News & Views from the Colchester Table Tennis League
with Press Officer Martyn Green

8th March 2010
CLASS ACT JOSLIN TAMES MAGIC MUDIE TO WIN MEN’S SINGLES

Tournament Gallery
Steve Joslin (H20 Rowhedge A) beat Andy Mudie (H20 Rowhedge B) in the Men’s Singles final in his first season in the Colchester and District Table Tennis League and in doing so became one of a select trio to have won both the Colchester and Chelmsford titles. Previously only Rik James and Dave Cole had achieved the feat and Joslin joins them after a majestic performance of control and tactical acumen. His opponent, Andy Mudie was previously unbeaten in singles all weekend winning both the Handicap Singles and Doubles events showing considerable power as well as surprising subtlety. It promised to be an exciting final with opinions divided on who would win. Mudie likes to set the tempo with powerful drives on both wings however, Joslin showed just why he has a reputation for being a big stage player, his cushion blocking, deceptive change of pace and clever variations of serve taking him into a two set lead. Mudie would not lie down and following a very close third set, saving a match point, duly won the fourth with some searing drives from his trademark backhand including the rally of the match that saw both players back from the table counter hitting and again saving another match point. The final set was a test of mental strength and stamina and Joslin showed both, recapturing the initiative to run out a worthy winner. Earlier Joslin beat teammate Antony Greenwood 3-1 in the quarter-final and Kevin Gowlett (H20 Rowhedge B) 3-0 in the semi-final. Mudie raced through to the final beating Michael Andrews (H20 Rowhedge A) and Gary Young (St Mary’s) both in three straight sets. Young in turn beat club mate and reigning champion Greg Green in the quarter final in five ends, saving a match point in the process.

Finals night was somewhat curtailed by the absence of Sue Welham (St Mary’s) who had to scratch from all three finals she was involved in due to a calf injury. Number one seed Aimee Sparkes (Gt Horkesley) took the Ladies Singles title as well as the Mixed Doubles partnered by Mike Wright, both walkovers due to Welham’s unfortunate withdrawal. Janet Faiers and Elani Manolitsaki (Gt Horkesley) were the Ladies Doubles champions, again in the unwelcome circumstance of not actually having to play the final.

Five time Junior Doubles champions Antony Greenwood and Michael Andrews made the step-up to win the senior event for the first time, the pair finishing the season unbeaten in the league as well, an exceptional achievement. They won in four sets against Steve Joslin and Andrew Mudie, Mudie boasts five Men’s Doubles winner’s medals in five different leagues! Andrews had previously paired up with the youngest competitor, his nine-year-old sister Chloe in the Mixed Doubles, reaching the last eight!

One of the most entertaining matches was the Veterans 40+ final featuring Mike Wright (Gt Horkesley) and Alan Burgess (H20 Rowhedge). Burgess fresh from his Veterans 50+ success over Martin Edwards the previous day took the first two sets playing arguably his best ever table tennis including many fierce backhand winners. Wright hung in, showing little ill-effects from a hand injury sustained the previous day and took the third, and fourth end in deuce eventually winning the match which was played in an exceptional spirit. Ian Whiteside (Rayne) won the Veterans 60+ beating Ken Lewis (Gt Horkesley).

Mark Smith and James Denyer, both from Clacton had impressive weekends in the Junior events. Smith beat Andrew Harvey (H20 Rowhedge) in the U18 final having beaten Denyer in the group stages. Denyer picked-up the Cadet title (U15) beating Alice Rudge who herself featured in five finals in her first season! Ten-year-old Jane Li won the Junior Girls singles beating Rudge in the final, one of the tournaments youngest ever winners! Smith and Denyer won the Junior Doubles to conclude their successful weekend.

Alan Burgess, James Denyer and Mitchell Davidson ( University of Essex ) won the Second, Third and Fourth Division Singles respectively, completing a very successful, competitive weekend!

COLCHESTER CLOSED TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Men’s Singles Semi-Finals:

Andrew Mudie bt Gary Young 8. 4, 8

Steve Joslin bt Kevin Gowlett 6, 10, 9

Ladies Doubles Final:

Janet Faiers & Eleni Manolitsaki bt Sue Welham & Aimee Sparkes W/O

Veteran’s 40+ Final:

Mike Wright bt Alan Burgess -7, -12, 6, 10, 7

Mixed Doubles Final:

Aimee Sparkes & Mike Wright bt Sue Welham & Gary Young W/O

Men’s Doubles Final:

Antony Greenwood & Michael Andrews bt Steve Joslin & Andrew Mudie 8, 7, -7, 2

Ladies Singles Final:

Aimee Sparkes bt Sue Welham W/O

Men’s Singles Final:

Steve Joslin bt Andrew Mudie 8, 8, -12, -11, 3

Saturday’s Events Winner - Runner Up

Junior Boys Mark Smith - Andrew Harvey

Cadet Singles James Denyer - Alice Rudge

Junior Girls Singles Jane Li - Alice Rudge

Junior Doubles Mark Smith & James Denyer - Alice Rudge & Thomas Lewis

Junior Handicap Singles James Denyer - Alice Rudge

Junior Handicap Doubles Alice Rudge & Lajos Zsisko - Andrew Harvey & Thomas Lewis

Senior Handicap Singles Andrew Mudie - Chris Petrou

Senior Handicap Doubles Andrew Mudie & Andrew Harvey - Richard Goodhand & Mike Wright

Division 2 Singles Alan Burgess - Martin Edwards

Division 3 Singles James Denyer -Chris Petrou

Division 4 Singles Mitchell Davidson -Rob Bozier

Veteran’s 50+ Singles Alan Burgess -Martin Edwards

Veteran’s 60+ Singles Ian Whiteside -Ken Lewis