OKEHAMPTON Table Tennis League 2008/2009 season started on October 13. This year there are eight teams in division 1 and seven in division 2.

The new teams in division 1 are Anchorage A from Tavistock and the J Team, promoted from division 2. There are five new teams in division 2, Anchorage B and C, Milton Abbot, Academy A and The Young Ones from Okehampton.

The first division 1 match was Bridestowe against Okehampton A, Mark Tancock and Phil Down for Bridestowe and Barry Vaughan, Tony Howick, Frank Cockburn for Okehampton A.

They raced into a 4-0 lead. Mark Tancock won two for Bridestowe first beating Frank Cockburn and then Tony Howick in straight sets. He joined Down in the doubles doing well to beat Vaughan and Howick in five legs, Okehampton A winning the match 7-3.

In the next, Tavistock A carried on from last year, beating the J Team 10-0. Only one game went to five legs, Roger Bowkett beating John Down 8-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-3, 12-10.

In the next Dartmoor Fringe were at home to Tavistock B. Martin Fowler and Dave Edwards did well to win all three singles and Colin Brooker with one. Peter Richardson did well to beat Colin in five legs 14-16, 11-5, 5-11, 11-3, 15-13. Ian Smith won the second in four legs. Tavistock won the doubles for a 8-2 win.

In division 2, two of the new teams met: Academy A against Anchorage C. Tom Pearce, Tom Pengelly and Wayne Pearce for the Academy and Barry Williams, David Dashper and Steve Pantanos for Anchorage C.

In a hard fought match, Academy won 8-2 but it was a lot closer than the score suggests with five going to a fifth leg decider. Thomas Pearce and Wayne Pearce won all their singles, Tom and Tom Pengelly winning the doubles. David Dashper and Steve Pantanos won the two singles for Anchorage C, David beating Tom Pengelly 11-6, 11-13, 12-10, 8-11, 8-11, Steve beating Tom 8-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-8, 6-11.

In the next match two more new teams met: Milton Abbot at home to Anchorage B, Michael Blatchford, Ian Osborne and Max Williams and Roger Gilbert, Jenny Hotchkiss and Dave Wilson for Anchorage B.

This was another 8-2 result for the away team, Roger Gilbert winning all his singles ably supported by Dave Wilson and Jenny Hotchkiss with two each. Roger and Jenny won the doubles against Ian Osborne and Max Williams for the 8-2 win, Ian Osborne winning the two singles for Milton Abbot.

In the last division 2 match Moretonhampstead were at home to Okehampton B. This was another hard fought match although the result was 8-2 to Okehampton B. Dick Randell did well to win all his singles ably supported by Maureen Venton and Cath Smith with two each.

Maureen joined Dick in the doubles. They proved too strong for David Shilston and Peter Denman winning in straight sets. David Shilston won the two singles for Moreton first beating Cath 12-10, 3-11, 11-5, 9-11,13-11 and beating Maureen 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 11-4.

Results — Division 1: Bridestowe 3, M Tancock 2, Dbls 1, Okehampton A 7, B Vaughan 3, T Howick 2, F Cockburn 2. Tavistock A 10, R Bowkett 3, P Hicks 3, R Easton 3, Dbls 1; The J Team 0. Dartmoor Fringe 2, I Smith 1,P Richardson 1, Tavistock B 8, M Fowler 3, D Edwards 3, C Brooker 1, Dbls 1.

Division 2: Academy A 8, T Pearce 3, W Pearce 3, T Pengelly 1 Dbls 1; Anchorage C 2, D Dashper 1, S Plantanos 1. Milton Abbot 2, I Osborne 2, Anchorage B 8, R Gilbert 3, J Hotchkiss 2, D Wilson 2, Dbls 1. Moretonhampstead 2 , D Shilston 2, Okehampton B 8, D Randell 3, M Venton 2, C Smith 2, Dbls 1.