Newcastle Grand Prix Saturday - Sunday 3-4 December 2005:

Players from all over England and Scotland as well as from Italy , Belgium and Libya took part in the regions top table tennis event at Eldon Leisure Centre over the weekend, the Newcastle Grand Prix.

On the Saturday the graded events were played.

Northumberland's Eddie Smith was victorious in the Band 1 Men's Singles, lifting the title at the expense of Cleveland 's Steven Bailey. On his way to the final Smith overcame Chris Beckley ( Surrey ) and Mark Simpson ( Durham ) in his group before getting the better of Stephen Davies (Lincs), Igor Milic ( Italy ) and Shaun Marples (Derbyshire) in the knock out stage.

The match of the day on Saturday, however, was the first round clash between the top seed Fabio Mantegazza of Italy and the Belgian Bart Vermoesen who lives in Gosforth and plays for Cramlington T.T.C. Mantegazza won the first two ends but Vermoesen fought back to win 8-11 8-11 11-6 11-9 11-8. He then went on to reach the semi finals but lost out to Bailey. The band two title went to Martin Rogers of Nottingham , band three to Matt Dodds of South Yorkshire and band four to Warren Slaney of Derbyshire. Bedfordshire's Paul Savins won both band five and band six.

In the women's banded events there was success for Sarah Perks ( Nottingham ) in band 1, Rachel Greener ( Cleveland ) in band 2 and Corrina Whitaker ( Scotland ) in band 3.

On the Sunday players competed in the Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Veteran's singles Men's Under 21 singles and Women's Under 21 singles.

The Men's Singles title went overseas being won by the Italian Fabio Mantegazza who defeated Danny Reed of Cleveland in a very entertaining final. Northumberland's Eddie Smith was the most successful local player, reaching the quarter finals before going out to David Meads of Durham .

Lancashire 's Lindsey Thornton-Reynolds won the Women's event with a victory over Durham 's Claire Wilson.

The Under 21 Men's singles was won by Durham 's David Meads, whilst the under 21 Women's title went to Durham 's Claire Wilson.

The match of the day was in the under 21 Men's in which Shaun Marples (Derbyshire) beat Ben Barlow ( South Yorks ) 20-18 in the fifth game.

In the Veteran's event Northumberland's Dave Godbold beat Stephen Crosby of South Yorkshire .

RESULTS

Men's Singles – Semi finals:

Fabio Mantegazza ( Italy ) beat Simon Noutch ( Yorks ) 11-5 11-2 9-11 11-5

Danny Read ( Cleveland ) beat David Meads ( Durham ) 5-11 11-9 11-6 11-8

Final: Mantegazza beat Read 11-6 9-11 11-8 11-9

Women's Singles – Semi finals:

Claire Wilson ( Durham ) beat Rachel Greener ( Cleveland ) 11-8 11-3 11-7

Lindsey Thornton-Reynolds (Lancs) beat Jenny Galloway ( Scotland )

11-8 10-12 11-7 11-6

Final: Thornton-Reynolds (Lancs) beat Wilson 11-8 11-6 12-10

Under 21 Men's Final: Meads beat Shaun Marples ( Derbys )_ 11-8 11-5 11-7

Under 21 Women's Final: Claire Wilson ( Durham ) beat Sarah Perks (Notts)

9-11 11-9 11-6 11-4

Veteran Men's Final: Dave Godbold (Northumberland) beat Stephen Crosby ( S. Yorks )

11-8 11-4 11-4

Band 1 Men's Final Eddie Smith (Northumberland) beat Steven Bailey ( Cleveland )

11-2 8-11 11-4 11-9

Band 2 Men's Final Martin Rogers ( Nottingham ) beat Richard Moss ( Yorks ) 11-7 11-7 11-8

Band 3 Men's Final Matt Dodds ( S. Yorks ) beat Gavin West ( Essex ) 11-5 11-9 11-9

Band 4 Men's Final Warren Slaney ( Derbys ) beat Stephen Arliss ( Yorks )

9-11 11-9 3-11 11-7 11-6

Band 5 Men's Final Paul Savins (Beds) beat Tony Vaughan ( Cheshire ) 3-11 11-4 11-4 11-9

Band 6 Men's Final Savins beat Stuart Fowler ( Scotland ) 11-2 11-9 14-12

Band 1 Women's Final Sarah Perks (Notts) beat Emily O'Sullivan ( Derbys )

6-11 11-5 11-9 11-5

Band 2 Women's Final Rachel Greener ( Cleveland ) beat Karina Le Fevre ( Cleveland )

11-4 14-12 11-9

Band 3 Women's Final Corrina Whitaker ( Scotland ) beat Karina Le Fevre ( Cleveland )

11-3 11-6 7-11 9-11 11-7