Karl Bushell continues to rewrite the record books after picking up his 13th Oxford & District Oxford Mail Cup with victory over Tony Stead.

Bushell was made to work by his opponent, but came through in four games to collect the title.

After winning the opening game 11-5, Bushell was given a scare in the second before taking it 11-8.

Stead upped his game to take the third rubber 11-9, but was powerless to stop Bushell claiming the crown with an 11-3 victory in the fourth.

Bushell had earlier beaten Mike Wilkins to reach the final, with Stead seeing off Andrew Flint.

Bushell beat Wilkins for the second time to claim the veteran’s title, with a 3-0 success in the final, and was also the recipient of the mixed doubles trophy after teaming up with Laurel Christopher to beat Eddie Herrity and Janet Brown 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9.

Bushell was denied a four-timer, however, when he and Andy Misseldine lost in five games in the semi-final of the men’s doubles to eventual runners-up Andrew and Jeremy Flint.

They lost to Stead and Wilkins in the final, going down in straight sets.

The ladies title went to Janet Brown, who beat Christer 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 to collect the Chandler Cup.

Meanwhile, Bushell collected the Warner Cup at the league’s presentation night.

Xing Jiu-Huang, of Gladiators, picked up the Eric Minns Cup for most Division 2 wins, with the Ted Arnold Shield shared by Simon Cox, of Vikings, and Chris Smith, from Forum, for Division 3 victories.

The Division 4 Derek Sawyer Shield went to Brian Dobson, of Holton.

Anthony Howgego (Forum) received the Ken Ford Trophy as best junior newcomer to league play, with clubmate Chris Smith picking up the McKechnie/Hawkins Cup.

Joe Marrs won the Dave Hawkins Cup for best performance by a junior this year, with Donald Harris awarded the Alan Hopwood Trophy for all his work for the committee.

RESULTS.

Men’s Singles.

Semi-finals: K Bushell bt M Wilkins 10-12, 11-3, 11-2, 12-10; T Stead bt A Flint 9-11, 15-13, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4. Final: Bushell bt Stead 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3.

Ladies’ singles.

Semi-finals: J Brown bt C Fung 11-2, 12-10, 11-6; L Christer bt A Ben-Ezra 11-5, 11-4, 11-4. Final: Brown bt Christer 11-5, 11-5, 11-7.

Veteran’s Cup.

Semi-finals: Bushell bt Stead 12-10, 11-1, 11-6; Wilkins bt T Gorman 11-6, 13-15, 11-9, 11-9. Final: Bushell bt Wilkins 11-8, 11-5, 11-7.

Men’s Doubles.

Semi-finals: Stead & Wilkins bt E Herrity & Gorman 11-4, 5-11, 1-11, 11-8, 11-5; A Flint & Flint bt Bushell & A Misseldine 5-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-5. Final: Stead & Wilkins bt Flint & Flint 11-6, 11-6, 11-8.

Mixed Doubles.

Semi-finals: Bushell & Christer bt P Borrowdale & A Borrowdale 11-6, 11-3, 11-6; Herrity & Brown bt G Hayward/Ben-Ezra 11-6, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5. Final: Bushell & Christer bt Herrity Brown 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9.

Since moving to Yarnton in 1985, Karl Bushell has changed the face of Oxfordshire table tennis with his unbelievable consistency.

He has claimed 20 Warner Cups, awarded to the player with the most top-flight victories, 13 Oxford Mail Cups (men’s singles titles), 17 league championships with Kidlington Forum, 12 veteran’s titles (where he is still undefeated in the competition) and eight Hewitt Cups (divisional knockout).

Aside from the above, Bushell set a Didcot & District League record of 237 matches without defeat, spanning more than six years, and in 2008/9, Bushell was undefeated in Division 1 of the Oxford & District League, winning the Warner Cup, Hewitt Cup, Oxford Mail Cup and Veteran’s Cup.

Bushell has represented the county on 250 occasions and the Oxford League 150 times.

He is still practising in preparation for the European Veterans Championships in Croatia in June.