THE very first Southern Disability Table Tennis Grand Prix has been hailed as a success.

Organisers SportsAble welcomed 61 athletes with learning and physical disabilities from all over England, Scotland and Wales last weekend.

The competition involved 244 matches across 20 events and even attracted two former Paralympians to Braywick Park, Maidenhead.

Mark Palmer competed at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and won gold at the Grand Prix on Saturday while David Wetherill, who starred at London 2012, won gold on day one and bronze on Sunday.

Palmer said: “I’m retired from international competition now so it’s good to keep up tournament play and this is a fantastic new event. It’s really well organised and great to see old friends like John Jenkins again.” Wetherill added on social network site, Twitter: “Boom, was tough going but always nice to win something! I need a lie down.” There was also local success at the tournament with hosts SportsAble winning an impressive haul of seven medals including four silver.

Nicko Anderson led the way with silver in the men’s wheelchair class 4&5 and the men’s wheelchair open class, and a bronze in the wheelchair doubles, where he was joined by Lucie Bouron.

Maidenhead resident Richard Barton won a silver medal in the men’s wheelchair class 1&2.

Lochlan O’Higgins and Johnson Mall won silver and bronze respectively in the band C men’s wheelchair open class.

SportsAble’s head of sport Nick Gibbs said: “It was a pleasure to welcome so many disabled athletes from all over Great Britain to our inaugural competition.

“What really impressed me over the two days was the exceptional standard of table tennis, and the fantastic camaraderie displayed by all the players.

“Feedback from players and spectators alike has been extremely positive and I can see this tournament becoming a regular fixtures in the table tennis calendar.” John Jenkins is president of SportsAble. He added: “I’m really pleased with how the Grand Priz went.

“It had a great atmosphere, lots of people were saying that, and I’m thrilled that the competition attracted some of the biggest names in para table tennis.

“We’re going to make this an annual event and build on it further.”