The Hastings & District  Table Tennis Association held their annual Closed Championships over two nights at Hastings Academy in a break from the traditional weekend format.

The tournament was dominated by Dave Butler (Saints) and Rose Rainton (Hollington Academy), nationally ranked No. 5 Veteran Woman, with Rainton claiming three titles and Butler two.

Butler took his first Hastings Men’s Singles title with a fine win over multiple winner Paul Barry (Hollington Academy), taking the first two games comfortably, only for Barry to level before Butler won the day 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8.

Earlier, Butler had beaten Jamie Martin (Hollington Academy) in the semi-finals while Barry had defeated Martin Kellaway (Bexhill).

The Women’s Singles was played as a group of five which produced an excellent competition before the last match-up brought together Rainton and Tina Beaney (Bexhill), who were both unbeaten, in a virtual final. After a splendid contest, Rainton, a serial winner of this event, got home 11-8 in the fifth game.

Sue Pingram (Tackleway), on her debut in the tournament, came third.

Butler and Barry combined to take the Men’s Doubles, beating Kellaway and Rob Warner (Bexhill) in straight sets in the final after beating Martin and Robin Gibbs (Hollington Academy) in the semi-final. At the same stage, Warner and Kellaway beat Scott Bills (Hollington Academy) and Tony Catt (Tigers).

The Women’s Doubles went to Rainton and Pingram who beat Beaney and Chelsea Furnival (Hollington Academy).

The Mixed Doubles Final produced possibly the best contest of the tournament as Rainton and Gibbs edged out Barry and Furnival at deuce in the final game.

In the Division 2 Singles, Paul Hyland (NALGO) regained the title he last won in 2008 with a four-game win over Ryan Heselden (Hollington Academy).

The Division 3 Singles was played as a group, which was won by Peter Harding (Monarchs) with Keith Young (Hollington) second.

The Men’s Consolation Singles was won by John Wilson (Bexhill) with a five-set final defeat of Roy Funnell (Tackleway). In something of a family vendetta, Wilson also beat Mike Funnell (Tackleway) in a five game semi-final, while Roy beat Brian Beaney (Bexhill) at the same stage.

The tournament was organised by Peter Harding, who was assisted by Mick Lane.