LINDSEY THORNTON stormed to a triple title haul at the national junior table tennis championships.

The Bury-based teenager swept the board by retaining her singles title and then added the doubles and mixed doubles championships for good measure.

It was a slightly belated birthday celebration for the former Woodhey High School student - Lindsey was 17 on November 19 - and her success was a tremendous confidence booster on the eve of her Senior debut in the international Austrian Open.

Her eyes now are firmly fixed on another title for she is due to take part in the current Portuguese Junior Open in Lisbon.

Lindsey's three-title haul came at Stratford-on-Avon where, as the Number 1 seed, she successfully defended her singles title in the final against Number 2 seed Emma Smith, finishing on top by 21-7, 13-21 and 21-13.

The two girls were partners in the doubles and won their final 21-10, 21-12 while in the mixed doubles Lindsey linked up with Bolton Premier League player Andrew Rushton for the first time. In the final they triumphed by 21-17, 15-21, 21-16.

To date Lindsey has held a total of 13 National titles, seven in single and six in doubles, and in addition to be being the Number 1 ranked Junior in England, she is also ranked Number 9 at Senior level where she hopes to become a regular member of the international squad.

Lindsey left school last summer with eight GCSE passes to her credit and still plays for Ramsbottom CC in the Bury and Bolton table tennis leagues.

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