BARNARD Castle Table Tennis Club rounded off their first season of league action by bringing home some silverware.
The team – John Heaviside, Anthony Carter, Terry Farrer and James Dominick – won the Darlington Table Tennis League Weeks Cup, a handicap knock-out competition.
The event was open to all teams in the league’s two divisions and after a closely fought final against a Darlington Table Tennis Academy team, Barney ran out winners by just four points.
Team captain Anthony said: “We knocked out a first division team in the first round and then progressed through two more rounds to the final.”
It was not all plain sailing – John injured an elbow in the first game, with Terry stepping in to replace him.
“However, John sat and analysed our opponents and worked out which order we should play in as well as keeping tabs on all the handicaps,” added Anthony.
“We therefore knew the number of points we needed to win each match and focused on this rather than just our individual games.
“We all played for each other, which served us well, especially in the final where we managed to scrape home by four points.”
Barnard Castle Table Tennis Club was formed last year as the result of a light-hearted challenge match arranged between some of John’s old team mates and friends from 30 years ago and his son Mark’s mates.
This led to practice sessions in the Parish Hall before increasing interest led to a move to The Hub, where weekly club nights are held each Thursday from 6pm to 8pm.
All tables and equipment were bought by the club’s founding members, however, a donation from town charity The Clique helped cover the cost of league fees and joining Table Tennis England as well as providing more kit.
In addition to the Thursday practice sessions, league matches are played at Barnard Castle Leisure Centre on Monday evenings.
John said: “We would like to thank everyone who has helped the club progress. I would like to think that with the help of the Parish Hall, The Hub, sports centre and also The Clique for their generous donation, we have been able to provide a game of table tennis to numerous club members and also represented the town in a positive way. We have been well received and made friends in the league, who in return have enjoyed the hospitality and received a warm welcome in Barnard Castle.
“To win the Darlington Weeks Cup in our first season justifies all the hard work that has gone into it.
“To think that having started playing together over half a century ago, Anth, Terry and I would be sat here celebrating our first trophy win together after 50 years is unbelievable.”
Anyone interested in having a game of table tennis is welcome to go along on a Thursday evening. The club can also be contacted via Facebook – @BarnardCastle TTC.
