GREG Mairs was denied a chance to test himself against the reigning champions during the English National Championships yesterday, Saturday.

The Northwich ace, along with Jenny Moore, had five match points during their mixed doubles quarter final against unseeded pair Ben Lane and Jess Pugh.

After winning the first game 21-15, they were thwarted several times in the second before eventually losing 25-27.

Their opponents then completed a remarkable comeback in the decider to clinch a head-to-head with world number seven pair Chris and Gabby Adcock.

The Adcocks went on to claim a fourth national title on Sunday at the University of Derby Sports Centre.

Mairs made it to the last eight of the men’s doubles too, this time playing with fellow Cheshire county player Michael Roe.

After straight sets wins in their opening matches, their run was ended by second seeds – and eventual runners-up – Peter Briggs and Tom Wolfenden.

Mairs, a former student at Sir John Deane’s College, concludes a busy week with a return to action in the AJ Bell National League on Monday night.

He is part of a Loughborough line-up hoping to extend a winning sequence to four matches when they take on second-placed Birmingham.

The 21-year-old is scheduled to play the fifth rubber, in the mixed doubles with Moore, against Nico Ruponen and Alida Chen.