New Milton Table Tennis Club’s Max Bannon was the big winner, sealing three titles, as the club came together for their finals evening

There was some fine table tennis on display at the Mudeford Wood Community Centre, where the New Milton Table Tennis Club recently held their finals evening after weeks of tournaments.

The handicap singles final saw wily veteran campaigner Stuart Burton receive an eye-watering +13 in a first-to-21 match against the considerably younger Max Bannon. Bannon kept his cool to catch up at 14-14 in the first set and take it 21-17. The second set was a closer affair as Bannon caught up at 17-17 to edge it 20-21, taking the title.

The entire U40s handicap event was played from start to finish on the night and saw what was later judged to be the match of the evening. Toby Staddon, 18, received a +6 start against 20-year-old Max Bannon and took the first set 21-17. Bannon got stuck in to catch up at 10-10 and took the second set 21-15. The third and final set saw some spectacular rallies, which drew cheers from the spectators, as Staddon won it 21-15. However, Bannon went on to win the group, with Staddon coming in second place.

The chosen doubles handicap final had Max Bannon and wheelchair player Shaun Newcomb taking on Matthew Daish and Bev Scott-Johns, who received a +4 start. It was an intriguing encounter, as the rules about playing against wheelchair players had changed.

The Newcomb and Bannon combo could return randomly, with their rivals to play alternately as usual. This could have caused confusion, but Scott-Johns was well-drilled by coach Daish and did his best to keep the ball in play without too much spin. Then Daish powered in with his drives on both wings to try to dominate proceedings. This worked well in the first set as Daish and Scott-Johns won it comfortably 21-14. Newcomb and Bannon started to work things out by the second set to catch up at 18-18 and scrape the set 20-21 to set up an intriguing final. However, Daish and Bev Scott-Johns were having enough of the nonsense and won the decider 21-15 to take the winner’s trophy.

The drawn doubles handicap final had taken place the previous week, where Sylvia Smith and David Forbes beat Helena Holland and Toby Staddon.

The final of the veterans (over 40s) handicap saw Steve Martin receive a +6 start against Gerard Redman. Redman struggled to get started and lost the first set 21-12. However, he got his eye in the second to catch up at 6-6 and win it 21-14. It was much closer in the third and final set, as he did not catch up until 15-15 but went on to win 21-18.

A puffed-out Redman then had to face 20-year-old Max Bannon in the open singles final after a short break. It was a bridge too far for Redman as the fresher Bannon won the match convincingly in three straight sets, 11-1, 11-5, 11-5, to take the prestigious open singles title.

That left Bannon with a trio of titles after winning the handicap singles, U40s and open singles titles.

Club secretary and general factotum Bev Scott-Johns organised the event.

The New Milton Club does not have a close season, as it carries on with club nights and tournaments throughout the summer months.

For information about playing table tennis during the summer, contact Secretary Bev Scott-Johns on 01425 619552.