The curtain came down on the 45th season of the North Norfolk Table Tennis League with the annual meeting and trophy presentations at the Lighthouse Inn, Walcott.

The curtain came down on the 45th season of the North Norfolk Table Tennis League with the annual meeting and trophy presentations at the Lighthouse Inn, Walcott.

A new president had to be chosen following John Vaughan's retirement and Peter Ward was elected. Jon Cheyette takes over

from Ward as the league's new vice-chairman, while the rest of the committee remains unchanged.

Three out of four possible new rule changes were also agreed. The

league has decided not to permit time-outs, while the North Norfolk Championships will take place annually on a Sunday.

A new position of honorary president has been created, as a thank-you to those who have made a big impact on the league.

The first four voted in were John Vaughan and his predecessor Eric Craske, joined by former junior coach and legendary veterans' player Mary Sawyer and long-standing league treasurer Derek Philpott.

Dave Dewbury, of league sponsor Star Paving Services, presented all the evening's trophies, starting with the winners and runners-up of the North Norfolk Championships.

Sidewinders won the treble in the shape of the league crown and the two knockout cups, while Delta collected both handicap cups.

Beta were presented with the

shield for winning the second division, with Seals collecting the runners-up trophies.

Outlaws took the runners-up awards for the first division and Knockout Doubles Cup, with Specials the finalists in the Knockout Singles Cup. A last-gasp win for Poachers meant that the wooden spoon or Strength Award again went to Crosscourts.

Special awards included a couple

of extra ones instigated by

chairman Chris Pooley, presented to retiring president, John Vaughan, and also long-standing player

Dennis Elliott.

As with most of the other titles this season, even the Sunbank Shield

for the most man-of-the-match nominations went down to the wire.

Come the final match, there was still a chance of a three-way tie, but Tom Baldock-Yaxley won by a mere half of a point.

John Batchford was up and down like a yo-yo all night to collect awards of behalf of his team, Sidewinders, as well as his own awards from the championships, so it was fitting that he was named the Norwich and Peterborough League Newcomer.

This year's Natwest Junior Sporting Personalities were Jack Morton and Simeon Care, while the undefeated John Hancock (Junior) picked up the Don Pritchard Memorial Trophy for the most wins this season.

The night ended with an emotional moment as Maureen Chapman, who had sadly lost her husband earlier in the week, was named the recipient of this year's Alan Bunting Sporting Personality Trophy - voted for by the players of the league.

She said: "This has made a horrible week slightly less horrible and it was comforting to know that so many people were caring about me and my terrible loss.

"You table tennis folk are a lovely lot and I'm so glad I decided to pick up my bat again."