Top duo help high-flyers claim victory

■ TABLE TENNIS: Pete Barrow and Richard Grover recorded maximums to help high-fliers Stratford A beat Tanworth Taipans 9-1 in the Stratford League.

Stratford B assisted their A team’s title challenge by taking two games off Colebridge Pasties, for whom Rod Lewis and Mahroof Hussain were unbeaten.

Rob Bartkowski produced a treble for Stratford C in a 6-4 success at Henley.

Alison Stewart was on top form, as Snitterfield overcame JLM Kingfishers 9-1, with Clive Irwin also unbeaten, and it was also 9-1 when Shottery A entertained Blazing Paddles, as Gary Stewart and Rob Poole were both untroubled.

Peter Quince and Dave Hatcher both gained trebles for Henley in their 7-3 triumph at Stratford D.

Shottery B gave a debut to Jake Crawshaw against Tanworth Taipans and along with Gareth Hepworth he gained a maximum, although Jason Rainey took players the distance.

Shottery B lost 7-3 to Colebridge Bulldogs in their second match of the week.

■ CYCLING: Team Jewson-MI Racing riders produced good performances in the Regional Cyclo Cross Championships at the weekend.

In the East Midlands Championships held at Misterton Hall in Leicestershire, Kirby Bennett won the Over-60s title for the Coventry-based club, beating a former national champion in the process.

Phil Roach finished a close second in the 55-plus Welsh Championships, Steve Knight finished third in the Midland Championships and Lindsay Newman was awarded fourth place by judges in the Lady Veteran Championships despite finishing with the same time as the third-placed rider.

■ MOTORSPORT: Formula One’s teams have unanimously rejected Pirelli’s planned new tyres for the 2020 season.

Despite numerous tests in recent weeks, the teams will continue to run the 2019-specification rubber despite complaints aired about their sensitivity and the failure of the drivers to race harder than they would like.