Press Report

This year's Mens Singles event at the M&G Investments Chelmsford Closed Table Tennis Tournament played at the Anglia Polytechnic University was high on quality but short on major upsets and as anticipated the top four seeds have fought their way through to play on Finals Night on Monday 12 February 2007 at Old Chelmsfordians Association, Lawford Lane, Chelmsford starting at 19.30 hours.

Both Dave Cole and Rik James have the opportunity of winning an unprecedented five titles - the Mens Singles, the Veterans Singles, Mens Doubles and Mixed Doubles events (to go with the Over 40s Doubles which they have already picked up in tandem). However, few people will be prepared to write off the chances of Neil Charles or Arturas Rybakas in the Mens Singles, and, therefore there should be some fascinating encounters to look forward to on Finals Night.

In the Mens Singles, the blue riband event - the holder and top seed Dave Cole (ECC) was on top form and he came through a potentially tricky Quarter-Final clash with Essex County Senior First team player Matt Spero (Elmtree Graphics) much easier than he had anticipated. Despite some fierce rallies it was Dave who dominated the action and he ran out a comfortable 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 winner. Matthew had previously had to pull out all the stops to beat Peter Hayden (Bocking) 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11. Dave will meet his perennial rival - Rik James (Bocking) in the Semi-Final after Rik had emerged from the most competitive quarer of the Draw. The still-improving Peter Barrett (Baddow Village) was involved in two titanic clashes as he just saw off Dacre Pell (ECC) 14-12 in the fifth end and a round later Peter became a victim of John Holland (Elmtree Graphics) by the same tantalising 14-12 in the fifth end scoreline. Rik James took four games to dispose of Kevin Read (Rawreth) but he made no mistake in beating Holland 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 to book his Semi-Final appearance.

The third quarter was dominated by stylish newcomer Arturas ("Arthur") Rybakas (Elmtree Graphics), older brother of 2004 Mens Singles Champion Vytas, and he will make his first appearance on Finals Night. Arthur was in all sorts of difficulties against another of the improving Baddow Village players and he only just managed to beat Neil Gooday 12-14, 11-3, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9 but he made no mistake in beating Peter Ballard (Maldon) 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11 to book his Finals Night appearance. Ballard had displayed good form to get the better of his Maldon colleague Hamish Innes 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 a round earlier. Arturas, will face the very talented British League Premier Division star Neil Charles (ECC) in his Semi-Final, and Neil, a Semi-Finalist in his only other appearance in this Tournament, in 2002, will be out to avenge his two narrow League defeats to Arturas. Neil came through a tough Quarter-Final before he saw off his Brother-in-Law Paul Davison (ECC) 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9 whilst Paul had also been stretched a round earlier before he emerged as a 5-11, 11-5, 11-5, 13-11 winner over Gary Young (Excalibur).

The Ladies Singles Final will be fought out by Jean Chasmer (Danbury) and Holly Stubbings (ECC). With top seed Nikki Kennard (OCs) having to withdraw and with 15 times Champion Julie Vansertima not entering this year, the event was always going to have a very open look to it and it was arguably the two most experienced players who fought their way through to the Final. Jean Chasmer, made no mistake in beating Claire Austin (Baddow Village) 11-7, 11-1, 11-3 in her Semi-Final after Claire had scored a fine 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 victory over Stevie Pell (ECC). County Junior first team player Holly Stubbings duly booked her first appearance in the Ladies Singles Final as she beat Melanie Bonnett (Elmtree Graphics) 11-8, 11-6, 11-2 in the penultimate round.

In the Mens Doubles, it was again a question of the top two pairs booking their appearance on Finals Night, although fourth seeds Ian Whiteside/Kevin Read were second round fallers to Neil Goday/Peter Barrett 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9. Gooday and Barrett survived another round by beating the ECC pair of Gary Brignall and Ken James 11-3, 15-17, 11-3, 11-9 but they met their "come-uppance" in the Semi-Final. There was no way past the holders and six times Champions Dave Cole and Rik James who emerged as 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 winners. Second seeds Paul Davison and Neil Charles also reached the Final without dropping a game and their opponents at the Semi-Final stage were the tried and tested Maldon combination of Hamish Innes and Peter Ballard. The ECC loopers were in charge and they ran out 11-1, 11-9, 11-9 winners.

