There was noteable success for Colchester Junior players at the Essex ranking trials held at BATTS, Harlow. Jane Li won the Girls Under 13 event with Chloe Andrews second in the U12’s and Ben Jackson tenth in the Boys U13’s. In the U18’s Andrew Harvey finished eighteenth and Tom Lewis twenty-eighth.
Please note following the latest ETTA rule amendment, you can only change your bat during an individual match if it is accidently damaged so badly it cannot be used.
Pegasus A head Division Two of the Colchester & District Table Tennis League despite two of their top players having not played yet! Steve Noble lead the way with a maximum in his sides 8-2 defeat of Gt Horkesley B. James Denyer upset Pegasus winning his three in a 6-4 win for Walton E but the Marks Tey team returned to winning ways with another 8-2 win, this time against Tollesbury A. Noble was once again unbeaten, well supported by Toby Turner and the evergreen Clive Forster, winning two each, Forster taking a last gasp 14-12 fifth set win over Roger Clarke. H20 Rowhedge E are second, unbeaten with a win and two draws. Pete Simmonds has seven wins from nine and his maximum, which included a fine five set win over George Berry, helped his side to a 5-5 draw. Alan Burgess’s best efforts could not stop bottom team H20 Rowhedge D losing to their ‘E’ team 6-4, a performance that was matched by an undefeated Paul Brownlie for Gt Horkesley B in another 5-5 draw for H20 Rowhedge E. Gt Horkesley C are third with two wins out of two, the latest a 7-3 win over Walton E. Lloyd Bennett-Smith and Wudong Liu completed maximums with Clacton scribe Tony Oswick making a belated debut in the Colchester League, winning one for Walton. Walton D as expected have a one hundred percent record in fourth place following wins over Clairmont 7-3 and Lawford B 8-2. Paul Tracey was the thorn in the seaside team’s side completing an excellent trio of wins for Clairmont, a feat emulated by Walton’s David hall and Paul Meikle as George Berry recorded a rare night without a win for Lawford. Clairmont did get their first win however, 8-2 over Tollesbury A, with Tracey once again untroubled.
H20 Rowhedge B, with three straight wins head Division One, the latest was a 6-4 success over rivals Gt Horkesley A. Ipswich young gun Jake Collins did his best to halt Rowhedge’s challenge winning his three singles, the best of which was a five set defeat of David Moss. Rowhedge B had a more emphatic win over Lawford A 10-0. John Andrews and Kevin Gowlett both had to come back from two sets down in their opening games, against a spirited Luke Swain and Tommy Mallster. Mark Nowers also pushed Gowlett the full five set distance but Lawford’s best efforts remained fruitless. Rowhedge’s A team move up to second courtesy of big wins over Tollgate A 9-1 and their ‘C’ team 10-0. The league champions bounced back from their opening loss to Tollgate’s B team by beating their A team with Andy Warner suffering defeats by Steve Joslin and Antony Greenwood, who were both unbeaten. The two Tollgate teams met with their ‘A’ team edging home 6-4, Greg Green coming from two sets down to beat a trim Martin Hogg and complete a determined maximum. Gt Horkesley A are third as they easily accounted for H20 Rowhedge C 8-2 and Walton C 10-0. Walton managed to get off the mark against their B team, losing 9-1, Peter Burrows returning to the Colchester league winning three along with Super-Vet Colin Dereman. A third defeat for Walton C, this time at H20 Rowhedge C puts them in the drop zone as no player remained unbeaten. Dave Binns failed to trouble the scorers for Walton, whilst Mark Smith took a notable double for Rowhedge.
There was success for Colchester players at the Essex ranking trials held at BATTS. Jane Li won the Girls Under 13 event with Chloe Andrews second in the U12’s and Ben Jackson tenth in the Boys U13’s. In the U18’s Andrew Harvey finished eighteenth and Tom Lewis twenty-eighth.
Please note the new rule regarding a ‘Double-Hit’ which reads;
A player shall score a point If an opponent DELIBERATELY strikes the ball twice successively.
No point is scored for an accidental double hit.
There is also a change to the ‘Expedite system’ which can be found by visiting the ETTA web site.
Former Colchester Ladies Singles Champion Rita Ranson passed away peacefully in the Freda Gunton Lodge Care Home, Balkerne Gardens on Friday 10th September. Rita won the title in 1953 and was also a keen tennis player. She suffered a stroke 13 years ago but still remained active. Rita was a relative of 2009 Mens Singles winner Greg Green.
H20 Rowhedge A lost their opening match of the season to Colchester & District Table Tennis League Division One new boys Tollgate B 7-3. This was their first defeat by a non-Rowhedge team for three years and Tollgate, putting out a very strong team upset the records. Former Colchester Junior champion Keiron Lally, making his first appearance in seven seasons in Colchester starred, winning his three including the notable scalp of Men’s champion Steve Joslin. Joslin also succumbed to NETTS coach Paul Davison, who won two and it was left to Antony Greenwood who beat both Davison and Andrew McEwan in tight encounters to regain some order. Tollgate’s A team were also victorious on debut, beating Walton B 7-3 with new captain Gary Young leading the way unbeaten. There were notable wins for Walton’s Dave Binns and Neil Crook, Binns beating Greg Green and Crook debutant Nigel Hodder in straight sets. It was a week of surprises as Lawford A, freshly promoted from Division Two, won at the first attempt beating Walton C 6-4. A great all round team performance saw Luke Swan and Tommy Malster win two each and Mark Nowers one. Swain clinched the victory beating John Owen 18-16 in the fourth and final set of the match. John Hobson won two for Walton and Martin Edwards and Owen one apiece. Gt Horkesley A got off to a winning start, 8-2 over H20 Rowhedge C with a welcome return to Colchester from former Veteran champion Jimmy Farrow. He completed an excellent maximum with a close five set win over Fred Button. Farrow was joined by Richard Goodhand unbeaten and another famous name, veteran John Leith, who won one.
