The entry for this year's Chelmsford Two-a-Side Summer Table Tennis League is one of the strongest for many years with teams taking part from Southend, Chelmsford, Burnham, Ipswich, Basildon and Brentwood.

The battle for the first division title should be a good one with Elmtree Graphics A fielding two of Chelmsford's top players in Paul Lucas and John Holland.

However with Lucas's participation likely to be limited as he will still be at University for part of the season the title could well go to ECC Dodo's, a new team making the journey over from Ipswich.

Their line-up will include Ian Brown who scored 86 per cent in the first division of the Winter League last season together with mens-singles semi-finalist Andy Dosher and other Suffolk county players Andy Holmes and Gavin Bloomfield.

The other ECC team will not be too far away and up-and-coming Barry Mays and Richie Hughes paired with Dave Cole (who is signed on as a reserve) is a team who could surprise anyone on their night.

This ECC team has a real depth about it with Keith Woodcock, Marilyn Bawden and Bryn Thomas also signed on.

Indeed none of the teams entered will be left floundering out of their depth and Boreham (Peter Barrett, Stuart Walsh and Steve Northcott) and Hatfield Peverel A (John Gagg, Dave Carter and John Parodi) are also capable of pushing the best if not actually taking the title.

The second division also looks even on paper although Baddow Village A might well have the edge if their best two players Ian Wright and Jon Hill can be persuaded to play regularly.

With back-up from Alistair Brown and Duncan Elloy they certainly have a good chance.

Otherwise new entry St. Peters look a good bet with Gary Ward in their line-up. His team-mates Paul Reed and John Darling should be able to provide more than adequate back-up.

Wily Trevor Palmer, paired with the solid defensively-minded Robbie Burton, are also in with a shout playing under the colours of OCs A.

Hatfield Peverel B look to be the best of the rest and in Malcolm Jacobs they have a potential match-winner.

Invicta look clear favourites for division three as most of their side have taken part in the Southend League premier division.

John Lott, John De Groot, John Hill, Colin Chatfield, Maurice Cornish and John Golding look far too strong for this division and should romp away with it.

There is little in it between the other teams and it is great to see Baddow Village B giving an opportunity to youngsters Alastair Hill and Russell Hodge to test themselves at this level.

Realistically however it is down to Team captain Graham Turner to play to his best ability if this side are going to make their mark.

Contrast this with Maldon who have tons of experience in the shape of Cathy Eakin and Linda Thacker.

Hatfield Peverel C could be the dark-horses and Neil Freeman and Colin Powell who came fourth last year have been joined by Guy McKenzie and Jon Fieldsend and could go a couple of places better this time.

Mountnessing A took the division four title last season and it will be a surprise if they do not recapture it this time round.

Their line-up of Lou Hopkins, Peter Hardiman and Arthur Payne have all held their own at higher levels and this experience should give them a head-start over their rivals.

Again there is little to choose between the other sides although new team Hadleigh Forum TTC (Gordon, Jim and John Packer and Peter Hampshire) could well be a surprise package.

Danbury D, who finished a disappointing sixth last year, should do better this time round and John Skuse, Martin and John Knights, Ray Beckwith and Neil Want should at least finish in the top half of the table, if not second or third.

All players should also note that the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League are holding a Come-and-Try-it Session on Sunday, June 18, at Dovedales Sports Centre, Vicarage Road, Chelmsford from 9am to 12noon, as part of the Chelmsford Festival of Sport.

Anyone who fancies a free game of table tennis need just turn up on the day, and League officials will be present to show how it is done.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.