Colchester & District Table Tennis League News

Gt Horkesley C won their final two games by convincing margins to secure the Colchester & District Table Tennis League Division Two title. The team, consisting of Wudong Liu, Lloyd Bennett-Smith and Lorrie Austin had not led the Division at any point up until last week, sealed the title with a 7-3 win over H20 Rowhedge D despite Alan Burgess’s best efforts. He beat all three Horkesley players, exacting revenge on Wudong Liu for his defeat in the first half of the season. They celebrated in style with a 10-0 whitewash of Clairmont who were without the prolific Paul Tracey, it must be said. Walton D join them in promotion and in the words of a somewhat pessimistic Gt Horkesley C captain Bennett-Smith “A thumping win… our team looks forward to receiving many such thumping’s next year!!” Their success is a true team effort as Austin missed all but one of the first half of the season’s games, Steve Holland, Phil Wolski and Mike Emerson all doing their bit when ‘playing up’. At the bottom Walton E avoided the ‘wooden spoon’ but not the drop, just edging out Tollesbury A by a point, who finish bottom.

Pegasus B join Division Three champions St Peters in Division Two next season as they won the requisite four points against their ‘C’ team in a 7-3 victory. Tony Eversden and Paul Woolnough won three apiece with David Haslam and Mike Sant being the other team members during their successful campaign.

In the Intermediate Cup Gt Horkesley C have their eyes fixed on a ‘Double’ as they accounted for Walton B 5-0 with their usual personnel to join Pegasus A in the final. They must start as favourites but maybe not if Toby Turner continues his fine form, that has helped the University win the regional cup competition and finish as runner’s up in the league that means they compete in next season’s National University League. Pegasus D accounted for their ‘E’ team 6-3 to reach the Minor Cup Final where they will meet H20 Rowhedge H who beat their ‘I’ team 9-0.

There was a bizarre finish in the semi-final of the Handicap Cup between University of Essex and H20 Rowhedge G which, when poised at 4-4 was conceded by the University as they had overrun their finishing time of 10:00pm having won the first end of the deciding doubles! H20 Rowhedge Captain Darryl Lott had won both his singles and it was a shame match had to end in such circumstances! In another close semi-final Pegasus D edged out Dedham A 5-4 with neither side ever leading by more than one game. The Handicap Doubles semi-final between Gt Horkesley D and Pegasus E was just as close with the Pegasus team again coming out on top 5-4. Barry Steggles, Paul Weston and Vic Little were the triumphant Pegasus players. H20 Rowhedge F had a more comfortable passage beating their ‘E’ team 5-1 thanks to Colin Powell, Nigel Claydon and David Sacker.

Both Handicap finals are to be played on Wednesday 30^th March at the Tollgate Table Tennis Club, Holmwood House School starting at 7:30pm. The Knockout Cup Finals are the following night at the Rowhedge Table Tennis Club, Rectory Road starting at 8:00pm. Spectators are welcome at both venues.

Newly crowned Colchester & District Table Tennis League Division One champions H20 Rowhedge A will meet runners-up Tollgate A in the Kiltie Cup Final. Rowhedge beat Tollgate’s B team 5-1 whilst Tollgate’s A team accounted for Walton 5-2. There were notable wins for Paul Davison over Steve Joslin (-11, 8, -12, 6, 13) and Walton’s young James Denyer against Veteran’s champion Nigel Hodder (3, -6, 7, 10), but apart from that both teams progress was relatively straight forward. Rowhedge’s Michael Andrews and Antony Greenwood along with Tollgate’s Gary Young and Greg Green were all undefeated in their singles. Pegasus A survived a ‘banana-skin’ against their ‘B’ team in the semi-final of the Intermediate Cup, Toby Turner (4 wins) excelling with a superb five-set victory (7, -8, -9, 8, 9) over Ian Whiteside (1 win) that set the tone as his team won 8-1.

In the Handicap Cup quarter-finals Dedham A and Pegasus C fought out the closest match of the round with Dedham just edging it 5-4 thanks mainly to Marlene Smith’s best efforts as she won both her singles as her team came back from 3-0 down. Doug Green also won two singles but missed out when teamed with Nigel Parmenter in the final, decisive doubles against Roy Cole and Marjorie Culham 21-16 in the third end. Dedham A will now meet Pegasus D in the first semi-final who beat a one-player H20 Rowhedge H 7-2. The other semi-final will be contested between holders Essex University, who beat Clairmont 5-0 and H20 Rowhedge G.