No surprises in the Mixed Doubles, and the Final will also be fought out by the top two seeded pairs, and David Cole, a former Winner with both Sarah Davison and Julie Vansertima will be bidding to win with Jean Chasmer, herself, a former Finalist (with Paul Davison). They will meet second seeds Rik James and Holly Stubbings in the Final. Rik and Holly had a real tussle in their Semi-Final before they finally saw off Elmtree Graphics clubmates Arturas Rybakas/Melanie Bonnett 13-15, 15-13, 13-11, 13-11 whilst David and Jean were slightly more assured (although not comfortable winners) over Ian Whiteside/Nicola Pippen (Elmtree Graphics) 11-8, 11-7, 11-9.

With Ladies Singles Finalists - Jean Chasmer and Holly Stubbings paired together they were always going to be the pair to beat in the Ladies Doubles Final and they eventually came out on top 11-4, 8-11, 6-11, 13-11, 11-5 against the Elmtree Graphics pairing of Nicola Pippen and Melanie Bonnett, after winning a very hard-fought and fluctuating encounter 11-4, 8-11, 6-11, 13-11, 11-5. This was Jean's sixth success in this event, having previously won the title five times with Julie Vansertima.

Following the same theme, the Veterans Singles Final will be fought out between the top two seeds, as the familiar figures of David Cole and Rik James dominated the action from the outset. Dave, in his first year as an Over 40 hammered Steve Kerns (ECC) 11-8, 11-6, 11-3 and although Peter Hayden gave him a much tougher work-out he still came through in four ends as he triumphed 11-7, 9-11, 13-11, 11-2. Kerns had also been pushed a round earlier before he got the better of a battling John Cleasby (Maldon) 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8. Rik James was equally dominant in his half of the Draw. Ian Whiteside (Danbury) was dismissed 11-3, 11-7, 11-8 and although John Holland put up a better showing it was Rik who came through to win 11-8, 11-3, 11-13, 11-7. No big surprises in this event.

The fomidable Peter Ballard (Maldon) retained his Veterans Over 60s title, as, he again came up trumps against John Holland after a titanic five-set Final. From a high-class field Holland saw off Ken James (ECC) 11-7, 12-10, 11-8 and Ian Whiteside 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 whilst Peter Ballard beat Duncan Ellloy (Baddow Village) 11-7. 11-6, 11-4 in the Semi-Final. The Final went the distance before Ballard finally emerged as the Winner 15-13, 11-5, 4-11, 9-11, 11-4 after a really draining encounter.

With David Cole and Rik James paired together in the Veterans Doubles the odds on them failing to "deliver the title" were always going to be on the long side (someone suggested that Macclesfield might have been more likely to have toppled Chelsea in the FA Cup ! ) and it was no surprise that the top seeds came out on top. David and Rik needed four games to get the better of Ken James and Gary Ward 13-15, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 and they were pushed in the Final as well before they finally broke the resistance of Hamish Innes and Peter Ballard 11-9, 11-9, 11-9. Ballard and Innes had upset the seedings by getting the better of second seeds John Holland/George Pavitt (Excalibur) 12-14, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9. In fact, it had been a far from smooth ride for Holland/Pavitt and from the off they had looked ill at ease in disposing of Mike Johnson/Duncan Elloy (Baddow Village) 11-6, 11-8, 14-16, 11-9 and Trevor Collin/Keith Spicer (ECC) 12-14, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9.

