The 2009 M&G Investments Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Closed Championships will be remembered as one where there were rather more shocks than usual . Indeed, only one of the top four seeds in the Mens Singles reached the Semi-Finals. Peter Hayden, the Chelmsford Junior Boys Champion in 1982 rolled back the years in the Mens Singles, having not played since early November after a debilitating Tennis Elbow injury had severely restricted his playing opportunities. This quarter of the draw produced some of the most compelling matches seen in the new University Tournament venue. Seeded Reagan Nettleingham, the 1997 Mens Singles Champion needed five games to get the better of the vastly under-rated Alistair Hill and he then produced the comeback of the weekend, somehow retrieving a two games and 3-8 deficit to get the better of Gary Young 6-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 17-15. Meanwhile, Peter Hayden beat Duncan Elloy in four ends and he retrieved a two game deficit to get the better of the joint no. three seed Paul Davison 11-13, 8-11, 11-8, 11- 9, 11-5. In the Quarter-Final Peter dug even deeper and in the best match of the weekend Peter beat Reagan Nettleingham, after a spell-binding encounter 5- 11, 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 12-10. The favourite, England no. 36 Neil Charles had few problems and he powered his way past Charles Sweeney (11-4, 11-7, 11-3) and then Steve Kerns (11-2, 11-6,11-8) to book his Semi-Final appearance. Steve Kerns did well to beat the seeded Kevin Read, last year’s Semi-Finalist 11-7, 8-11, 11-1, 11-9 a round earlier. In the bottom half of the draw the joint no. five seed - Keiran Lally, the 2003 Champion made his mark by getting the better of Bradley Hudgell after a very close match 15-13, 12-10, 8-11, 12-10 and he played really well to beat the joint no. three seed Duncan Taylor 11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8 in the Quarter- Final. Keiran will be joined in the Semi-Final by David Cole, the three- times former Champion who was somewhat surprisingly only seeded joint no. five this year. Cole booked his Semi-Final appearance by beating Waseem Qureshi 11-6,11-9, 11-7 and then second seed Rik James after a very impressive display (11-1,9-11, 11-6, 11-6). Unluckiest competitor in the Mens Singles ? You have to feel sorry for John Cleasby who had to face both Steve Kerns and Peter Barrett in his Group matches. Although John battled hard and pushed both players to five ends he failed to qualify.

The M&G Investments Mens Singles line-up on Finals Night at the Old Chelmsfordians Club at Lawford Lane at 19.30 hours on Monday 09 February 2009 will therefore feature games between the holder Neil Charles and Peter Hayden (a repeat of last year’s Semi-Final) and two former Champions - David Cole and Keiran Lally.

There was a major upset in the Ladies Singles as well, with the favourite and Holder Nikki Kennard ousted at the Semi-Final stage. A resurgent Alison Gurner scarcely put a foot wrong as she came through their clash 11-7, 11-8, 11-8. She will meet fifteen times Champion Julie Vansertima in the Final after Julie had beaten Linda Attridge 12-10, 11-6, 11-6 in her Semi-Final.

The Mens Doubles Final on Finals Night will be between the Holders Neil Charles and Paul Davison and the unseeded Duncan Taylor/Charles Sweeney. Paul and Neil beat Steve Kerns/Peter Hayden 14-12, 9-11, 11-2, 17-15 in the Semi- Final whilst the unseeded Duncan Taylor/Charles Sweeney partnership scored two superb victories to book their Finals Night appearance. They sensationally beat second seeds Dave Cole/Rik James 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10 and then Keiran Lally/Hamish Innes 12-10, 11-9, 11-7. Keiran and Hamish had made their mark by getting the better of the seeded Ian Whiteside/Kevin Read 11-8, 7-11, 14-12, 5-11, 11-5 a round earlier.

