Jack Hunter-Spivey retained his Para Class 2-5 title with a clinical win over Megan Shackleton on Finals Day at the Mark Bates Ltd National Championships.  

Photos by Alan Man

Paralympic medallist Hunter-Spivey, who was surprisingly beaten 3-2 by Chris Ryan in yesterday’s group stage, was fully focused on extending his 100% record in the final.

He took a one-game lead, but faced two game points in the second as Shackleton played some outstanding shots as she attempted to take the upper hand. However, Hunter-Spivey clawed it back to 10-10 and then played an outrageous, precision tetraloop which landed a hair’s breadth over the net, the backspin then taking it out of Shackleton’s reach.  

He then accelerated towards the win, taking the third game 11-5.

Hunter-Spivey now heads straight to Poland for the last qualifying event in a quest to secure a place at the Paris Paralympics this summer.  

Ross Wilson stormed to victory in the para class 6-10 final, although it was closer than the 3-0 margin sounds. 

The two three-time Paralympic medallists served up a high-class match and Wilson got the better of his teammate in the big points, playing an excellent forehand winner to go 10-8 up in the first game, winning it 11-8. 

McKibbin started the second game stronger, pegging Wilson back as he took an 8-4 lead. However, Wilson drew level at 8-8, unusually, thanks to an ‘ace’, and went on to win the second game 12-10 on his third game point.  

Wilson made sure of the three-game win, going 10-4 up and winning the title 11-7 in the third game.