A PAIR of north Kent table tennis players are celebrating after playing a key role in Kent’s veterans’ championship success last weekend.

Dartford's Chris Bartram and Gravesend's Jackie Williams were members of the five-strong county team alongside Joey Kennedy, Mark Brown and Mark Romano.

Kent’s first real test came against Sussex.

Despite a good start, it was a very close affair with Kent scraping home 6-4 with Bartram and Williams beating the mixed doubles specialist pair of Eckersley and Eckersley to secure the victory.

Unbeaten Surrey, led by former Chinese international Marcia Ma, were next up and Kent raced into a 3-0 lead before Bartram and Williams won winning the mixed doubles against Ma and Surrey number one Girdler. Surrey looked shell-shocked and Kent eventually ran out comfortable 8-2 victors.

The following day saw Kent face Lancashire, where victory would secure the title after a gap of almost 10 years.

Lancashire proved no match for the all-round strong Kent outfit, who ran out 8-3 winners to bring the title back to the garden of England once again.