The first Darlington Primary Schools Table Tennis festival was held at the Dolphin Centre with 12 teams competing for a place in the county final, to be held in June.

The series of fun-based skill tests, devised for last year's Millennium Youth Games, provided a lot of enjoyment for the school teams, each consisting of three boys and three girls. At the end of two hours of action Heathfield emerged winners where they will hope to lift the Sportsmatch Trophy.

However, it was Heathfield's B team who proved stronger than their A team, winning by a single point with St Teresa's A finishing third. With Durham St Godrics and East Stanley Primary schools already through to the final, Heathfield's Andrew Grey, Michael Daynes, Shaun Marshall, Caroline Johnson, Emma Graham, and Jade Parkinson will be hoping to give Darlington yet another county honour to add to the many that the Darlington club have achieved during the last six months.

Three of St Teresa's team played in their first tournament when the third round of the Jarvis Sports Durham Junior Grand Prix was held at Greencroft School in Annfield Plain. Sarah Steggles and Rachel Greener both defeated Durham ranked No 4 Under-12, Chelsea Robson with Katy Thurloway also gaining a debut tournament victory over Sunderland's Emma Darling.

Darlington took rive of the six age group events but three of their county champions tasted defeat, by their own clubmates. Sarah Robinson reversed her Under-12 girls county final result with a 12-21, 21-18, 21-13 win over Samantha McCormick and Mark Simpson defeated David Meads to take the Under-12 boys title in the most entertaining match of the day. In a match of high quality, with long attacking rallies, Simpson edged home 9-21, 21-19, 21-19. Meads went one better in the Under-14 boys final, beating Andrew Leighton, county champion for the past two years, 21-12, 17-21, 21-9.

Claire Wilson repeated her Under-14 and Under-17 girls county victories over Joanne Meads. Once again there was little to separate Durham's top two girls and they once again fought three close sets to decide both finals.

Sunderland's No 1 seeded Kevin Wilson claimed the Under-17 boys title, beating David Meads 21-14, 21-10. However, Greencroft's Sam Rafferty caused a minor shock with a superb 21-19, 6-21, 21-17 win over No 2 seed Andrew Leighton.

Jarvis Sports managing director, Reg Thompson presented the winning medals and praised the series of tournaments. "These events are aimed at creating competition for all young players from beginners to county level and the number of smiling faces proved that supporting the event was well worthwhile.

"Durham county is enjoying rapid growth at grass root level and the Darlington British League club are doing a tremendous job by linking with many schools such as Greencroft," said Mr Thompson