WHEN it comes to the sport of table tennis, St Bede’s High School is certainly dining at the top table.

The Blackburn school has been feasting on honours in the sport and this year’s Lancashire Schools Table Tennis Championships were no exception.

Not only did the super Saints win the under 13s title, it was the fourth successive year they had clinched the age group. And to underline their dominance, it turned out to be an all-St Bede’s final as well.

St Bede’s ‘A’ ran out 6-2 winners against the school’s ‘B’ team and will now represent Lancashire in the English Schools National Championships in the New Year.

It capped a fine day’s work for the champions who were in dominant form throughout.

The Saints opened up with a convincing 8-0 victories over Garstang High School from Preston and St Augustines from Billington.

And they reached the final courtesy of an equally impressive 7-1 win against Archbishop Temple from Preston.

The final itself was a mouth watering prospect and both teams served up some tasty fair before the first team ran out as eventual winners.

For Dave Pilkington, St Bede’s table tennis coach, it was a dream come true.

“I have been involved in table tennis for more than 20 years and my ultimate aim was to dominate both sides of the draw which we eventually have done.

“Obviously I had split loyalites but we were in a no lose situation. In the final, we didn’t coach the lads and just let them get on with it.

“It was great final and it was a lot closer in games that the scoreline suggested.”

The successful St Bede’s team — which included Jack Ellison, Marcus Eccles, Oliver Fox and Ed Rushworth — will now represent the county in the national zonal finals which will be held at the Blackburn school in January.

The runners-up included Cory Whistler, Matt Woodburn, Brendon Hinningan and Luke Erswell.

“Our next aim is to improve on our best finish in the national finals,” added Dave. “We got to the last 16 in the country a few years ago but this current crop of players are very talented but also very committed.”

The English Schools zonal finals will take place at St Bedes on January 17 where the home school will represent Lancashire against winners from Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria and Greater Manchester.

The top teams will then progress to the regional finals which is split between north and south schools.

While St Bede’s were celebrating its success, it was a case of so near, but yet so far for Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School. For QEGS finished as runners-up in both the under 16s and under 19s boys finals.

In the Under 16s final, QEGS put up a spirited display as they beat teams from Blackburn, Billington and Preston to reach the final. However Ripley St Thomas proved to be a step too far as the Lancaster school ran out 8-0 winners.

The Under 19s was a straight final but again Lancaster opponents got the better of QEGS with Lancaster Royal Grammar School sealing an 8-0 victory.

The other big winners on the day were Greatwood Primary School from Morecambe. It was an all Greatwood final in the boys under 11s with the school’s first team taking the honours. However the real excitement came in the semi final when Great-wood and Garstang Primary School drew 4-4 and were tied at 16 sets each.

But it was Greatwood who went through on account of scoring more points, 297 to Garstang’s 275.

In the other semi final, Greatwood second team ended Bradley Primary School from Pendle hopes following a 6-2 win.

And Greatwood got the better of Bradley in the girls under 11s as well which was a straight final with the Morecambe school securing a 5-3 win.