27/03/09

Burnham Table Tennis Tournament

Saturday 21^st March

The Saturday started with the cadet singles where two groups played a round robin to meet the top two seeds, Elliot Holmes (Woodham) won one group and met number one seed Matthew Carter (Woodham) in the semi-final and went down in three sets. The other group was won by Sam Lowman (Woodham) who then upset second seed Jake Allsop (Woodham) in the semi-final in a cracking five setter. It was not a total surprise when Matthew Carter (Woodham) ran out a comfortable winner in the final.

The junior singles ran very much with the seeding as both Justin Sander (Fambridge) and Daniel Richardson (Woodham) won through to the final largely untroubled, in a well contested final Justin won 7-11, 11-6,11-7, 11-5. Daniel teamed up with his brother, Mark to get revenge as they beat Justin and Jake Allsop in the Junior Doubles final.

The Fambridge trophy (for division three players) was full of surprises even in the group stages. Number one seed Chris Hancox (Woodham) was beaten in his group by Mitch Davies (Woodham) but managed to advance from the group by securing second place. Second seed Mark Richardson (Woodham) was less fortunate as he lost to both Martin Knights (Stow Maries) and Matthew Carter in his group. Other unseeded players to progress from the groups were John Mundy (Maldon U3A), Emma Dadswell and Jack Cranfield (both Woodham). Young Matthew Carter progressed to the semi-final stage when he recorded an excellent win over fourth seed Roy Davis (Woodham) in five sets. Chris Hancox only just got past Jack Cranfield 10-12, 7-11, 11-3, 13-11, 12-10 to get into the semi-final where he met an in form Martin Knights, while Mitch Davies ended Matthew Carter’s run in the other semi-final. Martin then came out on top in a fine final 11-6, 11-8, 3-11, 12-10.

The only real surprise in the restricted singles group stage saw the exit of number seven seed Daniel Richardson who lost to both John Skuse (Maldon U3A) and James Anderson (Cold Norton). At the first knockout stage Chris Hancox came from two sets to one down against third seed Alan Dadswell (Woodham) to progress to a quarter final where he defeated Lee McHugh (Woodham) but his run was ended in the semi-final by Tom Elder (Maldon). In the other half of the draw Graham Booth (Woodham) edged past Norman Hayes (Maldon U3A) at the semi-final stage to set up a final meeting with Tom Elder which Tom came out on top 12-10, 11-7, 12-10.

The mixed open singles (open to all players except mens seeds) went very much with form to the semi-final stage where Eric Green (Stow Maries) lost out in a fine five setter to Babul McLeod (Mapledene) and John Cleasby (Maldon) edged out Gary Baker (Mapledene) in another very close encounter 9-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-6, 11-9 in the other semi. After all the previous close encounters the final was a little anti climax as John Cleasby won in straight sets.

The day was rounded off by the handicap events which were memorable for young Justin Sander who managed to get to the final of both the singles and doubles finals only to lose in both! Justin (-10) scored fine wins over Lee McHugh (-5), and Richard Hiskey (-13) and Peter Mynard (-14) on his way to the final meeting with Martin Knights (+6) who was in fine form to dispose of Dave Hancox (-5), Brian Ellis (-8) and John Cleasby (-16) and then made the most of his handicap to beat Justin. The doubles saw Justin playing with Ross Boddy (Woodham) off a handicap of –1 progress to the final via a semi final win over Matt Rolfe and Mitch Davies (-2). In the other half of the draw John Mundy and Nigel Lamb (-3) were rarely troubled until the semi-final when they met Chris Buer and Jack Fisher (-5), however John and Nigel came out on top and went on to win the final comfortably in straight sets.

Sunday 22^nd March

The under 25 singles had two very competitive semi-finals which saw Justin Sander (Fambridge) just overcome Graham Briggs (Woodham) in one and Bradley Hudgell (Cold Norton) get past Lee McHugh (Woodham) in the other, in the final Bradley had a little too much fire power for Justin and ran out a comfortable straight sets winner.

At the other end of the scale the over 50’s event was as keenly contested as ever without any great surprises in the early rounds, fourth seed Andrew Halling (Mapledene) had a tough battle to edge out Dave Bassett (Maldon) at the quarter-final stage 13-11, 12-10,3-11,11-4 but then lost out 11-5, 6-11, 4-11, 5-11 to Peter Ballard (Fambridge). The other semi-final was a really hard fought affair as Eric Green (Stow Maries) won through against Glen Johnson (Mapledene) 6-11, 11-9, 13-11, 13-11. In a fine final that saw both normally defensive players doing a fair share of attacking Eric Green just managed to get the better of Peter Ballard 11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6.

The ladies singles progressed much as expected with Lin Attridge (Mapledene) and Val Broad (Fambridge) progressing to the final which will be played at the finals night at Fambridge on Thursday 26^th March, the ladies doubles final, also played on the finals night will feature Lin and Val against Janet Pannell (Cold Norton) and Diane King (Woodham).

The mixed doubles final will be on the same evening and whilst it was no surprise to see top seeds Stuart Gibbs (Mapledene) and Lin Attridge progress to the final by beating Duncan Taylor (Mapledene) and Janet Pannell it was a little unexpected that their opponents will be Kevin Read (Mapledene) and Emma Dadswell (Woodham) who won through against Peter Ballard and Val Board in an incredibly close match 11-9, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8.

The veterans doubles was won in fine style by Peter Ballard and Marko Jovic (Fambridge) who did not drop a set throughout although Eric Green and Babul McLeod (Mapledene) did take them to deuce in the final.

