WITH the 2016/17 Clacton and District League season at its halfway stage, there is strong competition for honours in all three divisions.

Current leaders Nomads Panthers are aiming to take a fifth consecutive division one crown and, although they remain favourites, second-placed Windsor Condors - only eight points behind - are mounting a significant challenge.

Windsor Eagles, with top player Gary Cattermole, the ever-consistent Phil Smith and the returning John Pattrick all in good form, are in third place.

However, there is little to separate them from Brotherhood B, strengthened this season by Andy Warner and John Cleasby, and Walton A, for whom Gavin Price has been in impressive nick.

At the bottom, John Harvey has been producing some good wins for Windsor Kestrels and they should have enough all-round firepower to keep clear of trouble - which leaves last year's two promoted sides, Lawford and Windsor Owls, favourites to face the drop.

The top of division two is as congested as a department store in the New Year sales, with only ten points separating the top five teams - four of them from the Brotherhood club.

Brotherhood H are the current leaders and, in Stewart Murray, Grant Sharpe and Graham Parkes, have three seasoned campaigners who will ensure the team is there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

Kris Stefanov has established himself as the division's outstanding player but Brotherhood I's success has been a genuine team effort, with Mark Ratcliffe and juniors Scott Campbell and Woody Fitzpatrick all contributing valuable points.

However, Brotherhood F, boosted by the addition of Lawrence Torr and the improved form of Lee Allen, together with Brotherhood D and Nomads Tigers, will all feel capable of a top-two place.

At the foot of the table, Brotherhood E and Nomads Jaguars have opened up a small gap from the relegation zone but they will surely be spending the second half of the season looking over their shoulders to see whether Windsor Magpies can make up ground.

Alas for the plucky Nomads Pumas, it looks near-certain their sojourn in division two will be a brief one.

Division three has seen Walton D and Nomads Wildcats draw away at the top in what's becoming a two-way shoot-out for the title.

The Walton side, who include excellent youngsters Jared Chelski and Daniel Young, currently hold a six-point halfway lead over the older heads and legs of Mike Hillier, Doug Green and Mike Wellum - the backbone of the Wildcats.

Third-place Windsor Penguins, with Debra Found, Jackie Bunce and Alan Charman to the fore, lead the battle to be best of the rest.

But they're only a whisker ahead of Windsor Swallows, captained for a 13th consecutive season by the indomitable Iris Howlett, and Windsor Kites who, with Chris Simson prominent, are enjoying their best-ever league season.

The first of the league's tournaments, the handicapped singles, takes place Saturday, February 4 at Windsor's St James Hall.

Full details will shortly be sent to all players.

Members of the league will be saddened to learn of the death of Brian Parish, aged 79.

Brian had been a league member since 2004, playing for the Nomads club in either the first or second divisions.

During his comparatively short time in the Clacton and District League, he'd become a respected, well-liked player and, for eight years until the end of last season, he was secretary of the Nomads club.

On the table, he was an aggressive, determined player and, in 2005, finished as runner-up to Mark Lewis in the Closed Championships division two singles final.

Brian also picked up second division runners-up league medals in 2008 and 2015 and was in the losing Nomads Lions' side in last year's Knockout Cup final.

However, Brian's best playing years were behind him when he joined the Clacton League, having previously played top-quality table tennis in Metropolitan Essex Leagues and being good enough to win the Essex Over-40s title in both 1983 and 1984.

Brian was pleasant, amiable company both on and off the table and many current and former players who knew him, here and elsewhere in Essex, will miss his friendly smile and cheery conversation.

The league sends it sincere condolences to Brian's family.