ENTRIES are up for M&G Investments 2016 Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Championships with 86 players registering.

The preliminary stages take place this weekend at Hylands School, in Chelmsford Road. Admission is free.

The blue riband event is the men’s singles and last year’s Champion Ben Warner will be out to retain his title.

He will face fierce competition from the second seed, last year’s Southend men’s singles champion, Tony Halling. In recent years the men’s doubles has been one of the most open events and this year is no exception. There are only four seeded pairs. Julie Johnson has not played this year due to injury so her seven-year run of ladies’ singles titles will end, with Dawn Baldry favourite for the crown.

Last year’s champions Shirley Carroll and Steve Whiteley start as favourites in the mixed doubles.

David Cole is top seed in the veterans singles as befits his status as holder and in a strong event he is seeded to meet Alex Abbott in the final. Holders Gary Young and Steve Kerns will be hoping to win the veterans doubles but they will be tested by last year’s runners-up Dave Cole and Rik James.

The under-21 singles should be hotly contested and the holder Brandon Crouchman will face tough competition from newcomer Sam Hume.