FOUR Herefordshire County Table Tennis Veteran events were played at Whitecross School, Hereford, with 19 entries.

The main competition - the Veteran Singles - had four groups of four with the winner and runner-up in each going forward to the quarter-finals.

The four winners were Gordon Stables, Harry Jutle, Bob Trimble and Bob Atyeo with Norman Merchant, Richard Owens, Neville Meredith and John Hunt the runners-up. Gordon, Harry, Bob and John went through to the semi-finals where Harry beat Gordon 11 and 15 and Bob beat John 16 and 14.

The finals will be played at Whitecross School on March 21.

The doubles was a straight knockout and in the semi-finals Gordon Stables and Harry Jutle beat Richard Owens and Bob Trimble 12 and 11 and Norman Merchant and Allen Neads lost to Neville Meredith and Dave Hamer 18 and 15.

Steve Farr, Bob Davies, Dave Knowles and John Hunt went through to semi-finals of the restricted event. Steve then beat Bob 11 and 18 and John beat Dave 14 and 16.

In the final John Hunt won 15 and 18.

The last event of the day was the Over-60 Super Vets. The semi finals saw Gordon Stables beat Norman Merchant 12 and 16 and Neville Meredith beat Dave Hamer 11, 17, 17.

The final will again be on March 21.

The Junior Champion-ships will be played on March 2 and the main Senior Championships will be held on March 16, both at Whitecross School when spectators are welcome and admission is free.

The senior day will have 50 competitors and 12 different titles to be won.

The men's singles will have a different name on the trophy for the first time in well over 20 years as neither Mark Owens nor Michael Owens, who have dominated the competition, have entered.

The number one seeded position goes to a newcomer to the county, Chris Martin, so there will be many players who will feel that they have a chance of taking the title after years of trying.