Entries were up as youngsters battled for honours at the Norfolk Schools Championships.

Eastern Daily Press: Ella Barnard in action at the Norfolk Schools Championships. Photo: Mark Dare.Ella Barnard in action at the Norfolk Schools Championships. Photo: Mark Dare. (Image: Archant)

Held at Wensum Table Tennis Club at Catton Grove Primary School, the tournament is open to all young players who attend a Norfolk school, and holds events at under 19, under 16, under 13 and under 11 age groups.

Eastern Daily Press: Lewis Ross at the table. Photo: Mark Dare.Lewis Ross at the table. Photo: Mark Dare. (Image: Archant)

An entry of 44 players was tribute to the large amount of development work in the county.

Seven players entered the under 11 singles and 10-year-old Ben Hawes (Norwich School) was in great form, winning all six matches to secure the title. Aidan Sayers was runner-up.

The under 13 boys' singles was contested by 12 players, and won by top seed Lewis Ross (Taverham High School) who beat James Taylor (Diss High School) 11-13, 11-7, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9 in the final.

Jonas Lee (Gresham's School) beat national Schools Under 13 champion Louis Moyes (Framingham Earl High School) to claim the under 16 boys' crown.

The largest field of the day, 16 players, battled for honours, but Moyes and Lee were the stand-out competitors, comfortably progressing through their groups and into the quarter-finals.

Moyes beat Thomas Rooke (North Walsham High School) 3-0, Alexander McRobie (Hobart High School) beat Ed Horton (Reepham High School) 3-0, Alfie Nichols (Acle Academy) beat Alexander Bragg (St Clements High School) 3-0 and Lee beat Patrick Parle (Reepham High School) 3-0.

Moyes raced through his semi-final against McRobie 3-0, but Lee was pushed harder by Nichols, who shocked him by winning the first game, before losing 3-1.

The final was a quality affair, with the first two games shared. Lee played brilliantly to win the third game 11-4. The fourth game was nip and tuck up to 5-5, then Lee pulled away to take the match 11-6 and clinch the title.

There were only two entries in the under 19 boys' singles, with Nathan Downes (Easton College) beating Sam Carson (Thorpe St Andrew School) 3-0.

And more disappointingly, only four girls in total entered their four age groups. They played a round robin event which was won by Ella Barnard (Flegg High School). Runner-up was Darcy Brewer (Caister Junior School), with Yen Loke (Wymondham High Academy) third and Amelia Vasco (Hemsby Primary School) fourth.