THIS year's Herefordshire County Table Tennis Championships started with the cadet, junior and veteran players involved in eight different events.

All the competitions were held at Queen Elizabeth Humanities College in Bromyard and started with round robins before going through to knock-out stages.

With 19 players in the veteran singles event, all seeded players reached the last 16 with only one fell before the quarter finals.

At this stage, number one seed Ola Andersson played Steve Brown and dropped the first two games before winning the next three by five, two and four.

In the lower half, Toby Eckley (seeded number two) beat Nigel Foreshew in straight games.

Andersson and Eckley will play the final set on finals night next month after senior events have been completed.

In the restricted veteran event, which is for anyone who has not won this or the main event in the last five years, all four seeded players won their groups.

However, number one seed Mark Stubbs lost to Brian Kitchener in the semi-finals, but Jon Allen, seeded second, fared better by beating Steve Knight.

In the super veterans (over 60’s) semi-finals, Harry Jutle, playing in this event for the first time, beat Huan Davies in straight games, while Brian Kitchener overcame Trevor Davies

The first doubles semi-final saw Ola Andersson and Toby Eckley face Steve Brown and Steve Knight.

The Andersson/Eckley pairing proved too strong for Brown and Knight, who on finals night will play the other successful pairing of Stubbs and Kitchener.

Both of these sets were won in straight games.

Elsewhere, Jake Price and Kyle Day, still in the cadet age range, proved too strong for any of the junior boys and will be playing for two titles on finals night, which will be held at the QE School on February 26.

Admission is free, with entries for the seniors tournament closing this Saturday.

Entry forms can by downloaded from tabletennis365.com/hereford or by calling Ciceley Palmer on 01684 540595.

Alternatively, you can email her at cis@forwil.co.uk