In Division Two Gt Horkesley C had a big win over H20 Rowhedge D 8-2 thanks mainly to Wudong Liu. His three wins included a fine five set win over Alan Burgess and Lorrie Austin won two on what will be his only appearance before Christmas, jetting off on his world travels! Tollesbury A and Walton E played out a 5-5 draw with no player managing to stay unbeaten. No fewer than seven of the matches went the full five set distance with Mark Shorney and Ian Fielder winning four of them!
There were three 6-4 wins in Division Three, the first by Lawford C who completed a miserable week for the the Rowhedge club as Luke Swain was again in good form, winning his three. St Peters as expected got off to winning ways thanks mainly to Ian Carter who was unbeaten. Clacton’s Brian Parish won two on his first appearance in Colchester. Martin Lewis and Rob King led Tollesbury A to a narrow win over Dedham A, for whom Marlene Smith and Roy Cole, formerly of St Mary’s made their debut, winning one each.
Pegasus D are the early leaders in Division Four with an excellent result against Gt Horkesley E, winning 8-2. Nick Murray and Kevin Turner were unstoppable winning three five set encounters between them as Gt Horkesley slipped up in their effort to make a swift return to Division Three. The CRGS new faces won on their debut, 7-3 at Pegasus E, with Jacky Leung unbeaten.
Players are reminded of the new rule regarding bat coverings. The ETTA have adopted the ITTF rulings for which the Colchester League are affiliated.
If in any doubt as to whether you are using an unauthorised bat rubber please visit:
http://www.ittf.com/stories/pictures/LARC31.pdf
Colchester & District Table Tennis League Champions H20 Rowhedge A face a fresh challenge in the coming season if they are to retain their title. With Rayne pulling out and the St Mary’s club folding, the league welcomes a new club, Tollgate, playing in the brand new sports hall at the Holmwood House School. Rowhedge boast Men’s Champion Steve Joslin, who is also returning to play in Chelmsford, as well as top local players Michael Andrews and Antony Greenwood. They may well have to call on Essex University student Mark Mulley to bolster the team but club mates, last season’s runner’s-up H20 Rowhedge B have suffered a major blow, losing Andrew Mudie, returning to work in Guildford. This will put added pressure on the prolific Kevin Gowlett as well as league stalwarts David Moss and John Andrews who could use the even more experienced Division Two average topper, Alan Burgess. Gt Horkesley A are bound to feature in the shake-up, much depending on the availability of Colchester Ladies Champion Aimee Sparkes. Tollgate A, captained by Gary Young kick off at Walton B joined by Clacton Champion Greg Green and either Ipswich’s Andy Warner and Nigel Hodder. The most interesting fixture of the week features H20 Rowhedge A taking on Tollgate B who include former Chelmsford Men’s Champion Keiron Lally and with captain Martyn Green away, have the likes of Paul Davison, Andrew McEwan, Martin Hogg, Colin Stallwood and Sue Welham to call upon. Of the rest, Walton A catch the eye with Fred Dove, Kevin James and Gavin Price all registered. Division One welcomes newly promoted Lawford A for the first time but the youngsters will have their work cut out just to stay up!
In Division Two Gt Horkesley B should be there or thereabouts following their relegation from Division One. Ken Lewis and Peter Brownlie along with veteran captain Janet Faiers look strong and as usual Walton D, last years champions will boast the ex-‘C’ team players in Paul Meikle, and Mark Gale amongst others. With the withdrawal of Rayne from the league their former captain Ian Whiteside has dropped down to play for Pegasus A and it’s difficult to see who can topple him and they may have an outside shot at promotion with their unorthodox captain Steve Noble sure to upset a few! Lawford B have picked up the wily George Berry as well as strengthening their overall squad with some of the ex-St Mary’s players. Newly promoted Walton E will need Clacton Junior champion to appear regularly, he is a star player in the making and if he does play, they should stay up. Tollesbury A will find it even harder!
St Peters A, the proverbial up & down team must start as clear favourites to bounce back in Division Three with their well travelled line-up but watch out for freshly promoted University of Essex who won Division Four, just pipping H20 Rowhedge G by one point. Both these teams have the pedigree to challenge in this division and much depends on quality players Rob Bozier and Chester Chung (University) and father and son combo, Mark & Sam Burrows (Rowhedge) if they are to compete.
Division Four looks wide open but watch out for the ladies from Gt Horkesley E looking to make amends for their testing season in the higher echelon last time out, as they return.
Good luck to H20 Rowhedge who are entering a team in the British League for the first time.