Darlington

Darlington's improving youngsters followed a successful County Championships performance at Grantham by joining their senior British League players in the Newcastle Grand Prix tournament.

Playing for Durham in the Under-17 team, David Meads marked his debut with an unbeaten four wins from as many matches as Durham clinched third place with victories over Conwy and Nottinghamshire. Claire Wilson was beaten only once in her ten singles matches and with the whole squad aged 14 and under, the future looks bright for the county junior team.

The going was obviously going to be tough in the high class Newcastle Senior Grand Prix event but Joanne Meads reached the final of the women's band four singls. She also gave highly-ranked Zoe Cheeseman (Yorks) a fright in the Under-21 singles.

Claire Wilson was up against the top seed Karen Lockwood (Cheshire) and top England junior Sarah Donnelly (Yorks) but again the highly-rated pair were made to stretch to the limit.

Jonathan Dewind stretched Zeke Dixon (Cumbria), the winner of the recent northern junior trials, to four sets and had set points to take the match to a decider.

Although out of the junior ranks, Daniel Welsh gained an impressive victory over Irish number three Eoin Byrne. Darlington's Scottish international Niall Cameron took the band two men's title and John Hilton added the veteran title, beating teammate Tony Gelder in the semi finals.

Darlington had high hopes in the men's singles but their number two seeded Fabio Mantegazza went out to Scottish number two Stewart Crawford and fourth-seeded Eddie Smith was a shock first-round loser to London's Jimmy Walsh. The defeat was made to look much better for Smith as Walsh went on to reach the final before losing to favourite Alan Cooke.

During the Christmas break Darlington's youngsters will take part in three days of intensive coaching by the club's former European champion John Hilton. At his peak, Hilton was ranked number one in Europe and four in the world and he is now more Involved with the club's juniors.

Darlington League

Division One

Placings: Auckland Park Plyd 11, Pts 80; DTTC A 10, 76; Henknowle 10, 73; Fire Station 11, 60; Sedgefield 10, 42; Railway Athletic A 10, 41; DSRM A 11, 34; DTTC B 11, 14.

Results: Fire Station 5 (B.Ellenor 2), Auckland Park 5 (S Haughney 3); DTTC A 8 (D.Welsh 3), Henknowle 2; Railway Athletic A 9 (M.Darkes 3, A.Williamson 3), DTTC B 1.

Division Two

Placings: Railway Athletic B 12, 95; DSRM D 11, 68; Dene Valley 11, 64; Grange Centre 11, 52; DTTC D 10, 46; DSRM C 11, 42; DSRM B 11, 39; DTTC C 9, 24.

Results: DSRM B 1, Railway Athletic B 9 (S.Barraclough 3, M.Thorns 3.); DSRM D 4, Grange Centre 6; (A. Hall 3).