Ping pong qualifier a big hit

Lynne Mansfield

ENTRIES came from far and wide to compete in the North-West region World Ping Pong Championship qualifier.

The Mansfield family from Essex, mother Lynne, son Casey (12) and daughter Alana (nine), the youngest player in the tournament, converged on Radclyffe Athletics Centre, along others from London, Glasgow, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Derbyshire as well as Oldham.

Richard Hutchinson, who is the national champion and ranked 13 in the World Champion of Ping Pong (WCPP) standings, was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Ryan Fellows.

Joe Pilkington, playing in his first WCPP qualifier, was defeated in the semi-finals by Trevor Kerry 15-6, 15-9.

Kerry, from Nottingham, met Joe Kennedy (Essex) in the final, which the latter won in five sets 15-12, 15-11,13-15, 8-15,15-13.

The organisers, Matchroom Sport, were impressed with the venue and want Oldham to host another event in the future.

Members of Oldham Table Tennis Club, who took part in this tournament for the first time were, Dave Greenwood, Dave Aspinall, Alex Torkington, John Rutland, Phil Bowden and Abigail Griffith.

One other member from the borough in action was Amir Hussain.

Councillor Graham Shuttleworth made the presentations and watched Glenn Johnson beat David Griffith 15-10, 8-15, 8-15.