Julie Vansertima and Alison Gurner were successful in the Ladies Doubles (giving Julie a magnificent sixteenth title) as they beat Linda Attridge/Nikki Kennard 4-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 in the Final. The Mixed Doubles Final promises to be a superb match and it will feature two outstanding pairs - Paul Davison/Nikki Kennard and Julie Vansertima/David Cole. Paul and Nikki had to come back from 2-1 down to beat Stevie Pell/Bradley Hudgell in a tense Quarter-Final 11-5, 12-14, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6 and they got the better of Rik James/Jean Chasmer 11-3, 11-1, 9-11, 11-5 at the penultimate stage. They will meet David Cole/Julie Vansertima in the Final. Julie and Dave had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Kevin Read/Linda Attridge 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8.

The Veterans Singles Final will be between the two joint number three seeds - Dave Cole and Steve Kerns. Cole needed four games to get the better of Neil Freeman 9-11, 11-2, 11-3 11-6 and his game slipped into top gear as he edged his way past Terry Dowsett 11-7, 12-10, 11-9 and then top seed Rik James 12- 14, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6. In light of his later Mens Singles expolits Rik James had done well to oust Peter Hayden 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 a round earlier. In the bottom half of the draw Steve Kerns had needed five games to get the better of Gary Ward 11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 and he then beat Paul Stephens 11- 6, 11-9, 11-8. In the Semi-Final Steve Kerns trailed 2-0 against second seed Paul Sayer and he fought back strongly to level at 2-2. Kerns led 8-3 in the decider but to his dismay it was Sayer who clawed his way back into contention. A delighted Kerns eventually clinched victory 11-13, 11-13, 11-3, 11-7, 15-13.

There was joy for third seeds Peter Hayden/Steve Kerns in the Veterans Doubles as they battled through to take the title for the first time. They needed four games to get the better of Ken James/Adrian Pitt in the first round and four games to beat Colin Powell/Neil Freeman a round later, and in the Semi-Final they came back from 2-1 down to beat the Holders Rik James/Dave Cole by a last gasp 6-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 11-9 margin. Steve/Peter scarcely put a foot wrong in the Final beating the no. two seeds Paul Sayer/Paul Stephens 11-7, 11-7, 11-6.

The favourite Ian Whiteside is the new Over 60s Champion. He beat Bill Smith3-0 in his Group match and he faced a rather sterner test against the same player in the Final. Smith fought his way back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 before Ian eventually clinched victory 11-3, 11-9, 7-11, 5-11, 11-8.

The Under 21 Singles Final will be between the top two seeds - Bradley Hudgell and Greg Green. Bradley needed four games to get the better of Adam Pitt 11- 5, 13-11, 6-11, 11-3 and he had to fight hard to see off Brandon Crouchman 12- 10, 11-7, 10-12,11-9 in the Semi-Final. Brandon had been tested by Stevie Pell before winning 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8. Greg Green dominated the bottom half of the draw beating Thomas Adam 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 and then Sam Pitt 11-4, 11-9, 3- 11, 11-1.

As expected, the fast-improving Brandon Crouchman totally dominated the Junior events taking four titles. In the blue riband event he picked up the Junior Boys Singles trophy by reaching the Final without dropping a game. He beat Matthew Skeoch 11-8, 11-8, 11-2 in his Semi-Final and in the Final he got the better of the laid-back but nevertheless extremely effective Sam Pitt 11-6,16-14, 8-11, 11-6. Second seeded Sam Pitt had come through a close Semi-Final 11- 8, 11-9, 9-11, 13-11 against Scott Dowsett. Brandon dominated again in the Under 16 Singles and he beat Matthew Davis 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 in the Semi-Final before turning on the style by beating Scott Dowsett 11-1, 11-2, 11-7 in the Final. Scott had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Thomas Adam 11-4, 11-3, 10-12, 9-11, 11-9 in a really close Quarter-Final.

There was further success for Brandon Crouchman in the Under 14 Singles although he faced a much more severe test from a battling Scott Dowsett in the Final on this occasion. Brandon had to fight hard before pulling though to win 12-14, 12-10, 11-5, 11-8 this time.

