The Zonal rounds of the ELCC took place over the weekends of April 16 and 23 at various venues up and down the country.

The returns show that there were some very close matches and real battles to qualify for the finals which will take place on June 11 and 12 at the Westfield Table Tennis Club, Wellingborough.

The Wilmott Cup (Men) saw holders, Sheffield, again reach the finals along with some former winners in the form of Chester/Ellesmere Port and Hastings. There were some very close matches with countbacks in two groups and several results which rested on the result of one match.

In the J M Rose Bowl (Women) there was a tremendous tussle between Guildford and Cambridge for the third qualifying place in Zonal group 1. Guildford just pipped Cambridge for the honour, going to the wire in the fifth match.

The holders, Leeds, did not defend their title due to players moving away from the area so a new name will go on the trophy in the summer. However, there are two leagues that have held the title previously, Leicester and Hastings, so the final looks as if it will be very competitive.

The Carter Cup (Junior Boys) also saw some very tight matches. Wembley & Harrow, the holders, are through but the quality of the players in the other leagues who qualified indicate that there will be strong opposition to take the title away from them.

The Bromfield Trophy entries were low this year so all four teams who entered automatically qualify for the finals. The holders, Derby, did not enter as their players from last year have outgrown the junior age group. None of the four teams in the finals have previously held the trophy so a new name will be added this year.

The finals places go to:

Wilmott Cup (Men)

• Chester/Ellesmere Port 1
• Sheffield
• Reading
• Central London 2
• Cambridge
• Leamington Spa
• Birmingham
• Hastings

J M Rose Bowl (Women)

• Luton
• Central London
• Guildford
• Tamworth
• Warrington
• Leicester
• Hastings
• Bristol

Carter Cup (Junior Boys)

• Stockton
• Northumbria
• Crawley/Horsham
• Brighton
• Wembley & Harrow
• Cambridge
• Nottingham
• Oxford

Bromfield Trophy (Junior Girls)

• Cambridge
• Crawley/Horsham
• Tamworth
• Hull