The Southend & District Table
Tennis League’s
Annual Junior Championships
Held on Saturday 17th
April 2010
@ The Warehouse Centre
Controller Jayne Johnson
Umpire Ken Field
With 33 juniors entering, from our 5 Junior Clubs,
this year’s Championships proved to be one of the best we have had yet, if not
the best. Key to this success was the role played by Jayne Johnson, who not
only planned out the event, prepared all the results charts, but also ran the
Control Desk. Her planning ensured that all players enjoyed plenty of matches,
whilst at the same time, never having to wait too long for their next game: the
key to a successful Junior Championships. Helping Jayne all day was Rawreth
Junior’s Tony Reed, who continually called in players for their matches and maintained
a constant Virgil on vacant tables. Tony’s was a major contribution.
The Championships were split into Restricted Age
Groups in the morning and the more serious events in the afternoon. Jayne
limited players to one Restricted Event, which meant that at 9.30 all players
present, were in a group that was taking place.
U11s.
In this event we saw the promising TT-on- Sea @
David Lloyds youngster, Sidney Dorn. Sidney has impressed everyone with
his rapid improvement, since taking up the game a year ago and proved far too
strong for his group, winning every game 3 straight to take the title. Not far
behind, was Canvey player, Robbie Willson (son of senior Division1 player Ray
& grandson of equally renowned 1st Division player Talbot
Wiseman). Robbie also impressed, losing only to Sidney and with Robbie’s
pedigree, I am sure he will be a force in the years ahead. Both players had won 5 matches each when they
met, with Sidney proving too strong. Our thanks for looking after this event go
to Mel Jones and Ian Rattray.
U13s
This proved to be a marathon event, with 8 players
playing on a Round Robin basis, playing 7 games each. Two players, Sam
Lowman and Bede Kelly, won 6 games each, all 3 straight and we all eagerly
awaited the clash between them. Sam proved just what an exciting prospect he is
by winning the Title, beating Bede 3 sets to 1 and thus Sam remained unbeaten
with his 7th straight win. This is not to take away the equally
promising performance of Bede. These 2 will clearly have many clashes in the
seasons ahead. Simon Lowman did a sterling job looking after this event.
Girls
Under 13s
Charlotte Obeney beat newcomer Eleanor Jones 3 straight, but there
were some close rallies: I am sure we will hear plenty more of them.
U15s
This saw a very good match in the finals where
TT-on-Sea @ David Lloyd teammates, Kieran Skeggs beat Emily Godfrey.
Emily moved into an early lead in the first set 7-4 and looked to be up for a
surprise win. However Kieran gradually pulled back to take the first game
12-10. Having gained control, Kieran never lost it and took the next 2 sets
11-6, 11-7 to win 3 straight. Both players are a credit to the league. Thanks
go to Paul and Hillary Skeggs, and Jayne Godfrey for looking after this event.
Girls
Under 15s
A meeting of 2 players who always have a good
battle and are both very promising and doing well this season. Emily Godfrey of TT-on-Sea @ David
Lloyd and Shannon Rolfe of Hullbridge. On this occasion, Emily proved too
steady and took the tie 3 straight: both will continue to improve and hopefully
there will be many more close encounters in the seasons ahead.
This was a repeat of the Girls Open and Emily
Godfrey again defeated rival Shannon Rolfe 3 straight. These 2 girls always
have a good match: both are very talented and with excellent table attitude.
U18s
This event didn’t start until mid day as there were
only 3 players. Owen Warren of Legra, the Southend Open favourite, choose to
not enter this event, which was very sporting on his part. This event was
played on a Round Robin basis and saw popular David Lloyd player, Steven
Marr, win both his games 3 straight to take the title.
In the
afternoon, the competition hotted up and again, Jayne organised it so that every player in
the hall was playing in these events.
Boys
under 18 Open.
Premier star, Owen Warren of Legra, was the
clear favourite going into this event. And so it proved to be, but not before
Kieran Skeggs had pushed him all the way. Jayne called a general let for this
final and everyone enjoyed a most entertaining match. Owen took the first set
11-6, but back came Kieran with some excellent attacking shots and clever
serves to take the second set 11-9. Owen gradually took control and he took the
next 2 sets 11-6, 11-6 to take the title, but not before Kieran had made it
clear that he is a star of the future.
Girls
under 18 Open.
This comprised a Round Robin of 4 players. The key
battle here was again the match between Emily Godfrey, TT-on-Sea @ David
Lloyd and Shannon Rolfe of Hullbridge. As earlier, Emily again won the match 3
straight and went on to win the event. Making up the group were Under 13s
Charlotte Obeney and Eleanor Jones and both did well and look good prospects
for the future.
Southend
Open.
This was the main event of the day and with the
loss of Nicole Syrendenco due to a family bereavement, Owen Warren was the
clear favourite. Once again he met Kieran Skeggs in the final. This was again a
closer game than the scores suggested with Owen winning in 3 straight 11-8,
11-7, 15-13. Kieran made an exceptional effort in the 3rd set, but
Owen dug in determinedly to take the title. Well done all 32 players who
entered this event.
Plate
Singles (Open to those not winning their Groups in the Southend Open)
Those losing in the Group stage of the Southend Open
went into the Plate event and again it meant that all players in the hall were
involved. This event was won by David Lloyd’s Steven Marr who beat
Hullbridge's Dominic Collis 3 sets to one, after losing the first set 12-10.
Drawn
Doubles.
The final event was the drawn doubles, where the
better players are paired with the up and coming. Again this involved everyone
who had the energy to continue playing. There were several good matches and we
were treated to one of the best matches of the day in the final. This involved
Owen Warren & Charlotte Obeney playing Grant Burgess, Hullbridge & Adam
Deadman, Rawreth Juniors. It looked very much as though Adam and
Grant would take the match. They won the first set 11-8, only for Owen and
Charlotte to level at 11-7. Adam and Grant then took the next set 11-5 and
again only to see Owen and Charlotte level at 11-9. The final, fifth and
deciding set was touch and go all the way to 7-7. Finally the experience of
Owen saw them and Charlotte take the final points and the title: an
exciting finale to a great day.
Thanks go
to:-
The Controller. Jayne
Johnson, who worked out the draw, controlled the day’s events and
ensured that all players had loads of matches and were constantly on the go: a
day they enjoyed so much
The Coaches. Of
our 5 junior clubs: Canvey, Hullbridge, Legra, Rawreth Juniors and TT-on-Sea
at David Lloyds
The
Parents. Who support their children so
well.
Setting
up the Hall. Graham back, Paul Reed, Mel Jones and Andy
Nunn
The
Hosts. The Warehouse Centre for
the use of their premises.
SDTTL. The
support of the Southend & District Table Tennis League.
Presentation
Day. This will be at Rawreth on Sunday 20th
June, commencing 2.00pm.
Ken Field
Junior Championships Umpire
20th April 2010