JANET ADAMS became only the second lady in 50 years to win the prestigious Division I Merit Award in the Huddersfield Table Tennis League
Her consistency and all round game, coupled with a devastating forehand and backhand drives proved too hot to handle for the majority of her male opponents, as she went on to win an incredible 66 sets out of the 72 she played.
The Division II award went to Francis Cioffi, whose Chinese-style pen grip caused plenty of problems as he won 49 out of 60, while the Division II Merit award went to up-and-coming junior Harry Ness.
In only his second season in Division III, he displayed a good all-out attacking game, supported by a deceptive service as he completed a magnificent 100% record, winning all his 66 sets.
The Team awards went to Brooks TTC A in Division I, where the runners-up were Woodfield Park A.
Scissett WMC A won Division II with Marsh Con E as runners-up, while the Division III trophy also went to Scissett, where the Middle School were the winners and Deighton Leisure Services B the runners-up.
Deighton actually finished the season on a high note when they beat Kingsmith Engineers D 9-1, Rafel Aleksandzak opening up with a four-game win over David Wood.
Steve Cook levelled the match at 1-1, but Clinton Powell won all his three sets in a convincing display of forehand and backhand topspin drives.
And with Simpson and Alexsandzak adding extra sets and the latter joining Powell to win the doubles, it was a convincing victory which helped them seal runners-up spot in the table.
There was a rare victory for Huddersfield Veterans II team in Division II of the Yorkshire Inter-League, when they defeated Dewsbury 6-4, but it was not enough to stave off relegation, having collected only three points all season.
Ian Tweedale and Bob Sanderson won two sets each and an exciting doubles, while Keith Skarz on his debut notched a vital singles, beating Dewsbury’s Ian Teale over four sets.
Huddersfield already have two teams in the lower division of the Yorkshire League, where they finished fifth and seventh this season.
Huddersfield II 6 Dewsbury III 4: Ian Tweedale lost to Andy Worth 4-11, 11-8, 11-13, 7-11; Bob Sanderson bt Ian Teale 5-11, 11-9, 17-15, 13-11; Keith Skarz lost to Ian Fothergill 8-11, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11; Tweedale bt Teale 12-10, 11-3, 11-5; Skarz lost to Worth 2-11, 2-11, 6-11; Sanderson lost to Fothergill 4-11, 11-9, 7-11, 3-11; Skarz bt Teale 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9; Tweedale bt Fothergill 11-7, 11-8, 11-9; Sanderson bt Worth 11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 14-12, 11-7. Doubles: Tweedale & Sanderson bt Worth & Fothergill 11-6, 11-8, 11-3.
The annual presentation dinner will be held at the Brier Court Hotel, Birchencliffe on June 10, at 7.30pm, when the new Huddersfield Mayor, Councillor Eric Firth, will be presenting the trophies.
