New names will be etched on the two main trophies after first-time champions were crowned at York and District Table Tennis Association Closed Championships at York RI gymnasium last night.

Third seed John Farmery, of Fulford Road WMC, won the men's singles, beating unseeded Brian Quinn, of York RI, 18-21 21-9 21-10 in the final.

No 1 seed Jill Schofield, of Nestle Rowntree, who was making her debut in the York Championships, took the ladies singles trophy, beating Carole Wright (Fulford Road WMC) 21-15 21-12 in the final.

Schofield, who lives in Howden, works as a nurse in York and has been playing table tennis for some years, both her parents being England ranked veteran players.

Last year's men's singles champion Steve Cooper was unable to defend the title because the York championships clashed with his being involved in a National League fixture.

The leading Selby players who play in the York League were also unable to take part in the York championships this year because of National League commitments.

Farmery was involved in a thrilling duel with his Fulford Road WMC club colleague and second seed Graham Hatfield in the men's singles semi-finals.

Hatfield stormed into an early lead in an all-hitting and counter-hitting battle. Farmery gradually pegged him back but Hatfield took the first game with two superb forehands.

Farmery got the upper hand in the second game and made it through to the final by winning the third game 21-8.

Farmery also reached five other finals, winning the mixed doubles with South Bank's Adele Lobley and the veterans' doubles with Poppleton's Mark Hughes.

Men's singles No 1 seed Ian Stansfield was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Brian Quinn.

Graham Hood (Bootham Conservative Club) won the Clifford Trophy for the best performance throughout the championships.

The judges awarded it to division three player Hood for his victory over division one opponent Steve Ayres which took him through to the men's singles quarter-finals.

Results of finals

Men's singles: John Farmery (Fulford Rd WMC) bt Brian Quinn (York RI) 18-21 21-9 21-10.

Ladies singles: Jill Schofield (Nestle Rowntree) bt Carole Wright (Fulford Rd WMC) 21-15 21-12.

Men's doubles: Ian Stansfield (Coneysthorpe) and Trevor Wright (York RI) bt John Farmery and Graham Hatfield (Fulford Rd WMC) 21-17 21-19.

Ladies doubles: Jill Schofield (Nestle Rowntree) and Joanne Somers ((Poppleton) bt Betty Norman (York RI) and Adele Lobley (South Bank) 21-15 21-17.

Mixed doubles: John Farmery (Fulford Rd WMC) and Adele Lobley (South Bank) bt Keith Bojas (INL) and Jill Schofield (Nestle Rowntree) 21-11 2-10.

Veterans' singles: Ian Stansfield (Coneysthorpe) bt John Farmery (Fulford Rd WMC) 17-21 21-9 21-15.

Veterans' doubles: John Farmery (Fulford Rd WMC) bt Mark Hughes (Poppleton) bt Doug Bartle and Adrian McClaren (York RI) 21-12 21-19.

Hard bat singles: Mark Hughes (Poppleton) bt Ian Stansfield (Coneysthorpe) 21-13 21-7.

Junior singles: Simon Moss (Poppleton) bt Joanne Somers (Poppleton) 21-11 21-14.

Cadet singles: Stephen Robinson (Millthorpe) bt Jason Parker (Millthorpe) 21-15 17-21 21-18.

Div 1: Steve Ayres (Poppleton) bt John Farmery (Fulford Rd WMC) 21-19 18-21 21-16.

Div 2: Ed Wardman (Fulford Rd WMC) bt Martin Hood (INL) 21-15 21-9.

Div 3: Graham Hood (Bootham Conservative Club) bt Matthew Ayres (Poppleton) 14-21 21-16 21-16.

Div 4: Clive Warley (Fulford Rd WMC) bt Simon Moss (Poppleton) 19-21 21-14 21-14.

Hardbat doubles: John Hughes (York RI) and Mark Hughes (Poppleton) bt John Farmery (Fulford Rd WMC) and Peter Taylor (Sessions) 31-28.

Intermediates: Simon Moss (Poppleton) bt Joanne Somers (Poppleton) 12-21 21-15 21-14.

Super veterans (over-55): Trevor Wright (York RI) bt Ed Wardman (Fulford Rd WMC) 15-21 21-10 21-19.

Charity team handicap final: T and M Melling and P Milner (all Shepherds) bt Martin Symons (INL) and Chris Bartle (York RI) 3-0.

Clifford Trophy: Graham Hood (Bootham Conservative Club).

Updated: 11:48 Monday, February 05, 2001