AGE has proved to be no barrier for Mobberley Victory Hall’s Herbert Hope after he won his first singles title at the age of 78, writes Matt Turner.

He made history too as a maiden champion of a new competition launched this season.

“Now I’ve got one it would be nice to win a few more,” he said.

“I enjoy playing, so will carry on for as long as I can – why stop?”

Hope got his hands on winner’s prize at the Sid Jones Legends tournament, a handicap contest run by the Knutsford and District Amateur League for over 65s.

He beat much-fancied Rob Clarke, a member at Tatton, to reach the final.

The Mobberley E regular followed that with a victory against clubmate Jeff Gorton, a regular for Mobberley A in the top flight.

They won the Division One title this season without losing a match.

“Jeff plays at a higher level so I don’t often get to meet opponents of his standard,” said Hope.

“It was a close match, but the handicap worked in my favour.”

A professional horse rider when he was younger, the Ashley native thinks that career gives him an advantage over his rivals on the table.

He said: “It means I have steady nerves, which you need to be successful at this game.

“I knocked balls around a kid, but just for fun – I didn’t start playing competitively until around eight years ago at Knutsford Cons when I found myself with spare time on my hands.

“I’m happy, and proud, to have won a competition.

“I’ll certainly try to do it again.”