No stopping Clitheroe but Rams shine
TABLE TENNIS NEIL HEPWORTH THE Premier Division and East Lancs Table Tennis champions 2016-2017 are the Clitheroe team of Dave Kay, Liam Bedford, Matt Nettleton, Ashley Bradburn and Howard Whewell.
The top three merit places were also won by Dave, Liam, Matt respectively, as well as taking the doubles first prize.
East Lancs squad of Alan Whittle, Mark Hanson Niall Boyle, Ian Howarth and Noel Duffy had a great season to finish runners-up as well as lifting the Fred Holden team handicap.
K Ward Plumbing had a good season, also finishing third with their star player Keith Ward claiming fourth place in the individual merits.
In team events, fourth place and also among the honours with a doubles runners up prize were Ramsbottom ‘A’, whose best player Martin Wyatt also took individual merit fifth place. Sadly finishing in the relegation zone were Hyndburn TTC ‘A’ and The Lions.
In Division One Ramsbottom ‘C’ romped home to become title victors and Doubles merit winners.
Well done Keith Haworth (individual merit first place), David Cain, David Holme and Adele Spibey.
Whalley Hawks bounce back to the top flight at the first attempt after finishing runners up.
Well done Richard Barrow (merit third), Adam Robinson (Merit fourth) and Martin Drury. They also gained the doubles merit runners up. Another Whalley player in the honours with fifth place in the merits was Kestrels Colin Hooper.
The team just missing promotion in third place was KSB ‘A’ despite a blistering season by Daven Argile who took the individual merit runners up place.
Finishing fourth were Whalley Eagles who also came runners up in the Fred Holden Handicap Team cup. Facing potential relegation after coming last are Hyndburn TTC ‘B’ and just above them Doals Marauders.
In Division Two, the winners comfortably were Past Masters ‘A’: Messer’s Cliff Dale (merit runner up), John Thornber (merit fourth), and Ian Pickles were unbeaten all season winning all 18 matches and claiming the doubles prize as well. Hyndburners get promoted as well coming runners up through a squad effort by Dan Chamberlain (Merit Winner), Fred Wade (merit third), David End, Peter Whitehead and Bailey Chamberlain.
Rolling Doals just missed honours in league and doubles by coming third in both.
A team continuing to improve all the time finishing fourth was Best Centre Jets, who claimed the doubles runners up spot and whose best player Jordon Moore finished fifth in the individual merits. Finishing in the relegation positions were Whalley Kites and Slayers.
In Division Three, Brierfield ‘B’ were too good at this level winning the division by a mile and being the only other unbeaten team of the whole league.
They also took four of the top five places in the individual merits and were doubles merit winners.
An excellent season for Peter Marsland (merit 2nd), Peter Howard (merit third), Michael Rostron merit fourth) and Tom Lacey (merit fifth ).
Runners up and also promoted are Doals Vikings. A great season by Thomas Sumner, Dave Greenwood, Kyle Brookes, Roman Mychajlshyn and Karl Brookes (doubles runners up as well).
Another Doals winner was Titans Ryan Fallon who proved himself the divisions best player claiming merit first place. KSB ‘D’ finished third and Past Masters B fourth.