Northants by Dennis Millman

September 2010

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Northants by Dennis Millman

April 2010

Wednesday, 05 May 2010 23:43

Miles Chan became the youngest Men’s Singles champion when at the age of 13 years and 28 days he beat Richard Elliott in an absorbing County Closed Final.

Elliott, now runner up on the last four occasions, started well but gradually the composed Chan seized the initiative. The third and fourth games were close but Chan held on to take them 12-10, 11-9, and so beat a record set by Tim Yarnall in 2001 when he took the title 33 days after his 13^th birthday.

Chan also added the Under 15, the Under 13 and the Band One Singles while joining his elder brother Leon to add the Under 15 and Band One doubles.

He missed out on the Under 18 Doubles when he and Jack Coleman went down to Cavan Foo and Aaron Ark in five ends. The Under 18 Singles was also to escape his clutches when he lost his only singles of the day to Jack Coleman, holder for the last two years. However the previous champion was unable to make it three in a row when he lost a tremendous five end final to newcomer Cavan Foo.

John Fuller who lost to Elliott at the penultimate stage of the men’s event went closer at veteran level but Elliott was not to be denied and won 11-9 in the fifth at his first attempt. He then followed up to retain the Men’s Doubles in partnership with Dawid Przybysz, with Kevin Bird and Coleman in second place, but lost out in the mixed together with the evergreen Clem Little, to a flourishing Chris Ross/Charlotte Binley combination. Finally Elliott ad Ross proved too formidable in the veteran doubles.

As had often been the case Charlotte Binley and Jordan Wood met head on in both the women’s and girls’ singles. Binley regained the ladies crown after a close encounter but had less difficulty in depriving holder Wood in the junior event. Binley also came out on top when partnered by Clem Little in the doubles, when Beth Tyler and Lucy Budworth became their final victims. That gave Little her eighth win in 18 finals, not quite as impressive as her 11 in 16 for the Women’s Veteran Singles where Sue Moloney again took second place.

A strong entry in the Rod Marchant Trophy for 18-21 year olds produced talented finalists in Matt Carter and Jordan Dainty, with the first named taking the honours after dropping the first end.

Miles Chan was not quite so successful at the Kettering Closed where his men’s singles quest was ended by Jack Coleman who reached the semi final before becoming a Chris Ross victim. Richard Elliott also fell at that stage when he lost too John Fuller.

The Final was a classic encounter with Fuller’s immaculate defence pitted against the sustained attack of Ross. Both players were on top of their game with Ross saving six match points before Fuller eased through in a fifth end finish for a first triumph.

Elliott, who was unable to add to five previous successes otherwise, had a brilliant day. He and Mark Nannery took the men’s doubles at the expense of Kevin Bird and Jack Coleman, after a 14 year delay but added the veteran event at the first attempt before taking the mixed doubles in tandem with Rachel Thompson. Additionally he put his name on the veteran’s trophy and to prove that good players always come out on top he won the Hard Bat singles.

Chan’s successes inclined the Under 21 singles, the Boys Singles where he reversed the men’s result against Coleman and the Junior Doubles when partnered by Coleman. The Under 16 and Under 14 singles followed suit as Chan celebrated his first Kettering tournament in style.

March 2010

Thursday, 18 March 2010 15:37

The Northampton Closed Tournament provided a red letter day for both Richard Elliott and Rachel Thompson when they both won the Men’s and Ladies Singles respectively.

For Rachel it was tremendous achievement to get the better of Jordan Wood, ranked 121 places higher on the latest Thornton’s Sport County Ranking List, and for good measure she also encountered for Wood in the final of the Girl’s Singles. Not satisfied with two titles she added a third when partnered by her dad Barry, with Wood teamed with Carl Leeson the beaten finalists.

Illness had prevented Thompson from representing Harborough Diamonds, Division Two leaders in the Kettering League for two long months but since her return she has produced some outstanding performances.