The shocks in the veterans singles started in the second round of the veterans singles when Val Board pulled off a major surprise by getting the better of Nigel Lamb 11-8, 12-10, 4-11, 8-11, 12-10, her reward for such a sterling effort was to meet Peter Ballard in the next round! Dave Bassett was in excellent form seeing off Eric Green and Glen Johnson, both in five sets to set up a semi-final meeting with Stuart Gibbs which turned out to be one of the matches of the day, Stuart eventually coming out on top 11-7, 11-13, 11-5, 11-13, 11-9. Marko Jovic came through from the other half of the draw although he was pushed all the way by Andrew Halling (Mapledene) in the quarter-final stage just coming through 7-11, 11-3, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9 and then beating Peter Ballard in four sets in the semi-final. So another match to look forward to on finals night is Stuart Gibbs and Marko Jovic in the veterans singles final.

The mens doubles event was almost boring by comparison to other events as all four seeded pairs reached the semi-final stage with the loss of only one set between them! Third seeds Duncan Taylor and Glen Johnson hammered second seeds Kevin Read and Andrew Halling in straight sets 4,4, and 8 to set up a final against top seeds Peter Ballard and Marko Jovic who had a much tougher semi against Lee Prentice (Mapledene) and Charles Sweeney (Mapledene) running out winners in four tough sets 11-7,11-8, 11-13, 11-8.

The upsets came thick and fast in the mens singles group stage, biggest shock has to be number seven seed Glen Johnson in a tough group with John Cleasby (Maldon), Peter Mynard (Fambridge) and Matt Rolfe (Mapledene) losing all of his matches to be bottom of the group that was won by John Cleasby with Peter Mynard also progressing to the knock-out stage. Fourth seed Kevin Read could only finish as runner-up in his group after Dave Bassett beat him in straight sets which was really unfortunate for Richard Brown (Fambridge) who had already beaten Dave to secure two wins, normally enough to qualify, but he lost out on the set count and that after joking with Dave that he ‘only’ had to beat Kevin 3-1 or better to qualify oops, some things are best not said! All of the other seeded players won their groups but their were some other notable qualifiers including Bradley Hudgell who saw off the challenge of Nigel Lamb, Dave Calleja (Mapledene) edged out Gary Baker (Mapledene) and Paul Grant (Mapledene) beat Andrew Halling. In the first round of the knock out stage an early upset looked on the cards when Peter Mynard took the first two sets against Peter Ballard but the old campaigner used all his know how to come back and secure victory 11-6 in the decider. The only group winner not to progress was Charles Sweeney who had the misfortune to meet Kevin Read undoubtedly the best group runner-up. After all of the early surprises the quarter-final stage was a disappointment with Stuart Gibbs, Peter Ballard and Marko Jovic all having comfortable straight sets wins. The exception was the encounter between Duncan Taylor and Kevin Read which saw some great play from both players with Duncan just winning 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, so the semi final line up for finals night is Stuart Gibbs v Peter Ballard and Duncan Taylor v Marko Jovic.

Over the two days over 80 people competed and more than 400 matches were played and all of the scheduling, and running of the actual event was done by one person…….Keith Mays so from everyone thank you Keith.

Credits

Director and producer – Keith Mays

Lighting – Dave Goody

Scaffold builder (although he would not actually go up it) – Brian Ellis

Scaffold Supplier – Craig Foster (Although it came without instructions!)

Refreshments – Jan Dadswell with contributions from June Knights and Jean Ellis

Customer service – Bob Partridge

Raffle – Val Board and Peter Ballard

Best volunteer umpire – Kieran Shepherd

General Helpers – Martin Knights, John Knights, Lee McHugh, Roy Davis, Chris Hancox, Neil Want, Trevor Williams, Dave Bassett, Emma Dadswell and sorry to anyone I have forgotten.

Finals Night Thursday March 26^th

The evening started with the two mens singles semi-finals, both of which were won in straight sets. First Peter Ballard pulled off something of a surprise when he beat Stuart Gibbs 11-5, 13-11, 12-10 in a match that Stuart never really got into although it may be fairer to say that Peter never let him get his attacking game going, then Marko Jovic saw off a strangely out of touch Duncan Taylor 11-8,12-10,11-7 without ever really firing on all cylinders.

The mixed doubles followed and whilst it was no surprise that Stuart Gibbs and Linda Attridge won, they were pushed all the way by Kevin Read and Emma Dadswell who really tried to put their opponents on the back foot by attacking at every opportunity and Kevin especially dominated play at times but the greater experience told in the end as Stuart and Linda won 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 15-13.

The mens doubles proved to be a fairly comfortable straight sets win 8,9,8, for Peter Ballard and Marko Jovic as Duncan Taylor and Glenn Johnson had little answer to Marko’s forehand attack.

The most keenly contested final of the night was the ladies doubles which saw the holders Val Board and Linda Attridge just edge home against Diane King and Janet Pannell 6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-14, 11-8.

Another excellent match was the veterans singles final which saw Stuart Gibbs up against Marko Jovic, the first set was a stroll for Stuart who took it 11-3 as Marko never got into it at all, but Marko rallied to take the next 11-7 and level the match, it was evident that with both players having devastating attacking games this match was going to won by the player who made fewer mistakes and that proved to be Stuart as he took the next two sets 11-8, 12-10 in a match full of wonderful attacking play.

The ladies doubles saw Linda Attridge and Val Board meet in a final once again this looked like it was going to be really close when it was one set each but as Linda returned nearly everything Val threw at her, Val ran out of steam and succumbed in the last two sets, with the final score 11-6, 9-11, 11-2, 11-4.

So to the mens singles final which saw Fambridge teammates Peter Ballard and Marko Jovic in opposition, defender Peter against attacker Marko the classic confrontation, well it turned out to be a little bit of an anti climax as for once Peter was unable to tie an attacker down and the sheer pace and power of Marko’s attacking play were too much for Peter as Marko took the title 11-7, 11-7, 14-12.