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BRENTWOOD & DISTRICT TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE

SEASON 2011 - 2012

Brentwood & District Table Tennis League – Tournament Report

Hayden turns back the clock

Peter Hayden won the singles event for the 5th time, 25 years on from his last victory, in a pulsating final.

The Brentwood Table Tennis League Individual Championships was held on Saturday 21 April 2012 at Trinity School, Brizes Park, Kelvedon Hatch. In the singles event, the defending champion and winner of the last 3 singles titles, Chris Knight, went in as hot favourite but with many of the top Premier Division players participating and everyone taking part in the group stage, the potential for upsets was always there.

The most difficult group to get out of was Group 5, with all 4 playing in the premiership, but the seeded Glenn Johnson progressed without difficulty, along with Jon Stokes. The tightest group proved to be Group 7 with Keith Adams, Steve Buer and Dave Carter all finishing up with 2 wins each and with the same number of sets won and lost – in the end it was the unfortunate Steve Buer that lost out on points count back, and Carter went through as winner and Adams (joint 3^rd seed) as runner-up, and in consequence dropped down into the bottom half of the draw.

In the top half, Dave Carter immediately stalled at the hands of Hector Rogers who then went down in 4 to joint 5^th seed, Keith Phillips. Meanwhile, Glenn Johnson came back from the dead to just pip John Parodi 4-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 12-10. However, top seed Chris Knight progressed to the final relatively comfortably, seeing off Garry Hartgrove 3 straight, Glenn Johnson in 4, in the quarter-finals, and Keith Phillips in the semi’s. Although, it was Phillips who asked the early questions taking the opening end before the holder came storming back to reel off the next 3.

The bottom half immediately saw the re-directed Keith Adams face fellow joint 3^rd seed, Kevin Worthington, and it was as tight as it could be without going to a decider 11-6, 10-12, 13-11, 13-11 in Adams favour, who then overcame Hamish Innes in the quarters after the latter had overcome Jon Stokes 3 straight. Second seed Paul Cuming took up his position in the quarter final stage after smashing his way past Mike Johnston. However, after a break of over two decades from playing in the Brentwood League, and returning to Brentwood TTC, where he spent his formative years, it was joint 5^th seed Peter Hayden (winner of the title in 1983, 85, 86 & 87) who emerged to face the “Champ”. After putting to bed the potentially dangerous Babul McLeod 3 straight, he then repeated the dose to knock out second seed and team mate, Paul Cuming, before narrowly overcoming Keith Adams in the semi’s in a tightly contested 5 sets 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 6-11, 14-12 saving 3 match points in the process.

The final itself did not disappoint. Peter won the first set 11-6, but Chris fought back to win the second 11-4. The turning point looked to be the third set with Chris well ahead and looking in control, but Peter clawing it back to nick it 13-11. Chris, nevertheless came storming back again to take the fourth 11-3. The wealth of spectators were therefore treated to a deciding set. Peter proved he still had something left in the tank, when many of the concentrated onlookers had their doubts. A good start from him meant that the holder had to play catch up, but the big man just hung on to reclaim the title he last won in 1987. A marvellous exhibition of table tennis played in the very best of spirits, with both players having immense respect for each other’s game. The contrasting styles made it very entertaining indeed.

The next event was the doubles and this produced its share of shock results. Top seeds, Chris Knight and Jon Stokes were ousted by Keith Adams and Babul Mcleod in 5 sets (12-14, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9, 7-11) in the quarters; Keith and Babul then progressed to the final with a straight sets win over Glenn Johnson and Paul Mulley (Glenn and Paul has earlier got the better of seeded Peter Hayden and Trevor Carter). Their opponents in the final were Paul Cuming and Kevin Worthington who progressed through in relative comfort. Their semi final opponents were Matthew Brown and Hector Rogers who had earlier shocked Hamish Innes and Keith Phillips 3 straight. Alas, no more shocks and the number 2 seeds prevailed. The final again went the distance. Adams/McLeod won the first 11-8 and Cuming/Worthington the second 11-6. Adams/McLeod went ahead again, winning the third 11-9 but Cuming/Worthington saved match points in the fourth to take it 11-13 and square the match up again at 2-2. In the final set Cuming/Worthington got off to a sensational start, changing ends with a lead of 5-0 and never looked back, winning 11-6, to claim their first Brentwood League championships title.

Divisional singles were held for players in the first and second divisions. In the first division the expectation was that it would be a straight fight between Billericay Sports father and son duo of Steve and Chris Buer, and Selex’s Paul Brown and Garry Hartgrove. Both Steve and Chris topped there groups, as did Paul Brown but none of them reached the final. Brian Steward, runner-up in his group, beat Anthon Ranjit-Singh in the quarters (-5, 8, 4, 7) and Chris Buer in the semi’s (-8, 7, 11, 9). He was met in the final by Garry Hartgrove, another runner-up in the group stage, who first got the better of Steve Buer in 5 in the quarters (6, -8, -8, 9, 10) and then his club mate Paul Brown in the semi’s (4, 9, 1). It was Garry who triumphed in the final, beating Brian in 3 (6, 2, 5), to take his second divisional title in 3 years. The second division final was contested by John Hickey and Ricky Paris, who had earlier met in the group stage with John coming out on top in 4 sets. The final also went John’s way, again in 4 sets (8, -8, 8, 6).

The final event of the day was the handicap singles, being played using the 11-up format for the first time at the Brentwood League championships, and as always this proved to be an enjoyable event. The two finalists, Chris Buer and Anthon Ranjit-Singh, both ply their trade in the first division. Chris’s victories included 5 set wins over Trevor Carter (-5, 7, 10, -6, 7) and Caroline Puygrenier (8, -3, -9, 6, 11). Anthon beat both Paul Brown (8, 7, -5, 9) and John Hickey (-4, 6, 8, 10) in 4, and in the semi’s got the better of Kevin Worthington in 5 sets (8, 8, -6, -9, 1) – Kevin had earlier beaten Chris Knight in straight sets (6, 4, 5). The final was closely fought, Chris Buer won the first set 11-8 and Anthon the second 11-5; Chris then edged the next two sets 11-9 to win the handicap singles title. An entertaining match to conclude the proceedings.

Finally, a big thank you to everyone who took part on the day - we hope you enjoyed yourselves. Special thanks go to Rob Whitaker of Trinity School; Keith Cullen, for manning the control desk and keeping everyone in line; and Hector Rogers, for helping with the setting up and tidying up afterwards.

THE SUCCESSFUL BILLERICAY SPORTS TABLE TENNIS CLUB NIGHTS THAT

TOOK PLACE LAST SUMMER AT HUTTON COMMUNITY CENTRE

ARE ONCE AGAIN AVAILABLE FROM NEXT THURSDAY 12TH APRIL TO

ALL CURRENT LEAGUE PLAYERS ON THURSDAY EVENINGS FROM

8.00 PM UNTIL 10.00 PM AT A COST OF £3.00. FOUR TABLES NORMALLY

AVAILABLE - TWO LEAGUE MATCHES STILL TO BE PLAYED BUT THIS

SHOULD NOT INTERRUPT PRACTICE EVENINGS.

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