Three-time Olympian Carl Prean took on local league legend Dave Barr as Newbury & District Table Tennis Association celebrated its 90th anniversary.
Prean, a multiple national champion who competed at the Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta Olympics, also led a coaching session with some of the area’s Junior players.
The main event was a re-staging of the match between Prean and Barr, who met on the occasion of the association’s 50th anniversary at the Newbury Corn Exchange back in 1984.
It was classic attack versus defence as the players went through the full range of their skills in front of an appreciative crowd at Kintbury TTC.
Dave said: “Believe it or not, 40 years ago, on our 50th anniversary, Carl and I – with slightly different haircuts – played an exhibition match, so this is the rematch.
“Forty years ago I can vividly remember I got heavily beaten and it just goes to show some things never change!
“I played the only way I know to play. What’s amazing, which has always been Carl’s strength, is his eye, which always makes it extremely hard on the attacker-defender side when you’ve got someone who reads it so well.”
Carl added: “I remember that (the 1984 match), and it was fun to come down and play again. Dave’s still playing well. It’s not easy with the test of time but he’s in good shape. I need more practice but when I have a knock then it does come back, I’m just a bit slower with the legs, but against defence I’ve got more time to play my game.
“I used to come down to Newbury in the 70s when I was very young, playing the junior tournaments – it was one of the best ones I entered. Someone told me I won the juniors at Newbury in 1981, so it’s fond memories. Coming from the Isle of Wight, I didn’t have far to travel either, so it was always good.”
Association President Duncan Campbell said: “It was very good of Carl, who keeps saying he’s come out of retirement – but having watched him, I’m not sure he’s retired very much! It’s always great to see a good attacking player against a good defender.”
The Association also celebrated with an evening event at the Chequers Hotel in the town, where current and former champions met to reminisce, including the Association’s Ladies’ Singles champion from 1949 Lorna Reeves, who is now in her 90s.
Apart from the Second World War years, the Association has been in continuous existence since 1934. Having started with eight teams, it reached more than 100 in its heyday around 1970.
Duncan Campbell added: “What we’re trying to do is get more youngsters involved, so we had a few of those today, having some coaching with Carl.
“Like a lot of table tennis associations, we have a lot of people who are over 60 and we need more youngsters coming through to help the numbers into the future.”
