Darren delivers goods

Photo: CHRIS SUNDERLAND

Competitors go head to head in the Oldham Closed Table Tennis Championships at Radclyffe School Sports Centre.

TABLE tennis fans were treated to a feast of action at the Oldham Closed Championships, staged at Radclyffe School Sports Centre.

Over 80 players were involved in the various divisions — with several surprises along the way.

Darren Lindley held off Paul Cicchelli’s challenge to claim the mixed singles title.

The section, which kicked off with 16 groups of four players, saw four-time previous winner Darryl Meredith exit at the second-round stage.

Meredith had to settle for runners-up spot in the doubles.

Partnered by Ian McLean, he played second fiddle to Andy Jackson and Mark Ramsbottom.

The reigning champions in this event and fancied to go close this time, Khamal Hussain and Jeff Craighill, were knocked out by Nathan Buckley and Paul King.

The junior competition attracted a field of 19 players, which were initially split into four groups.

The semi-finals and finals drew a large number of spectators, due to the quality of play.

Andrew Tarpey (17) clinched the title for the fourth year on the trot, with the Hulme Grammar School pupil overcoming Callum Allman (13) in a repeat of last year’s final.

Craighill made up for his doubles disappointment by recording a hat-trick of wins in the veterans section, which featured 31 competitors.

And in a mirror image of the final 12 months earlier, he defeated Andy Jackson.