Team-mates Brandon Crouchman/Scott Dowsett dominated the Junior Doubles to such an extent that they never dropped a single game. They beat Tom Lee/Sam Pitt 3-0 in the Final 11-4, 11-6, 11-8. Tom and Sam had seen off the challenge of Matthew Davis/Robert Shrimpton 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4 in the Semi-Final.

The favourite Stevie Pell took the Junior Girls Singles title for the first time. Her closest test came against Sarah Austin who only succumbed narrowly 12-10, 14-12, 13-11. Sarah Austin secured the Runners-Up spot by beating sister Claire 11-8,4-11,15-13, 8-11, 11-5.

Matthew Davis did well to capture the Junior Handicap Singles title. His toughest tests were against Martin Hiskey in the first round where he pulled through in five ends and against Rebecca Denyer where it took four games to decide the outcome.

Second seed Waseem Qureshi captured the Two-Down Singles title from a high class which featured numerous close matches. Holder Keith Spicer departed in the second round, ousted 10-12, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6,12-14 by Dave Calleja whilst Calleja missed out a round later against Alistair Hill 7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 9- 11. Hill in turn lost in his Semi-Final 11-8, 8-11, 11-13,9-11 against Greg Green. Alistair Hill had earlier come through two titanic battles : 11-7, 5-11, 6- 11, 11-9, 13-11 against Richard Storey and 11-9, 11-8, 14-16, 7-11 11-9 against Steve Northcott. In the bottom half of the draw Waseem Qureshi needed four games to get the better of Phil Smith 11-8, 11-3, 6-11, 11-5 and he took five games to put paid to the hopes of Matthew Brown, eventually pulling through 8- 11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-13, 11-8. Waseem hit top form in the Semi-Final to beat team-mate Bradley Hudgell 11-4, 11-5, 11-8 and in the Final he fought his way back into contention in the fourth end to eventually win 11-5, 11-3, 8-11, 13-11.

Top seed Phil Smith was successful in the Four-Down Singles and he fought his way through to the Final by beating Ken Sheard 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7 and then Graham Briggs 11- 6, 6-11, 11-2, 11-3. His Final opponent, the unseeded Rod Maclennan had distinguished himself by getting the better of Richard Storey 14-12, 11-13,12-10, 11-8 and then Tom Lee 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 and he did well to beat Jean Chasmer 12-14, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 in the Semi-Final. Phil Smith dominated in the Final and came through to win 11-6, 11-9, 11-7.

The Favourite, Graham Briggs lifted the Six-Down Singles crown but he had to pull out all the stops in the Final to get the better of Lee McHugh 12-10, 9- 11, 11-9,11-9. Mc Hugh impressed by beating the second seed Charles Eaton 11- 5, 11-4, 11-9 in the penultimate round whilst Briggs had beaten Tony Hallett 11- 7, 11-6, 11-6 at the same stage.

There was further glory for Lee McHugh (who enjoyed an excellent day on the Sunday), when he came through a strong field to beat Dave Moles in the Handicap Singles Final. Playing off a Handicap of 47 McHugh survived a tough test against Peter Mynard in the Quarter Final, winning 24-26, 21-12, 21-16 and he did well to beat Gary Ward 21-17, 20-22, 21-13 a round later. Dave Moles (61) dominated the bottom half of the draw and he ousted such notable players as Peter Barrett (16-21, 21-15, 21-14), Malcolm Storey (21-14, 21-17), Neil Freeman (21-14, 21-13) and in the Semi-Final he beat Tom Lee (18-21, 21-16, 21-18). However, try as hard as he did in the Final, Dave was no match for Lee McHugh and Lee hit some superb looped forehand topspins as he raced home 21- 12, 21-10.

The Handicap Doubles Final (with players drawn from the Hat) featured two of the players who had featured in the later stages of the Singles - Gary Ward and Lee McHugh and it was Gary Ward who went on to retain his title paired by the hard-hitting Peter Mynard. After a shaky second game Ward and Mynard really put it together in the third end as they eventually got the better of Lee McHugh/Robert Shrimpton 22-20, 3-21, 21-15.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League