The Spalding and District Table Tennis League’s annual Val Mackey Doubles competition was held last week – but no winners were decided on the night.
This event sees the entrants paired at random from four sets according to their ranking within the League.
The top and bottom sets were chosen together or the middle two sets. Some 20 members registered, giving ten pairs who were divided into two groups for a round robin over best of three ends with the top two pairs in each group progressing to the semi-final stage.
Group A was concluded first, with Wes Roper and Ping Wang heading the table with four wins from four (4/4).
Tom Chesworth, joint holder from last year, and Andrew Hay were one behind on 3/4 – having lost to the leaders on a third end deuce.
The three remaining pairs all tied on 1/4, including the other joint holder.
Group B was much tighter with half their matches going to a third end, but they too produced a winner on 4/4.
Kelvin Preville and Tommy Maguire finished one ahead of Richard Matthews and John Hayter, the latter randomly drawn but team mates in the League.
The rest of the group were spread across the possible scores from two to zero.
The first semi-final between the Preville/Maguire and Chesworth/Hay went all the way with the former winning the first end 11-8 before conceding the next two 5-11, 7-11.
The other half also went to three between Matthews/Hayter and Roper/Ping 7-11, 11-9, 5-11 with the latter going through.
For the first time in a number of years it looked likely the event would be completed on the night, but injury prevented that.
With the score standing at 11-4, 1-4 to Chesworth and Hay, Roper’s partner Ping unfortunately suffered a severe cramp.
Unable to continue it was agreed the conclusion would be held over to another time.
Anyone else wishing to try the sport will welcome at Spalding High School Sports Hall on a Tuesday (7.30-10pm) at £4 for the evening.
