SURPRISES were the order of the day when York and District Table Tennis Association Closed Championships reached their climax last weekend at York RI gymnasium.

When men's singles number one seed Chris Nicholls pulled out because of a swollen knee it was left to his club colleague and second seed Mick Wilcockson to make sure that the top individual trophy stayed in Selby.

Although Nicholls plays for Sessions in York League he is based in Selby and a leading light in their league. Wilcockson also plays for championship sponsors Sessions in York League, as well as the H & R club in Selby League and Selby-based National League club Derwent.

There was a slight blip in his 22-20, 21-13 victory over Ian Stansfield in the final, but Wilcockson soon recovered after finding himself 19-20 down in the first game from having led 19-11.

Stansfield was the first unseeded player for many years to reach the final and three of the semi-finalists were unseeded. The Coneysthorpe player won a terrific semi-final duel with John Eastwood of Fulford Road WMC.

Eastwood won the first game 21-19 and led 20-18 in the second, but in trying too hard to make sure of the match-winning points he let Stansfield back in. The Coneysthorpe player won the next four points to take the game and he went to win the third 21-18.

Wilcockson's semi-final against veteran Doug Bartle was more like a game of chess. Bartle's slow loops stopped Wilcockson dictating the match for long periods.

At one game all Wilcockson remained patient, waiting for the right ball to come along for him to score as a tired Bartle wilted.

Wilcockson also won the hardbat singles, defeating trophy holder John Hughes 21-16, 21-10 in the final. Hughes could not find a way of getting the ball past his opponent, who laid back and watched Hughes make the mistakes.

Another surprise was second seed Betty Norman winning the ladies singles for the first time. She was always in control in the final against defending champion Adele Lobley. Norman's serve proved a strong factor as she had her younger rival stretching to return.

Lobley's big hitting was successful when she and Norman teamed up in the doubles to beat Marian Broadbent and Carole Wright 21-16, 21-11 in the final.

Bartle and Broadbent were too good for Lobley and John Farmery in the mixed doubles final, winning 21-19, 19-21, 21-13. Bartle and Broadbent not putting any pace on the ball disrupted their opponents and they ran away with the match in the third set.

Phil Spencer and Rod Lowery picked up two titles, the men's doubles and veterans' doubles. The York RI pair used the same tactics on both finals to beat Mick Wadsworth and Paul Eastwood 21-16, 16-21, 21-8 in the men's events and Jo Suchecki and Trevor Wright in straight games in the veterans.

Lowery defended well and Spencer waited for the right ball to put away with some lovely backhand smashes. Eastwood managed to retrieve a lot in the men's doubles final and there were some excellent rallies.

Suchecki and Wright could not get the ball past Lowery in the veterans' final and Spencer was able to score with his booming backhand.

Spencer picked up a third title, retaining the veterans' singles crown by beating Lowery 14 and 18. Lowery let an 18-12 lead slip in the second game.

The trophies were presented by Mark Sessions, assisted by Dave Clifford and association chairman Derek Bond.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.