Worthing's Andy Walker was the only unbeaten player for Horsham's top team in the opening batch of four matches in British League division one at Barnet.

Horsham started with drawn matches against Plymouth and the host club on the opening day. Horsham then stormed through to take second in the table by beating Ellenborough 6-2 and Melksham (Wiltshire) 7-1.

Peter Bartram, also from Worthing, was in great form with his lethal top spin, scoring five wins against eight opponents.

At Barking in division 2, the Horsham second team had mixed fortunes, beating Ipswich 5-3 but losing 5-3 to Sudbury and 6-2 to London Progress, Britain's most successful club at this time.

Horsham captain Graham Carter had the best win of his career when he defeated the Welsh No. 3 Ryan Owen 11-8 in the fifth game as Horsham lost to the Essex club Fellows Cranleigh.

Owen is a regular member of the Welsh national squad.

Darlington, Ritchie Venner's new team, crashed 9-5 at home to Dulwich with a weakened team. The Darlington manager, Keith Wilson, attempted to fly Venner to Darlington to strengthen the team but all flights from Gatwick were booked.

David Berriman (Brighton) after taking several weeks to make his decision, is expected to be confirmed as the new national councillor for Sussex at Sunday's meeting of the Sussex Table Tennis Association at Patcham.

Berriman replaces Carol Beames, who is now on the management committee of the English Table Tennis Association.