Elliott, now revelling in his first year as a veteran, beat Richard Bashford in a thrilling final. He took a two game lead but Bashford fought back not only to square the match but also hold a match point at 11-10. Elliott stood firm to win 14-12 and so add to a string of Northampton titles.

He also won the veteran singles in straight games against John Alsop before joining his beaten opponent to take the Men’s Doubles against the long established pairing of Michael Edwards and Chris Gibbons.

Elliott also ventured into hard bat territory beating Gerald Henson in the final, while two more of his vanquished opponents had better times when Bashford/Henson partnership took the veteran doubles with the Edwards/Gibbons duo taking silver.

Soon after his tournament success Elliott celebrated with a rare feat on his birthday, when playing for a winning Higham Band side in two matches on adjacent tables. A Kettering Premier Division match against SAS was won ten nil to keep his side in the running for another league title, while against the same side Higham progressed to the semi-final of a Borough Trophy played on the old scoring format.

Another star in the making, 10 year old Ben Tombs also had a successful day as he added to his recent success in the Northants Schools Under 11 event. In the Northampton Closed he won the Under 13 and Under 15 doubles after settling for second place in the Under 11 and Under 13 singles.

The ETTA January rankling list saw Tombs gain a first entry at No. 29 in the Under 11 category as a result of his phenomenal achievement in the National Cadet League when he won all ten of his matches on his debt. He has recently had his first session with top coach Dave Welsman, who also looks after the young England International Sam Mabey, with the former national veterans champion forecasting a successful future for the youngster.

12 year old Aaron Lee also had a good day at Northampton, taking the Under 13 event against Tombs and then together winning the Under 13 and 15 doubles.

Although the latest Thornton’s Sport rankings, issued by Trevor Orr, are still dominated by veterans, Chris Doran remains at No.1 while Dawid Przybysz, Matt Carter, Jordan Dainty, Martyn Hancox, Jack Coleman, Sam Wildman, Miles Chan and Nathan Thompson also represent the younger brigade.

Leading players: 1. Chris Doran 2. Andy Trott 3. John Fuller 4. David Grundy 5. Gary Webb 6. Chris Ross 7. Ian Bird 8. Richard Elliott 9. Steve Silk

10. Dawid Przybysz

Dennis Millman Northants County Press Officer 2^nd March 2010

January 2010

Sunday, 10 January 2010 14:32

County No.1 Chris Doran has recently produced some of the best performances of his career, remaining as magnificent in defeat as in victory.

Representing England in the Wold Junior Championships in the excessive heat of Columbia he beat the European No.1 Daniel Koshiba to reach the last sixteen, but then lost narrowly to the Chinese No.1.

After a 36 hour journey home Doran was in action again the following day when in the Bribar London Open Grand Prix he beat Matt Ware in the penultimate game of the Men’s Band 1 event before taking the final in straight games against Victor Shi.

Next Doran turned his attention to the Men’s Singles in which he came from two games down to take Damien Nicholls at the quarter final stage. He then beat No.2 seed Gavin Ramgay in straight games before winning the final against England No.3 Danny Reed.

The Under 21 singles provided a further test of Doran’s stamina but after coming from behind against Nicholls, he beat Ireland’s Sam Hanley in the final. He won not only three titles but also Player of the Tournament for gaining such a memorable treble.

At the Stockton-on-Tees 4 Star Cadet/Junior Tournament two more of the county’s young stars were making the headlines. 12 year old Miles Chan ranked at No.3 in the Under 13 age group achieved the best win of his career when de defeated the No.1 Helshan Weerasinghe in the semi-final.

Having reached the final he faced his Northants team-mate 12 year old Sam Mabey (No.2 ), but couldn’t recapture his earlier form as Mabey took the title in straight games.

Mixed fortunes for the Veterans 3rds as they bear Herts 5ths but went down to Beds 2nds and Herts 6ths.

Richard Bashford starred against Herts 5ths with two singles and a doubles but Maggie Edwards also remained unbeaten despite a heavy cold. Leading five four Maggie and her husband Michael took the match winning doubles 11-4, 12-10, 14-16, 10-12, 11-9 to put the outcome beyond doubt.

