BRIAN Johns scored a magnificent double this week claiming the England Over 40s National Table Tennis Championship and the Veterans' Men's Doubles.

Brian defeated former European Champion and Cheshire county team mate John Hilton in the final after coming through a tough semi final against Devon's Paul Giles.

His semi final scoreline of 3-0 doesn't show just how difficult the passage to the final was as Giles pushed him to 11-8 and 11-9 in the final two sets.

And the all-Cheshire final was no easier as Hilton pushed Johns all the way.

Johns closed out the first two sets 11-9 and 11-7 against Hilton's defensive style, but the former European champion fought back in third with a 9-11 to set up a close finish.

Johns was just too good though and won the final set 11-7 to take the title.

But the Lostock TTC man nearly didn't reach the knock out stages thanks to two difficult games in the pool round.

Tim Dyson proved Johns' stiffest competition of the day taking him to the maximum five sets before Johns eventually won the decided 11-7.

And his match against Stephen Forbes promised to be as difficult, but after losing the first set 5-11 he went on to a comfortable victory closing out the game 11-5, 11-2, 11-2.

The championship proved to be something of a family affair as Brian teamed up with elder brother Mike to claim the men's doubles, defeating Hilton and Malcolm Lusk (Northumberland) 3-0 in the final.

On Sunday Mike, who plays for Sportbreak Mid Cheshire proved he is a match for his brother when he defeated Frodsham's Wayne Percival 3-0 in the final of the Cheshire Men's Closed Singles. A feat made all the more remarkable as Mike first won the event 37 years ago.

And he rounded off an excellent weekend by claiming the men's and then mixed doubles in partnership with Andrew Davies and Liz Dennett.

Liz's younger sister Fiona ensured there were double sibling celebrations when she starred in the Cheshire Junior Closed event on Saturday.

Fiona won the U15s Cadet Girls' Singles beating Club Mid Cheshire team mate Rachel Baker in the final.

The 13-year-old also claimed the U18s Junior Girls' Singles beating another team mate, Lynsey Pich in the final.

The results prove that Fiona is a great prospect and the St Nicholas RC High School pupil is now hoping to follow in her sister's footsteps and represent Ireland on the international stage.