ALL five Budmouth teams through to the Regional Finals of the English Schools Table Tennis Association Team Competition in Bristol with the possibility of qualification to the National Finals in their grasp.

This is a national schools team event with teams of four competing against each other.

To reach the Zonal Finals each of the teams had to either win or finish runner-up in their respective county competition.

Budmouth College sent five teams to the event at Eggbuckland College in Plymouth and Bournemouth School for Boys competed in the under-13 group.

The winners and runner-up of each of the age groups in these Zonal Finals qualifies for the Regional Finals (last 16) in Bristol this weekend.

Due to illness, Budmouth could only take a team of three in the under-19s competition and the only other team to enter was a very good side from Plymouth with four outstanding lads who secured an 8-0 victory.

Budmouth therefore go to Bristol as runners-up.

A strong under-16 Budmouth team, which finished third in the whole tournament last year, beat Paignton 5-3, Tavistock 6-2 and Penryn 6-2 to win the competition and go through as winners to play in Bristol on Sunday.

Bournemouth School for Boys, as county champions, and Budmouth, as county runners-up, were up against four other teams in the under-13s and so for this event the schools were split into two groups of three.

Budmouth beat Okehampton 6-2 and drew with Haygrove 4-4 but won the group on countback. Bournemouth also won their group with Millfield as runners-up.

In the semi finals, Bournemouth lost to Haygrove and Budmouth beat a spirited Millfield team to set up a repeat match with Haygrove in the final.

It was another very close match but Budmouth eventually came through 6-2 and so go to Bristol as winners.

The Budmouth under-16 girls beat both Penryn and Haygrove 8-0 but lost 6-2 to Okehampton who were national runners-up last season.

Budmouth still has a chance of reaching the National Finals in Hinckley depending on the opposition in Bristol as the girls put up a really good show.

There were only two entries for under-13 girls' event and so Budmouth played Cape Cornwall School from Penzance.

This was a really enjoyable game between two inexperienced teams but Budmouth were deserved winners and also progress to Bristol.