COLIN Stallwood made history at the Clacton and District League’s Closed Championships.

He became the first player to take the coveted triple crown – the men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles titles – on a second occasion.

However, Stallwood’s achievement in repeating his 2009 success was the closest of close-run things, with his win in the men’s singles a last-gasp 11-5, 8-11, 5-11, 11-8, 13-11 victory over 14-year-old Sam Hume.

In a match high on drama, tension and quality – one of the best men’s finals for many years – Stallwood had to call on all his table tennis nous to defeat the jack-in-the-box Hume.

He was staring defeat in the face at 10-7 down in the decider, before saving three championship points.

Even then the drama wasn’t over, with Hume taking an 11-10 lead before Stallwood saved a fourth point with a brave backhand winner.

In the semi-finals, Hume defeated reigning champion James Denyer in three-straight while Stallwood eliminated second seed Peter Burrows 3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 5-11, 11-4.

Stallwood, partnered by Greg Green, and Hume, with his older brother Paul, were on opposite sides in the men’s doubles.

Title-holders Stallwood and Green proved too experienced for their younger opponents and, after three tight sets, ran out 11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 11-2 winners.

In the semi-finals, Green and Stallwood had disposed of Derek Willis and Gary Young, while the Hume brothers took the scalp of 2013 champions James Denyer and Felipe Rodriguez.

Top seeds Stallwood and Annabelle Rodriguez made no mistake in the mixed doubles, winning the final in three-straight against second seeds Paul Hume and 13-year-old Gracie Edwards.

To acknowledge his achievement, Stallwood was presented with the Victor Trophy as the outstanding player of the championships.