The highs and lows of Sussex County table tennis were demonstrated in this seasons’ county championships with the younger end having a highly successful season although the veterans team will be remembered as this seasons’ nearly men as they came so close to regaining the title which has been won by Leicestershire, Yorkshire and Kent over the past few seasons.

Cadets

The cadets first team came tantalisingly close to breaking the monopoly of Middlesex’s grip on the cadets premier division as it was a 6-4 victory by Middlesex when the sides met that was the difference between the teams as it was Middlesex that once again took the title.

It was nothing but success for the other two Sussex Cadet teams as they finished winners and runners up in cadets division 1c with the first team being unbeaten and the seconds only losing to the first.

Juniors

The Sussex Junior first team were the outstanding team in this seasons Junior Premier division and averaged over 9 sets per match and won the division by three clear points from runners up Essex.

As with Cadets teams the junior 2nd and third teams were winners and runners up in the same division as they took the top two spots in division 2d.

The results of the Cadets and Junior teams shows what great development work is being done in this particular county and all the hard work of their coaches is baring fruit on the table now.

Veterans

After a disappointing weekend at Halifax in the first round of fixtures when Sussex only won one match out of three played they fought back and recorded victories in their four matches over the second weekend played at Ashford.

Despite 6-4 wins at Ashford over Leicestershire and Kent who were the eventual winners and runners, the damage for Sussex was done at Halifax and a mixture of the inability to field a full strength team in Yorkshire and the dislike of the Halifax venue was clearly the undoing of the Sussex squad.

Sussex will be pleased to learn that Halifax will not be the venue for next seasons veterans premier division northern round but it will be still played in Yorkshire at the new Keighley TTC in October so it will remain to be seen if they are able to mount a serious challenge and field a full strength side in Keighley

Barry Snowden
County Championships Press Officer