In the Handicap Doubles Cup quarter-finals Gt Horkesley D and Lawford D fought out a 5-4 thriller with the ladies from Horkesley taking the final doubles -20, 19, 15 to win by the narrowest of margins. Chis Jones continued her good form winning five out of six of her the doubles games she was involved in. Pegasus E accounted for their A team 6-3, Helen Woolnough winning four of her doubles for the ‘E’ team. In another inter-club match H20 Rowhedge E beat their ‘C’ team 6-2 and Walton B succumbed to H20 Rowhedge F 5-1 after winning the first game!

In the League it’s pretty much as you were with the Division One relegation issue still undecided although Lawford A need only four points from their last match games to ensure they stay ahead of Walton C. In Division Two Gt Horkesley A need six points from two matches to win the title as Walton D slipped up losing 6-4 at Clairmont. Both Tracey’s were in top form, Paul winning three and Mike two. H20 Rowhedge F still await their fate in Division Three as they are second having finished their matches, three points ahead of Pegasus B who still have to play their ‘C’ team needing four wins to ensure promotion. H20 Rowhedge H must surely win Division Four needing just three points from their final two matches, remaining the only team unbeaten in the league!

Players are reminded the AGM and Presentation Evening has been moved forward to Tuesday 12^th April at the Colchester Indoor Bowls Club, the usual venue.

Reigning Colchester & District Table Tennis League Division One champions H20 Rowhedge A retained their title when beating their ‘B’ team 7-3 to cap a memorable week for Antony Greenwood. After collecting the Men’s title he teamed up with team Captain Michael Andrews to win the Men’s Doubles and now a second League winner’s medal. However, he was brought down to earth by the prolific Kevin Gowlett in four sets who also beat Andrews but Steve Joslin held firm with a fine maximum to secure the win. Tollgate A, who led the league for most of the season finish as runner’s up following a 10-0 win over Lawford A with Greg Green, Andy Warner and Nigel Hodder all finishing their successful inaugural season in style. They also accounted for third placed Gt Horkesley A 7-3 this time Gary Young was undefeated and for Gt Horkesley Richard Goodhand beat Men’s Singles Runner-up Andy Warner for the first time! Horkesley also fell foul to H20 Rowhedge A 8-2 with Michael Andrews and Steve Joslin both collecting maximums. Fourth placed H20 Rowhedge B beat Walton B 9-1 and should finish third providing they score at least two points against Walton C who are still without a win. Tollgate B finish the season in fifth as they also defeated Walton B, 8-2 with Paul Davison surviving a scare against Colin Dearman, coming back from two sets down and Colin Stallwood, both unbeaten. Lawford A are battling to avoid the drop and went down 9-1 at home to H20 Rowhedge C. It was only their doubles win that saved the whitewash as Mark and Phil Smith and John Patrick all won three.

Walton D are back in pole position in Division Two despite losing the top-of-the-table clash at Gt Horkesley C. Both teams are promoted so it’s just a question of where the silverware is going and Wudong Liu and Lloyd Bennett-Smith’s maximum’s ensured the 7-3 win that leaves them two points behind their rivals with a game in hand. At the bottom both Tollesbury A and Walton E are relegated, Walton could avoid the wooden spoon if they take four points from their final game against H20 Rowhedge D.

In Division Three St Peters are the champions following two more big wins and a draw against Gt Horkesley D. Roger Warren was beaten in all three of his games having only lost one game previously all season! They will be joined by Pegasus C providing they get four points out of their remaining fixture against their ‘C’ team. This would mean disappointment for H20 Rowhedge F who have lost just one in their last seven games. At the bottom H20 Rowhedge G and Dedham A are relegated.

Pegasus D and H20 Rowhedge H are promoted from Division Four with Rowhedge requiring three points from their remaining two matches to secure the title.

Also please note the following amended schedule for the Cup Final events;

Team and Doubles Handicap Cup Finals will now be held at the Holmwood House School Sports Centre on Wednesday 30^th March at 7:30pm. The Kiltie, Intermediate and Minor Cup Finals are at the Rowhedge Village Hall on Thursday 31^st March at 8:00pm.