Simon Webber (ECC) and Bradley Hudgell (Baddow Village) have booked their places in the Under 21 Singles Final which will also be played on Finals Night. They came through an evenly matched field. Top seed Greg Green (Hatfield Peverel) was a narrow second round faller against Alistair Hill (ECC) with Alistair running out a 5-11, 14-12, 11-9, 13-11 winner and Alistair survived another round as he also beat Dacre Pell 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9. However, Alistair's "luck" finally ran out, and left-handed Simon Webber, another player with enormous potential just prevailed 12-10, 2-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9. Bradley Hudgell, his Final opponent was also involved in a fluctuating Semi-Final and he will be equally pleased to have seen off Lawrence Wilcox (Hatfield Peverel) 9-11, 13-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5.

An inform Bradley Hudgell also came through a strong field to win the Junior Boys (Under 18 Boys Singles) title. This time he beat Lawrence Wilcox more comfortably (11-4, 11-4, 11-9) in his Semi-Final and he managed to get the better of top seed Greg Green 11-5, 6-11, 14-16, 11-5, 11-6 in the Final. A fine performance from Bradley to beat Greg, who had come so close to winning the Essex Closed Junior Boys Singles title in January. Greg had in turn come through his Semi-Final with a 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3 win over Dacre Pell.

It would have been a major upset if Essex County Junior first team player Holly Stubbings had failed to win the Junior Girls (Under 18 Girls Singles) title and she made no mistake in coming out on top. Hannah Pitt (Baddow Village) was her victim in the Final as Holly ran out a 11-1, 11-5, 11-7 winner after Holly had been pushed harder by Stevie Pell (11-7, 11-6, 13-11) in the Semi-Final. Stevie had beaten Claire Austin 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 who she later in the day lost to in the Ladies Singles. Hannah's Semi-Final opponent was Charlotte Waite and Hannah's extra experience held her in good stead as she came through to win 11-3, 11-4, 11-5.

Top seed Sam Pitt (Baddow Village) dominated the Under 16 Singles by taking the title without dropping an end but the big shocks came in the other half of the Draw. William O'Donnell, a Runner-Up in his group to Sam Pitt ousted second seed Adam Pitt 6-11, 11-6, 11--7, 11-3 in the second round but was in turn beaten 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 by Stevie Pell, who had also beaten the third seed Haydn Upson 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 14-12. Could Stevie become the first Girl to win this title ?. The answer was "No" and Sam dominated the Final after a close first end to win 11-9, 11-8, 11-5.

Brandon Crouchman (Hylands School) took the Under 14 Singles title, and, he needed five games to finally put paid to the hopes of Hannah Pitt. Brandon survived a tremendous fight-back from Hannah before he finally emerged as a 11-5.11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 11-9 Champion. Hannah booked her Final berth by beating Kane Lambert (Hylands School) 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 after Kane had ousted Matthew Davis (Baddow Village) 11-8, 14-12, 7-11, 9-11, 16-14 after one of the weekend's closest battles. Brandon had also been pushed in his Semi-Final and he just saw off James Austin (Baddow Village) 11-3, 11-13, 11-6, 12-10.

Greg Green and Bradley Hudgell, the top seeds in the Junior (Under 18 Doubles) duly won the title and in the process Greg made League history as he became the first player to win this title with four different partners, and in four consecutive years for good measure !.. Greg and Bradley beat a battling Dacre and Stevie Pell 11-7, 11-7, 13-11 in the Final after the ECC brother/sister pairing had scored a fine 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4 win over Lawrence Wilcox and Holly Stubbings a round earlier. Incidentally, Greg has another year left as a Junior and he has already mischievously suggested that he has a different partner in mind for next season's Championships !

Haydn Upson, playing off a Handicap of -10 came through a large field to win the Junior Handicap Singles for the first time by beating James Austin (-5) in the Final 11-9, 11-7, 11-7. Austin had put paid to the hopes of the higher-rated Holly Stubbings (-16) 3-1 and Matthew Davis (-7) 3-1 but Upson was too consistent in the Final. This was a well deserved win as Haydn had also had to survive tough encounters against Steve Pell (-10) which he won 3-1, and against Lawrence Wilcox (-16) where he came through 3-0 as well as against James Stapley (OCs) when he came out on top 3-2.

A report of Sunday's play, produced by regular Chelmsford & DTTL Press Officer Trevor Collin will follow later in the week.

Steve Kerns