Eighteen veteran table tennis players travelled distances of up to 300 miles to raise funds for the St Luke’s hospice at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield on Sunday.
They were raking part in the in the “Redtooth Legends 21” invitational event and many of the players formed the nucleus of the Saint Albion table tennis club which dominated the Sheffield table tennis scene in the 1980s.
Martin Green of Redtooth Entertainment sponsored the competition, together with contributions from the Sheffield table tennis league, Vulcan TTC and Sheffield International Venues.
Farrel Anthony, who represented his country at the Paralympics in Sydney, triumphed in the handicapped singles event, beating a resurgent Simon Gore in the final 21-17. The “chance doubles” was a tense affair won by Shaun Bibby (Rotherham Scorpions) in tandem with Anthony Parkin (Northern General). The pair narrowly edged out Ivor Warner and Lee Barker 22-20 having saved five match points.
The hugely talented six times Sheffield champion Clive Guest took the “hard bat” title with victory over Derbyshire’s Ivor Warner 21-13, the latter went on to be voted the players’ player of the tournament.
Wadsley Bridge legend and former England number six Steve Mills travelled from Reading to compete only 14 weeks after a hip replacement operation and Dale Ajeto arrived from Norwich to compete and host the after-match reception.
Prizes, donated by former Sheffield champion Kevin Thompson, were presented by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Councillor Denise Fox, who delighted in announcing to the audience that the amount raised for the charity had reached £670.