INVINCIBLE veteran Barry Crook, became the Open Singles Table Tennis Champion of Preston at the Preston Closed Championships.

He defeated Paul Shirley in a hard fought encounter to win in three games 11-21, 21-10, 24-22.

Barry went on to make it a hat-trick of wins retaining the veterans title in a three game set thriller against Tony Rigby who last won this event in 1996. The final scores 14-21, 21-11, 21-18. He then went on to take the Open Doubles Title partnered with Tony Rigby against a strong pairing of Mike Sibley and Brian Oldfield 14-21, 21-15, 21-18.

It is a great achievement by Barry who has represented England in the paraplegic Olympic Games in Australia.

Junior champion was Hannah Roberts, 17, who beat the holder Daniel Martindale, in the final in two straight games 21-7, 21-3.

The Handicap event was an all Parker affair, brother of Donal, Kevin Parker on plus 12 won against Robert Parker 21-16, 21-15.

In the divisional events, Phil Petts won against Stuart Thorpe, in a one sided final 21-16, 21-7 in division one. Division Two was a repeat of the Handicap final, Kevin Parker again winning against Robert Parker 21-15, 21-14.

The event was organised by Tony Rigby who also was the tournament referee.

The presentation of prizes and trophies for the winners and runners-up of the Closed Championships and the league matches of the division and the final team competitions which take place at the end of the season, will be on Friday May 10 after the AGM of the Preston Association at the Lea Sports and Social Club, Blackpool Road, Preston. They will be presented by the president of the association Peter Rainford.