Saunders’ fine comeback seals victory in memory of Alan

September 19, 2025 | Paul Stimpson

After the hugely successful Alan Hewitt memorial tournaments in 2023 and 2024, Stratford Upon Avon Table Tennis Club and Meon Vale Leisure again hosted the 2025 competition. 

The tournament saw 32 players enter, including current and former Leicestershire and Warwickshire stars in Michael Bree, Nathaniel Saunders, Mark Jackson, Loz Sweeney, Dave Gannon, Pete Barrow, James Berry, Micky Brown, Gareth Edmunds and Abraham Conteh.

Organiser Mat Hobday said: “The quality of the players who entered the tournament from Leicester, Leamington, Nuneaton, Birmingham, and Coventry easily makes the standard of entry the best of any local league tournament, and it really is the tournament to win locally.

“Alan was a top player who represented both Leicestershire and Warwickshire at senior level and I think Alan would be a little bit overwhelmed to know that me and Ian (Ferguson) are now in our third year of organising and staging a tournament in his memory.

“It really would mean the world to him to know that people are still playing in his memory, even those who have not been able to enter this year have donated.”

The last three years of the Alan Hewitt Memorial Tournament has seen around £3,000 raised for charity, with money raised from this year’s tournament going to the British Children’s Heart Foundation, a charity that is very close to organiser Ian Ferguson and his family.

The tournament saw two-time defending champion Michael Bree take on No 2 seed Nathanial Saunders in the final. Michael took the first two sets 11-7 and 11-9, but Nathaniel, who had overcome Mark Jackson in a nailbiting four-set semi-final, was not discouraged and managed to come back and win the next three sets 11-9, 11-8 and 11-7 to become the 2025 Alan Hewitt Memorial champion. The consolation singles saw Steve Robinson overcome Deb Barrow in a high-quality final.

Organisers Ian Ferguson and Mat Hobday said: “The tournament will continue to be held every year and we hope it goes from strength to strength, so if there are any players who knew Alan from his days playing on the circuit in the mid-1990s and who would like play in his memory, please reach out to us.

“The support from all the players really is appreciated every year and the success of the tournament is without question all down to them, and people like Kevin Taylor, Tom Brocklehurst, Claire Paggett and Doris and Bob Whittaker, who organise the venue and PA system, and the raffle and refreshments on the day.”

Nathaniel Saunders receives his prizes