Antony Greenwood capped a thrilling weekend of Table Tennis at the Colchester & District Table Tennis League Closed Championships, winning both the Men’s Singles and Doubles titles. The twenty-four year old came of age, finally fulfilling his true potential! In the Men’s final he faced Tollgate’s Andy Warner from Ipswich and in a pulsating opening set Greenwood came out on top 11-8 by virtue of his harder hitting. It was all change in the second as Warner upped the pace against a more passive Greenwood, reversing the score line to level the match at one set all. Warner’s ‘back from the table’ style and powerful back-hand is a throw-back to the Rik James era and combined with a very ‘vocal’ presence he is an intimidating opponent. The stone-faced Greenwood was not fazed, with his totally opposite ‘laid-back’ demeanour he took the third set 11-9. One got the feeling with Warner’s reputation for long matches, in both previous rounds he had been taken to five sets, there was an air of inevitability of this one going the distance and the crowd were not to be disappointed as Warner won the fourth 11-8. The final set was a tense affair with Warner finally breaking loose to lead 10-7. At this point Greenwood threw caution to the wind and had his opponent way back from the table with a series of powerful loop drives and a chop smash which culminated in Warner attempting an unbelievable over-head shot from out of position that only just missed the end of the table! With Greenwood now taking the initiative one sensed the momentum had shifted and when presented with his first match point he made no mistake with a powerful forehand smash. With many rallies lasting between twenty and thirty shots this had been a real test of stamina and as both players embraced at the end Greenwood finally cracked a smile, a smile that in his own words “he had waited fifteen years for!”

Representing the H20 Rowhedge club Greenwood is a product of Colchester coaching and sights the likes of Len Barton, Colin and John Andrews and Alan Burgess as the source of his style of play. He had previously won the Junior Singles title on five occasions and after a break for his studies at University he has returned to help his team win the Division One title.

In the Semi-Finals Greenwood came back from a set down and 10-8 in the second with lady-luck on his side when getting an outrageous edge from a steepling lob that his opponent, Paul Davison (Tollgate) never seemed to recover from. Steve Joslin (H20 Rowhedge), last season’s champion fell victim to another Warner five set epic, unable to penetrate the Tollgate player’s defense and ultimately, his counter-punching style that makes him so entertaining to watch.

Aimee Sparkes from the Gt Horkesley club successfully defended her Ladies title against Sue Welham (Tollgate), a match that never happened last year due to Welham’s injury and withdrawal from all three finals. The Ipswich youngster has an ‘all-action’ style for which Welham never got to grips losing in three straight sets as Sparkes dominated the ladies events..

The all H20 Rowhedge Men’s Doubles final was also a one-sided affair with holders Antony Greenwood and Michael Andrews of the ‘younger generation’ beating the ‘old guard’ and seven times champions David Moss and John Andrews with some flawless, stroke play without dropping a set, at one point winning nineteen unanswered points! This was in contrast to the two previous rounds where they had comeback from two sets down against both Warner and Green and Young and Hodder!

The Ladies Doubles was an altogether closer match with the challengers, Sue Welham and Hazel Hume (St Peters) pushing Aimee Sparkes and Janet Faiers (Gt Horkesley) all the way, finally going down 11-9 in the fifth end.

In the Mixed Doubles Aimee Sparkes completed an excellent hat-trick of wins on the night, joining forces with Gt Horkesley team-mate Mike Wright to defend their crown against three time champions Gary Young and the unlucky Sue Welham who missed out in all three finals.

The Junior Final was moved to Final’s night and what a good move that proved to be with some entertaining table tennis played by both holder Mark Smith (H20 Rowhedge) and number one seed James Denyer (Walton), both from Clacton. It was to be Smith’s night as he raced into a two set lead with some searing back-hand drives, although Denyer sprung into life in the third Smith showed great self-believe in the fourth end to win in some style! Denyer retained his Cadet title, beating the fast improving Jane Li (H20 Rowhedge) who went on to win the Junior Girls event defeating Alice Rudge (H20 Rowhedge) in a repeat of last year’s final. Smith and Denyer won the Junior Boys Doubles beating Andrew Harvey and Tom Lewis (H20 Rowhedge).

