The Sports Hall at Bishop Barrington School, home of Bishop Auckland Table Tennis Club, was filled with the buzz of competition as spectators and players gathered to enjoy the excitement of the Bribar 2* tournament on October 2.

Players came from teams across the country, including Garstang, Hull, East Boldon, Haworth, Cramlington, Barrow and Ormesby, as well as more locally from Middlesbrough, Darlington and of course Bishop Auckland.

The morning matches saw Under-11 Boys’, Cadet Boys’ and Girls’ groups, with Under-13s and Junior Boys’ and Girls’ groups in the afternoon.

Junior & Cadet Boys’ groups reached capacity for participants, with 32 players in each category. Taking away the trophies were:

• U11 Boys, Winner – Gene McGhee, Runner-up – Luke Hodgson,
• U11 Boys Plate Winner Adam Dennison, Runner Up – Joseph Dennison
• U13 Boys Winner – Tom Rayner, Runner Up – Charlie Turner
• U13 Boys plate, Winner – James Cresswell, Runner-up – Sam Lowe,
• U13 Girls, Winner – Ruby Chan, Runner-up – Moke Warburton,
• U13 Girls Plate – Winner Lucy Gent, Runner Up – Hallie Fitton
• Cadet Boys, Winner – Joe Cope, Runner-up – Josh Weatherby,
• Cadet Boys Plate Winner – Che Gouldbourne, Runner Up Matty Rigg
• Cadet Girls, Winner – Ruby Chan, Runner-up – Charlotte Weatherby,
• Cadet Girls Plate Winner – Reem Raseem, Runner up Rebecca Rigg
• Junior Boys, Winner – Sam Kwan, Runner-up – Tom MacIntosh,
• Junior Boys Plate – Winner Ed Sett, Runner Up Sam Hume
• Junior Girls, Winner – Charlotte Weatherby, Runner-up – Rana Rasseem.
• Junior Girls Plate, Winer Katie Wray, Runner Up Emma Smith

The day was an all-round success, with great support from family and friends, and bacon sandwiches galore. Local press dropped in to take some snapshots and soak up the atmosphere, and the club was lucky enough to receive a visit from Deputy Lieutenant of Durham, Dr. Robert McManners, who presented the morning’s winners with their trophies.

Dr McManners was very impressed with the friendly atmosphere and the organisation of the event. He said:

“It was a pleasure to do, and to be asked to come along. I’m impressed with the organisation through Bishop Auckland Table Tennis Club, and particularly with the organisation and discipline of the children taking part, this is a credit to them.”

The next Bishop Auckland 2* is on February 12 and entry forms are out now.