Mark Bleakley wins four in Warrington table tennis finals; will represent League at NW Champions Challenge.

WTTC coach and veteran of the sport in the region, Mark Bleakley, mopped up in the Warrington & District Closed Championships, winning an astonishing four of the finals. It was Mark's best showing in the Championships, winning the Open Singles, Handicap, Doubles and Vets.

Mark will now represent Warrington at the Champions Challenge on 13 May, competing against league champions from across the region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark's first win was in the semi-final against Mal McEvoy, winning in three straight to set up an Open Singles final against local rival and fellow WTTC coach, Peter Flint, who beat Olivier Barthelemy in the other semi.

Mark's first final of the evening was the Handicap against Daresbury's Winston Duff, impressive in the knockout rounds and who would start 8-0 up over the best of three games to 23. The handicap provided an entertaining and gruelling encounter for both players: it went to wire with Mark coming through right at the end taking the match 23-19 in the third.

Next up for Mark was the Vets and another encounter with Mal McEvoy. The Vets final was a much tougher challenge for Mark than his earlier match with Mal who got off to a 2-0 lead. But Mark, gaining in confience as the match progressed, battled back into contention and won through in the fifth to claim his second trophy of the evening.

In the Doubles Mark was paired with Peter Flint who, having looked very strong in his earlier semi, must have appeared a daunting prospect for opponents Stuart Hardy and George Lennon. And with Mark and Peter in simply unstoppable form there was very little Stuart and George could do to prevent Mark and Peter winning in three straight.

The blue riband event, the Open Singles Final was the last match of the evening between two players who know each other's game very well. Would Peter be able to get in with his powerful left-handed heavy spin, or would Mark's exceptional touch keep Peter out? After Peter's strong performance in his semi and in the doubles, 'getting in' on almost every return of serve, the jury was out. But in truth, once the game had started there could only be one winner. Mark was simply in a class of his own and tied Peter, one of the best players in the league, in knots - forcing Peter into errors throughout the match, to win through again in three straight. 

Gracious in defeat, Peter Flint said: "There was nothing I could do, it was Mark's evening. Mark was in top form and deserves everything he's won."

Mark, clutching all four sparkling sliver trophies and with trademark humility, explained: "I think I played quite well tonight."

In the other finals...

Amy Hutchings beat Jeff Woodhouse 3-0 in the Division 2 Final - Amy powered her way to the Dvision 2 title having played the very same player the evening before in the league at Padgate, winning 11-9 in the fifth on that occasion;

Rachael Barker beat Annie Hudson 3-1 in an entertaining, open, attacking Ladies Final;

Alex Storey beat Daniel Clarke 3-2 in the Junior Final - an edgy affair with Alex defending well against Daniel's pacey attack;

Phil Luxon beat Stuart Hardy 3-0 in the Vets Over 55s Final - a match which included many of Phil's disguised side spin 'up-and-unders' - a shot unique to the Fords player which consistently foxed the experienced Hardy.

Winning the Junior Final was an especially strong achievement for Alex Storey who has won the Juniors for the last three seasons running, each time against club mate Daniel Clarke. At one stage in the match it looked as though Alex was out of ideas as he lost the third game 11-3 to trail the match 2-1. But the older and more experienced player came back fighting in the fourth and got off to an unassailable lead in the fifth to claim the junior title for a third straight year.

"The 2014 Warrington & District Championships has been one of the most successful in recent years, with a strong entry from across the league," explained organiser Howard Flint, who marked out the work of WTTC's coaching team in bringing through a strong new crop of junior players.