The final two matches of the seasons sorted out a few positional dramas for Division 1 of the Burnham & District Table Tennis League.  Woodham A secured 3rd place with a tight 6-4 win over 2-player Mapledene B, and Cold Norton A brought out their stars in the battle to avoid relegation and duly dispatched Woodham B into relegation mires with a 9-1 comprehensive victory.

Cold Norton A trio Duncan Taylor, Kevin Read, and Charles Sweeny all took singles hat-tricks in their final match together for Cold Norton A.  Eamonn Hall and Peter Harverson took the doubles glory with a comfortable 4 set win over Taylor and outgoing Skipper Steve Maltby. The unluckiest player on the night was Woodham’s Harry Sawford who went all the way to 5 against Sweeny, and then had 3 match points at 10-7 up in the 5th against Kevin Read before experience got the better of exuberance and Read won out 14-12 for the narrowest of wins. Read had also had tough battles with both Harverson and Hall earlier in the evening losing a leg to each. This victory preserves Cold Norton A’s Division 1 status should they wish to continue next season – that fate of Woodham B is in the balance with 2 teams keen to be promoted from Div 2.

In the delayed final fixture of the season Woodham A just needed a victory to secure 3rd place, and the probability of this happening was dramatically increased when Mapledene could only field a 2 player team. So Woodham had a 3-0 headstart, and Men’s Singles Champion Dan Young in their squad – so things were looking good. In the end they limped through 6-4 despite some inspired performances from the Mapledene duo. Young won his 2 singles both in 4 sets, and Dan Piglet defeated the in-form Anthon Ranjit-Singh for the 6 points to secure 3rd place. Mapledene won the rest with Keith Willet taking 2 singles, and Ranjit-Singh finishing the campaign on a high with his first win of the season. Willet and Ranjit-Singh then paired up for an inspired 5 set doubles victory over Young and Piglet. That final point was enough to take Mapledene B above Mapledene A and secure 4th spot in what has been a phenomenal season for the team.

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Eamonn Hall, Press Officer

Burnham & District Table Tennis League

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Pic 1 – Anthon Ranjit-Singh finishes the campaign on a personal high

Pic 2 – Harry Sawford versus Kevin Read in that 5 set thriller

Pic 3 – Division 1 Final Table 2025-26