DAVE Lamb turned back the clock to capture the Selby Table Tennis Open championships men's singles title.

Lamb, in his 60s and older than the only two previous champions in the 28-strong field -- Keith Beedham (1973) and Jim Robe (1979) -- sheared the rest of the opposition en route to becoming the event's oldest champion.

The Eggborough Kites stalwart, who is a former county player, showed his experience to overcome a gallant effort from Eggborough Eagles player Phil Hall.

Hall started the stronger, taking an early lead with his trademark fast counter-attacks but eventually Lamb, who mixed defence and attack superbly, took control and the first set 12-10. He never looked back. Classic table tennis yielded him the second set 11-7 and the third 11-8.

To reach the final Lamb won a fierce semi-final against Jim Robe (Ospreys), while unseeded Hall played brilliantly to oust top seed John Peters (Kestrels) in straight sets.

Hall, who took up the sport competitively only five years ago, did not leave the championships empty-handed.

He produced a great performance in the Veterans' (over 40) to beat top seed John Peter in straight sets and also took the handicap singles, overcoming a big handicap to beat Thorpe junior Robert Peters.

However, in the restricted event which excludes the top-ranked players, top seed Hall lost out to warhorse Roger Ellis (SWMC) in the semi before Ellis defeated Andy Kirk (Tate & Lyle) in a thrilling five-set final 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 21-23, 11-9.

The doubles final was an all-Kites affair with Dave Jackson and Martin Hood beating Lamb and Keith Webster 11-9, 11-9, 12-10. Jackson previously won the title in 1980 as a member of the strong Olympia team.

Top seed Geoff Harrop beat his Sherburn club-mate, unseeded Simon Belton to win the second division singles in straight sets.

The novice singles -- restricted to players that have never previously won an individual event of any description - went to Mike Jackson (Sherburn) after he saw off the challenge of Robert Peters.

Jackson then teamed up with James Atkins (Sherburn) to take the handicap doubles against Open doubles champs Dave Jackson and Martin Hood.

Youngster Atkins also won three titles in the youth events.

First up, he won his own age group (Under-13s), where he reversed last year's event in beating Will Beedham (Tate & Lyle).

He then got the better of Beedham in the cadet (U15s) in another entertaining final before completing his title hat-trick with an impressive victory over Matthew Ball (Thorpe) in the junior (U18s) final.

Ball gained some consolation when he and Peters beat Atkins and Beedham in the junior doubles final over five sets.

Updated: 08:35 Thursday, April 07, 2005