Seven players contested the Rose Johnson Memorial Trophy, the ladies’ annual handicap singles which has been organised on behalf of the Leicester and District League by Shirley Pickering for several years.

An awkward number, it was decided to have one all-play-all group with the best of two games rather than three, each up to 21.

The eventual winner, Gillian Wisdish, did not drop a game, winning all 10 of those played. Her final two games were not contested as they would not have made any difference to the winning position.

Toughest rubber for Wisdish was that against her daughter, Gemma Hargrave, to whom she gave five points, taking the first 27-25 before a slightly easier 21-18.

The winner also had a tough game against one of the three juniors taking part, Maya Dehnen, when taken to 23-21 after winning the first relatively easily at 21-12 when giving her young opponent two points per game.

Steph Burley was going well, moving around the table in her usual busy style until perhaps running just a little out of steam against Wisdish, bearing in mind three tables were being used which meant not many rests between games. Nevertheless, Burley eventually won eight games to take the runners-up spot.

Shirley Pickering did not actually lose, with four of her five sets finishing 1-1 and it was her “dead” rubber against the eventual winner that was not played, which left Dehnen taking third. The other two juniors taking part were Sufyaana Dhanji and last year’s winner, Kelsey Andrews.

Finishing order: 10pts Gillian Wisdish (10 played); 8 Steph Burley (12); 7 Maya Dehnen (12); 6 Shirley Pickering (10); 5 Kelsey Andrews (12); 3 Sufyaana Dhanji (12); 1 Gemma Hargrave (12).