Hunter-Spivey, Shilton and Stacey Take National Titels-British Para Table Tennis

Jack Hunter-Spivey and Billy Shilton got the honor in the Para classes on the Mark Bates Ltd Table Tennis England Senior National Championships in Nottingham, who won the class 2-5 and class 6-10 finals, and at the Butterfly Welsh National Champions-Title Joshua.

All three players were recorded in a team of 13 on their way to Poland this week before the ITTF World Para Challenger Wladyslawowo (26-29 March).

In Nottingham Hunter-Spivey, his group won Romain Simon (3-0) and Chris Ryan (3-1), while Shackleton insured her place in the final with victories against Thomas Hepburn (3-1) and Simon Heaps (3-0).

In the last class 5, Hunter-Spivey always had control of class 4 shackleton and was a 3-0 winner.

There were absolutely things from training that I brought to the Nationals this weekend to prepare for Poland this week, said Hunter-Spivey, who won Paralympic bronze in Tokyo but missed the qualification for Paris. Credit to everyone who helped me come to this point.

Experience turned out to be decisive in class 6-10 with Aaron McKibbin and Billy Shilton who looked challenges of improving young players in the group competitions to reach the final. McKibbin saved set points before he took a tight first set against Max Flint 14-12 before he won 3-0 and then defeated Theo Bishop in three narrow sets. Shilton was a 3-0 winner against Jaiden Caldeira and came to the level twice due to a tough match against Shae Thakker after Thakker had returned to the level.

Shilton started well in the final and led 1-0 and again on 2-1, but McKibbin came back twice to the level and took it to a decisive set. Shilton led 8-4, but McKibbin continued to fight and got his chance on 10-9 before Shilton saved the match point and continued with the set 13-11 to take the title.

I felt that it was a great game and I am really happy with the level I showed, said Shilton, who continued his good start to the season after he reached the final of the Singapore Smash last month. Aaron and I are great friends, so it's never fun to play him in a big game like this. I felt that I adapted well when the game started to change and maybe that's why I won today. We practice together all the time, so it is never easy because we know each other's game from Binnenstebuiten. I am really proud that I won the title this year, because it is my first time, so I hope I can continue this form that goes to Poland.

In Cardiff, the Para-Class was played in a Round-Robin format with Stacey who already won his three games against Grace Williams (3-0), Jacob Wicks (3-0) and Paul Karabardak (3-0) with Karabardak in second place after beating Wicks (3-0).

I am clearly happy that I have kept my title and I feel good to look at Poland this week, Stacey said. I feel that the training and the work I have submitted will pay dividends and I am looking forward to trying to do a really good performance in singles first and then in doubles with both Aaron and Bly.

Poland has been the first international tournament since the last summer Paralympic Games for Stacey and Parisian medal winners Rob Davies (Mens Class 1), Bly Twomey (Womens Class 7) and Paul Karabardak (Mens Class Six). They will be accompanied by Tom Matthews (Mens Class 1), Martin Perry (Mens Class 6), Theo Bishop (Mens Class 7), Aaron McKibbin (Mens Class 8), Megan Shackleton (Ladies Class 4), Fliss Pickard (Womens Class 6) and Grace Williams.

The British team for the ITTF World Para Challenger Wladyslawowo (26-29 March) is:

Theo Bishop, 21, Rossendale/Sheffield Class 7

Rob Davies, 40, Brecon Class 1

Jack Hunter-Spivey, 29, Liverpool/Sheffield Class 5

Paul Karabardak, 40, Swansea class 6

Thomas Matthews, 32, Aberdare class 1

Aaron McKibbin, 33, London (Wandworth)/Epsom Class 8

Martin Perry, 30, Paisley/Dumbarton class 6

Fliss Pickard, 30, Burnley/Sheffield Class 6

Megan Shackleton, 26, Todmorden/Sheffield class 4

Billy Shilton, 26, Stonehouse (Gloucester)/Sheffield Class 8

Joshua Stacey, 25, Cardiff/Sheffield Class 9

Bly Twomey, 14, Brighton Class 7
Grace Williams, 21, Llanfyllin/Sheffield class 8