Press Report

Rayne, the 2005 Champions of the Braintree & District Table Tennis League are the early leaders of the Central Essex Summer League and with 14 points out of a possible 15 they will take some beating. They stamped their mark on proceedings in the first week of the season although they were exceedingly fortunate to beat SETTS A 5-0. Three games went to a fifth end and the Rayne duo had to dig deep to take all of them. Newcomer Django Fung came close against Steve Pennell before Pennell pulled away to take the fifth end comfortably 11-2 and his fast pen-hold counter-hitting style gave Steve Kerns all kinds of problems before Kerns managed to clinch victory at 11-9 in the deciding end. Rayne capitalised on their good fortune a week later as their side of Ian Whiteside and Steve Kerns beat Danbury A 5-0 and in their third match they beat Hullbridge A 4-1. Pennell's good form continued as he was a 3-1 winner over Tim Pang. SETTS put their first week set-back firmly behind them as they thrashed a strong Hullbridge A side 5-0. Django Fung and Peter Saunders versus George Pavitt and Nigel Lamb looks a pretty evenly balanced match on paper so it is quite clear that SETTS turned in a top class performance to romp home 5-0. SETTS were also successful in beating Stock 4-1 although Stock's Keith Spicer excelled here with a fine 11-9 victory in the deciding set victory over Peter Saunders. Django Fung was again undefeated but he was pushed hard both times; just seeing off Dave Calleja 11-9 in the fifth end as well as getting the better of Keith Spicer at 11-7 in the final set. Stock were also found wanting against Hullbridge A, as they were beaten 4-1. Only Trevor Collin's excellent 11-9, 8-11, 13-11, 12-10 win over old rival Nigel Lamb escaped them. Stock were themselves successful as they beat Baddow Village A 4-1, and again it was the game that escaped the winners that created most interest. Mike Johnston excelled with his superb 3-2 victory over Trevor Collin.

With few results in so far it is difficult to predict who will come out on top in the second division. However, West Maldon and Danbury B could be possible contenders as they both won their opening games 5-0. Danbury's Paul Oliver and Brian Ellis and West Maldon's Glen Laing and "Chips" Haines were the successful players in these matches. Excalibur International with six points out of a possible ten are the early leaders and they impressed as they beat SETTS B 4-1, a Michael Rostoft double being the foundation for their victory. However, they were unable to beat Danbury C, as Norman Hayes' excellent 3-0 win over Rostoft enabled his side to steal the match 3-2. The all Baddow clash between the C and B teams was a quick affair, all five games were decided three straight. With Graham Turner dominating proceedings the B side ran out 4-1 winners.

Baddow Village E with two 4-1 wins to their name head the third division. They employed a three-man team in both matches, something of rarity but a policy that seemed to work well. Fast improving Cadet Rykki Vansertima remained undefeated as they beat both ECC and Baddow Village D. Results haven't gone to plan in this division at all and Excalibur 6 Champs whose name derives from their success in Chelmsford division six last season have featured in some contrasting matches. Excalibur flexed their muscles by beating Baddow Village F 4-1 as Keith Fitzjohn stayed undefeated although Adam Pitt also made his mark here for the losers with a fine win over Lou Hopkins. However, they were found wanting against Danbury D when they lost 3-2 as David Gatherall's superb 11-9 in the fifth set victory over Richard Hiskey gave his side the edge. And without Hiskey or Gatherall in their line-up they also found themselves heavily outgunned by Old Chelmsfordians who romped home 5-0. David Porter and Brian Shipley called all the shots on this occasion. Elsewhere Baddow Village D were narrow 3-2 winners over Excalibur Butlers, although neither of their players - Sam Pitt or Jaqueline Smith were able to get the better of Ian Butler. It all rested on the final doubles and in an epic decider Pitt and Smith came though 12-14, 19-17, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8 against Ian and Chris Butler. Quite a battle !

Veteran Chelmsford Coach Hill Dowsett was honoured twice at the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Annual General Meeting in May. Dowsett was one of four League Officials to be presented with the ETTA Maurice Goldstein Merit Award, the governing body's prestigious award for outstanding service to the Sport at domestic level in excess of ten years. League Chairman and President Norman Smith, League Junior Match Secretary and Tournament Organiser Arthur Clark and League Vice-Chairman Hugh Piper were also presented with this Award. Dowsett was also a recipient of the League's own Award for Service to the Sport - the Rosbery/Pope & Smith Award. Having coached many Juniors to the top local standard over a thirty year period his enthusiasm remains undiminished. Working with his Son-in-Law Neil Gooday and fellow Coach Adrian Pitt (both who have also been presented with this Award) the League's Coaching set-up at Melbourne Athletics Centre continues to thrive, and is the envy of many other local Leagues.

Baddow Village's Bradley Hudgell was this year's Winner of the Charlie Wheeler Memorial Award, which recognises an outstanding performance by a Junior at the Chelmsford Closed Tournament. The winner of the 6-Down Singles title from an unseeded position as well producing some other excellent performances over the weekend his success was well deserved.

The League's Annual General Meeting also saw a Rule Change passed which means that the Scoring System in Chelmsford League matches will follow the same system adopted by many of the other Leagues in the County. It was by no means a unanimous decision but after much discussion (some quite heated !) it was decided that the League will operate "the point a game scoring system" instead of the "four point per match format". As such every single game in a match has some significance and only a 10-0 win will suffice to give the winning team a maximum return of ten points.