The stylish Nigel Hodder (Tollgate) claimed both the Veteran’s 40+ and 50+ finals against club-mate Trevor Carter in both, with the well-travelled Alan Burgess (H20 Rowhedge) winning the 60+ title against Ken Lewis (Gt Horkesley).

In the Divisional Singles Wudong Liu (Gt Horkesley), Rob Bozier (University of Essex) and Chris Jones (Gt Horkesley) were the winners with Jones completing an excellent weekend for her taking out some notable scalps with clever tactics to win the Senior Handicap Singles.

All in all this was another hugely successful event held at the Rowhedge Table Tennis Club with some of the closest, fiercely fought matches contested in recent years but ultimately played in an excellent spirit!

CONTENDERS QUEUEING UP TO TAKE ON HOLDER JOSLIN!

This coming weekend sees a very strong field entering the Colchester & District Table Tennis League Men’s Singles Tournament. With a ‘draw-friendly’ thirty-two entrants there are eight groups, each containing one seed with two qualifying from each for the knockout stages. Steve Joslin, the reigning champion and runner-up two weeks ago in the Chelmsford championships with his tournament prowess must start as favourite despite not being the number one seed. That mantle goes to his H20 Rowhedge A team mate Antony Greenwood whose superb league form makes him a real threat and should progress to the knockout stages despite being in one of the strongest groups, featuring four top flight players. Kevin Gowlett’s (H20 Rowhedge B) consistency earns him the second seeding with the dangerous Ipswich pairing of Andrew Warner and Nigel Hodder both representing Tollgate A, three and four. Throw into the mix Richard Goodhand (Gt Horkesley A), Michael Andrews (H20 Rowhedge A), Gary Young (Tollgate A) and former champions; Greg Green (Tollgate A) and David Moss (H20 Rowhedge B) and Joslin has his work cut out. However, there is a very dangerous unseeded ‘wild-card’ in the form of Tollgate B’s Paul Davison, three times Braintree Champion that could well upset the lot! There is also the mouth-watering prospect of  Rowhedge teammate’s and Men’s Doubles champions Antony Greenwood and Michael Andrews meeting each other in the quarter-final, which they are seeded to do as well as old Colchester tournament adversaries Richard Goodhand and Gary Young lining up in the same group!

In the Ladies Singles Gt Horkesley A’s Aimee Sparkes defends her title as number one seed with Tollgate B’s Sue Welham, a record breaking twenty-two time winner is seeded two, hoping to get revenge following her withdrawal from all three finals last year due to injury. With former Colchester and Clacton Ladies Singles winner’s Janet Faiers (Gt Horkesley B) and Annabelle Rodriguez (Walton C) there should be plenty of close competition.

The Men’s Doubles event is the most hotly contested event of all, with current champions Antony Greenwood and Michael Andrews facing stiff competition from at least six pairings that will all believe they are in with a chance. Braintree champion’s Paul Davison and Kevin Gowlett are seeded two and add to that seven time winners John Andrews/David Moss, Richard Goodhand/Mike Wright, Gary Young/Nigel Hodder, Steve Joslin/Alan Burgess and the return of a Warner/Green combination in the shape of Andrew and Greg.

Aimee Sparkes/Mike Wright defend their Mixed Doubles title with three time winners Gary Young/Sue Welham, Richard Goodhand/Janet Faiers and Greg Green/Annabelle Rodriguez all possible winners.

For the Ladies Doubles it’s hard to look beyond the strong Gt Horkesley pairing of Aimee Sparkes and Janet Faiers with Sue Welham and Hazel Hume favourites to meet them in the final.

In the Juniors Mark Smith (Rowhedge C) the holder and James Denyer (Walton B), both from Clacton should contest the final, with Andrew Harvey (Rowhedge D) spearheading the Colchester challenge.

Nigel Hodder is the number one seed in both the Veterans 40+ and 50+ events with Fred Button (H20 Rowhedge C) the top seed in the 60+ event. In The divisional singles Alan Burgess, Roger Warren (St Peters) and Denise Thompson (Gt Horkesley E) are the top seeds for Division’s Two, Three, and Four.

The Tournament starts with the Handicap, Junior and Veteran’s events on Saturday and the Closed Championships and Divisional Singles on Sunday with the Finals and presentations by the Mayor of Colchester at 7.00pm on the Sunday evening at the Rowhedge Village Hall. Spectators and former players are welcome to attend, refreshments are provided!