Gary Young is one of the most improved players in Essex and his impressive performances have helped Excalibur A to a high placing in division one of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League. A prolonged battle against relegation is certainly not on the cards this Season. Young was on top form against Maldon A and his three wins helped Excalibur win 6-4. Young completed his hat-trick by getting the better of Peter Ballard 11-7, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8. The teams in third and fourth place met this week and it was honours shared as the match ended in a 5-5 draw. Maldon B’s Neil Charles again won his three singles for Maldon whilst ECC A’s Lucy Wang made her mark for ECC. She beat both Dave Bassett and Chris Jacob. Second-placed Rawreth have a large squad of quality players at their disposal and they turned in a strong performance to beat OCs A 7-3. Defender Duncan Taylor and new-signing, the hard-hitting Paul Whatton were both unbeaten. Whatton made his mark by beating Paul Davison 11- 9, 7-11, 11-9, 2-11, 11-5. Leaders Bocking A have hit a rich vein of form and they showed this by disposing of Danbury A 10-0. Their regular side of Kevin Gowlett, Rik James and Dave Cole were all undefeated.

Division two leaders Chelmsford A won again but it wasn’t plain sailing against ECC B. Peter Barrett won his three singles for Chelmsford but Gary Brignall and Keith Spicer both won twice for ECC to restrict the margin of victory to 6-4. Spicer impressed greatly by downing Waseem Qureshi three- straight : 11-8, 17-15, 11-9 whilst Gary Brignall also made his mark as he beat Bradley Hudgell decisively 11-8, 11-4, 11-9. Hatfield Peverel A, who have lacked consistency this Season made no mistake against Chelmsford C - winning 9- 1. Peter Brownlow and John Gagg were both undefeated whilst Dave Carter won twice. Second-placed Chelmsford B were also on the winning trail and they beat OCs B 7-3. Alastair Piper dominated the action and he won his three singles although it was touch and go against Nat Ravlic. Piper pipped his opponent 13- 11, 11-7, 11-13, 4-11, 11-9. Expect bottom side Danbury B to raise their game this half. Whether they can do enough to avoid relegation remains to be seen, but they managed to beat Hatfield Peverel B 6-4. Brothers Paul and Dave Richardson both won twice with Dave doing well to get the better of Greg Green 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4. Of equal note was Dave’s defeat in the last singles of the evening when he lost over three closely fought games to Hatfield Peverel reserve Neil Freeman (9-11, 10-12, 9-11).

Things are not looking good for Kings Road in division three and a 8-2 defeat against ECC E has not helped their cause as they attempt to avoid relegation. Bryn Thomas and Jeff Lewington both won their singles whilst Martin Eyles and Rob Hayne both picked up a win for Kings Road. Eyles managed to turn round what looked like a certain defeat against Allan Thompson. The scores of 2-11, 2- 11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 tell their own story. Elsewhere, Hatfield Peverel C led by an unbeaten Clive Allenby did well to beat Danbury C 7-3. Allenby completed a good night’s work by getting the better of Herbie Smith 6-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-3 in the last game of the evening.

Hylands School A continue to dominate in division four and it was business as usual as they beat Danbury E and Chelmsford D, both by 7-3 margins. Brandon Crouchman and Terry Dowsett were undefeated in both games. Dowsett sailed through his singles against Danbury whilst Brandon came under pressure once. Brandon needed all five games to dispose of Rob Kneale 9-11, 12-14, 11-7, 11- 6, 11-3. The roles were reversed against Chelmsford D with Brandon not being extended to five games, whereas Terry Dowsett had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Sam Pitt 11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7. Brandon also had a hard test against Gordon Fairchild and he eventually pulled through 7-11, 11-6, 11-3, 19-17. Bocking B look the most likely side to finish second and they ran out 8-2 winners against Danbury F. Richard Jennings (with three wins) and Garry Fryatt and David Edwards (with two wins apiece) turned in a strong team performance. Fryatt did well to come from behind to beat Dave Goody 6-11, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9. Third placed Elmtree Graphics B also won and with Ev Lucas in their line-up no one will be too surprised. Lucas and Rod McLennan were both undefeated as they ran out 7-3 winners against Danbury G.

Division five leaders ECC F fielded a four man team this week, and they beat Chelmsford F 7-3. Colin Barham, Mick Storey, Malcolm Storey and Richard Storey all contributed to the win. Mick Storey made his mark by beating Stevie Pell 11- 6, 11-5, 11-8 whilst Stevie hit back in her second singles pushing the higher- rated Malcolm all the way before succumbing 12-10, 11-13, 9-11, 9-11. Chelmsford E were the week’s big winners in this division as they beat ECC G 9- 1. Adam Pitt, Richard Upson and Haydn Upson raced through all nine singles. The match between Hatfield Peverel E and Danbury J was an altogether closer affair, and it was Danbury’s ex-first division player Norman Hayes who dominated the action. He stayed undefeated in a 5-5 draw.

Division six leaders Excalibur D continue to lead the way and they won again, 7-3 against Chelmsford J. Steve Cheesman won his three singles whilst Patrick Whelpdale fared best of the Chelmsford players. He beat both Keith Pallett and Keith Fitz John. Keith Pallett won twice for Excalibur and he beat Robert Shrimpton 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9 in the closest game of the night. The match between Chelmsford H and OCs F finished level after Chris High had won his three singles for the Chelmsford side whilst OCs E beat Chelmsford H 6-4. Matt Newton dominated this match and this included the hard-fought win he achieved against Jacqui Smith, by a 2-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-5, 12-10 margin.

All three CLICK results produced 3-2 scorelines. Hylands School B led by an undefeated Phil Bigland beat Chelmsford M whilst Jack Crook led Chelmsford L to a 3-2 win over Chelmsford O. Martyn Hiskey won twice for Excalibur E but without a team-mate he was condemned to a 3-2 defeat against Chelmsford N.

Older Chelmsford players will be very saddened to hear of the death of Dave Birkett (aged 47), the Chelmsford Mens Doubles Champion in 1986 (paired with Steve Tilson) and a member of the powerful Essex Police team who won the first division title in 1997. Dave had previously been a member of the East Hanningfield Club in the 1980s. Dave also played for the ECC A side who won the first division title in 2000. A keen footballer and a Marathon runner in his younger days, Dave turned to Orienteering, Mountain Climbing and Walking as he got older. Dave leaves behind a wife and two children.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League