Geoff Salter, one of Northumberland’s leading veterans and his doubles partner John Clark of Brighton excelled at the recent European Veterans Tournament in Finland.  After receiving a walk over in the first round they beat a pair from Hungary 3 – 0 , a very good Austrian/ German partnership 3 –1  and then  a Russian pair 3 – 1 to reach the semi finals of the Over 65 Doubles. They then met top class opposition in Claus Pederson and Nils Ramberg of Denmark but after winning the first game they went down 3 – 1. Nevertheless this was a tremendous performance which meant that they came away with  European bronze medals.

Springwell kept on the heels of Cramlington Stingers in the First Division of the Northumbria League when they beat a strong Byker side 6 – 4, Graeme Barella again winning all of his matches, Alex Smith getting two and John Williamson one while Dave Robson had a couple of wins for Byker. 

The promotion race from Division Two has been thrown wide open after Old England lost twice. First they  were beaten 7 – 3 by North Fire when Barry Hill did most of the damage by getting a hat-trick backed up by two each from Karen Henry and Mick Bull. Worse was to follow when they entertained the young Sacriston Bombers team. Joseph Muldooney beat Max Duffin but that was all that the home team got with Daniel Hutchinson and Peter Smallcombe winning all of their singles plus the doubles. 

The meeting of the top two teams in Division Three saw the leaders Lanchester beaten 6 – 4 by second placed Springwell B who are now only three points behind with two matches to play. Dave Pringle was unbeaten for the winners.

Matfen C now only need three points from their last two matches to win Division Five after beating Sacriston Desperadoes 7 – 3 and second placed Cramlington Magpies 9 – 1

 

Aubrey Drapkin