfully defended his men's singles title, beating Paul Rattue 11-7, 11-9, 11-2 in the final.

The ladies' singles final produced an absorbing clash between Newbury stalwart Celia Hooker and new player Sayali Bendkhale, with Hooker eventually triumphing 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9.

The men's doubles final was won by Jamie Cole and James Ellicott, beating Antony Baker and Nick Langley 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 in the final.

Bendkhale bounced back from her singles defeat to win the ladies doubles alongside Jenny Tanner.

Likewise, Paul Rattue dusted himself off after his defeat in the men's singles final to scoop the mixed doubles crown with Sue Purton, edging out men's champion Dave Barr and ladies' doubles winner Jenny Tanner 10-12, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8.

The vets competition, for players aged between 40 and 60, was won by Antony Baker after he beat Simon Sonsino 16-14, 11-9, 11-5.

Paul Rattue won the super vets title, for players over 60, beating Ian Wu in three very close games, 12-10, 13-11, 13-11.

The Division One final was a fascinating four-set tussle between Jamie Cole and James Ellicot, with Cole the eventual victor thanks to an 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 15-13 win.

Experienced campaigner Simon Sonsino picked up the Division Two title as he beat Sayali Bendkhale 11-9, 11-9, 11-6.

Dan O'Neill was crowned Division Three champion, beating Dimitris Stemitsiotis in the final.

Siblings Daanyall and Zakariyah Begg teamed up to win the junior doubles title, overcoming runners-up George Hutton and Dylan Stowe.

Hutton went one better when he combined with Jamie Cole to win the junior and adult doubles, beating father and son duo Colin and Josh Price 11-3 in the fifth and final set.

Daanyall Begg won the ages 15-18 event, beating Josh Price 12-10, 11-5, 10-12, 11-9 in a hard-fought final.

George Hutton reigned supreme in the ages 11-13 competition, defeating Dylan Stowe 11-9, 11-5, 12-10.

The weekend would never have been possible without all the hard work of event organisers Christine Haines and Jeff Rogers and refreshment stand and raffle prize chief Sue Purton.