Mighty Mike stars at the Hemel Hempstead Closed Championships

The star of the show was Mike Boardman who regained the Open Singles title by beating Ken Stonebridge 11-7, 11-9, 11-9. He also beat Ken in the Veterans’ final by three sets to nil.

The Ladies’ Singles champion is Jackie Channell who beat Gil Salter, while the Division Two Singles was won by Les Leech and the Division Three Singles went to Bob Andrews.

The Super Vets champion is Alan Thomas, while Frank Beck won the Handicap Singles.

In the only five-set game of the night, James Dance and Gary Keers came back from 2-0 down to beat Mike Boardman and Dave Wackrill in the Open Doubles.

Harry Hook retained the Junior Singles by beating club member Daniel Broner, while the Ramdom Doubles was won by Bob Andrews and Ivan King, with Jackie Channell and John Figg retaining the Mixed Doubles.

Back in league action, Crown & Sceptre I and Adeyfield I fought out a superb 5-5 draw with some of the best table tennis of the season played by both teams. Akash Shar hit a maximum for Adeyfield but the result probably favours Crown in the battle for the title.

Flamstead I had a 7-3 victory over Crown & Sceptre A, with Angela Smith hitting a treble, and Crown A then had a tight 6-4 victory over their B team despite the best efforts of Abdul Rahim. Flamstead A and Row fought out a 5-5 draw.

Meanwhile in Division Two, runaway leaders Adeyfield A beat KLCC I 9-1 which makes them the first team promoted this season, with five games still to go. Les Leech, Martin Johnson and Trevor McFarlane all hit maximums.

McAlpine beat Crown & Sceptre C 6-4 then drew 5-5 with St Georges I as Xin Jun Wang had a maximum in each match.

In Division Three, Flamstead C continue to lead the way after a close 6-4 victory over Highfield. St Georges A also won against Highfield, this time 7-3 with Daniel Broner hitting a maximum to keep them in second place.

Highfield responded well with an 8-2 victory over Northchurch B, with Mark Chiles doing the damage.

St Georges A whitewashed Northchurch B 10-0, with Philip Gore, Harry Hook and Gary Everington all bagging hat-tricks.

Northchurch A had Dave Walker and Frank Manfield to thank for a 7-3 victory against KLCC B, while Crown & Sceptre D finally had something to smile about with their first win of the season as they bagged a 7-3 victory over Adeyfield C despite a hat-trick by Bob Andrews for the losers.

Crown D then lost 7-3 to KLCC A for whom Rod Marshment was the star man.