Stories by TYRONE EVELYN

BARBADOS DEFENCE FORCE (BDF) started their defence of the Division 1 title with a convincing 4-1 win over Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) when the Barbados Table Tennis Association's 2008 season got under way at the Table Tennis Centre on Nursery Drive, Constitution Road, last Thursday night.

And in the two other matches played, Lodge Road defeated Raiders (formerly Charades) 4-1, while Scouters pipped Fast Loopers 4-3.

National champion Anderson Carrington spearheaded BDF's win by having a hand in three of his team's four winning sets.

He dismissed Dennis Frank in straight games (11-5, 11-9, 11-3) and later teamed up with Anne Reid, one of the country's top female players, in the doubles, the pair defeating Frank and Robin Anthony 11-4, 11-7, 11-6. Carrington then completed BDF's triumph by stopping Anthony 11-6, 11-6, 11-8.

BDF's other victory came from top female player Sherrice Felix who defeated her mentor and national coach David Harris 14-12, 11-1, 8-11, 11-5.

Kevin Farley, one of the players who helped BDF to the title last year, is now turning out for Lodge Road, and he was at the forefront of their win over Raiders.

He overcame Courtney Springer 11-6, 11-7, 11-9, former national champion Abbie "Playboy" Clarke 11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9, and teamed up with Rodney Wood in the doubles to beat Clarke and Paco Moss 11-8, 11-5, 11-3.

Lodge Road's other win came from Wood who outlasted Moss in a tough five-game set (9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5).

Clarke provided Raiders with their lone win by stopping Wilmont Goddard in straight games (11-6, 12-10, 11-2).

Results

(Players of winning teams first)

BDF 4, BUT 1

A. Carrington bt D. Frank 11-5, 11-9, 11-3.

K. Harvey lost to R. Anthony 9-11, 12-10, 8-11, 10-12.

S. Felix bt D Harris 14-12, 11-1, 8-11, 11-5.

A. Carrington/D. Harris bt R. Anthony/R. Frank 11-4, 11-7, 11-6.

A. Carrington bt R. Anthony 11-6, 11-6, 11-8.

Scouters 4, Fast Loopers 3

M. Dowell bt J. Padmore 11-4, 11-6, 11-8.

B. Matthews lost to T. Farley 5-11, 11-13, 9-11.

C. Mark bt D. Murray 11-6, 11-3, 11-3.

Dowell/Matthews bt Farley/Murray 11-6, 6-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8.

M. Dowell lost T. Farley 11-8, 3-11, 4-11, 11-9, 5-11.

C. Mark lost to J. Padmore 5-11, 3-11, 14-16.

B. Matthews bt D. Murray 12-14, 11-1, 11-5, 11-7.

Lodge Road 4, Raiders 1

W. Goddard lost to A. Clarke 6-11, 10-12, 2-11.

K. Farley bt C. Springer 11-6, 11-7, 11-9.

R. Wood bt P. Moss 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5.

Wood/Farley bt Clarke/Moss 11-8, 11-5, 11-3.

K. Farley bt A. Clarke 11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9.