Jonathan Taylor emerged victorious from the Wigan Invitation Champions’ Challenge.

The sixth annual staging of the tournament saw players from Liverpool, Glossop, Wirral, Bolton, Bury and Ellesmere Port/Chester compete at the Leigh Miners’ Welfare Centre, the home of Leigh St George TTC.

Taylor and Mick Moir won their respective groups of three to advance to the best-of-seven final.

And the decider went all the way as Moir won the first two games, only for Taylor to come back to level the match 2-2. The next two were shared, and Taylor won the deciding seventh 11-9 to take the title.

Taylor took away the trophy, plus £150 and a commemorative engraved glass tankard, while Moir won £50 and a commemorative engraved glass tankard.

The facilities were excellent and the support from the Leigh St George club members helped the night become a great success.

Susie Hughes, Deputy Chair of Table Tennis England, and Stan Clarke, Chairman of the Lancashire County TT Association, were among the notable guests.

Making the presentations, Susie complimented the organisers for having the enthusiasm and commitment to create such an excellent competitive night of table tennis which was enjoyed by player and spectators alike and added that she hoped more local leagues around the country would introduce their own ‘Champions’ Challenge’ events.

The event was launched in 2010 to bring together the six local town champions in a winner-takes-all challenge at the end of the season. One aim was to encourage juniors and new players to watch the best players in the region and hopefully inspire them to stick at the training and coaching to achieve such potential in years to come.

Profits from the night are donated to Wigan & Leigh Hospice.

Jim Bolton (event organiser)
May 19, 2015