Gerald Henson and Bashford gave the side a two one lead against Beds but Northants were never again in front, although Bashford and Terry Cardwell added the men’s doubles.

Two impressive wins from Cardwell kept Northants in contention against Herts 6ths but Bashford and Henson were unable to add to the tally. Cardwell and Bashford added a doubles but by the time that Maggie Edwards and Bashford took the mixed event the match was over.

Northants girl cadets, Nicole Bird and Lucy Budworth took honours but Shropshire won the spoils when the sides met at Evesham.

Bird won her two singles for the loss of 23 points while debutant Budworth won both her rubbers in four ends. Aaron Ark was unfortunate to lose 11-8 in the fifth to Jamie Davis and though debutants Aiden Smith and Thomas Wildman went close it was all to no avail.

Staffs provided stronger opposition in the second encounter but Ark gave Northants the lead, coming from two games down to beat the opposing No.2. It was left to Nicole Bird to lessen the victory margin beating the No.2.in straight games and the No.1 11-8 in the fifth.

Dennis Millman Northants County Press Officer 5^th January 2010

October 2009

Thursday, 01 October 2009 14:37

With Jack Coleman, the current Junior Boys champion unable to compete, three players Sam Wildman, Nathan Thompson and Miles Chan appeared to have excellent prospects in the Boys Top 10 event.

The first significant result came in round 3 when Chan beat Thompson in four ends, but in round 6 it was Chan’s turn to taste defeat to Wildman 9-11, 11-2, 16-14, 11-6. Otherwise the three main contestants remained unbeaten.

When Chan beat James Wright in the ninth and final round, in which Wildman was in direct opposition to Thompson, all three players could still take the title.

However Wildman needed just two games to emerge triumphant and though Thompson took the first 11-9, and won the encounter with an 11-5, 11-9 finish the two ends that went Wildman’s way made him the champion.

Placings: 1. Sam Wildman 2. Miles Chan 3. Nathan Thompson 4. Chris Marshall 5. James Wright 6. Aaron Ark 7. Joe Lindsay 8. Leon Chan 9. Joe Burrows 10. Dominic Barker

The Girls Top 8 was a more straightforward with Ladies and County champion Jordan Wood looking a certain winner. So it proved, though she had a real battle on her hands before easing through 11-7 in the fifth end after trailing Nicole Bird by two games to one. Rachel Thompson also took an early lead with a 16-14 opener but Wood fought back to win.

Zuzana Bakusova made a fine debut, losing only to Wood, and should prove an invaluable acquisition.

Placings:

1. Jordan Wood. 2. Zuzana Bakusova. 3. Rachel Thompson. 4. Nicole Bird

5. Rachel Brown. 6. Lauren Ainsworth 7. Lucy Budworth 8. Katie Tombs.

The fourth pre-season event was a Veteran Top 12 for the Broadlands Trophy, donated by that great table tennis enthusiast Greg Dobrowolski. Previously played for in the early 1990’s this event featured the top twelve available veterans on the Thorntons Sport ranking list. Split into two groups, an interesting innovation had the higher ranked players in group A with the remainder in group B, with the group winners to meet in final.

Chris Ross and Andy Trott made the best starts in group A with three wins each, but where as Trott went onto remain unbeaten, Ross lost heavily to Trott and then in straight games to Richard Elliott, who had started with two defeats but still finished second. Elliott’s clash with John Fuller was the only one to go the distance with Elliott winning 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 16-18, 11-8.

It was a different story in group B where seven of the fifteen sets went to five ends. One of these, as early as the third round featured a 23-21 opening scoreline with Paul Gatiss going onto beat Kevin Bird in a fifth end decider. At that stage neither player thought it would prove the deciding factor but so it proved and with both players gaining four victories, the early win for Gatiss put him in the final.

Gatiss faced a daunting task against Trott but produced some outstanding winners on both wings. Nevertheless Trott playing as well as he ever did, used his guile and touch to such good effect that he emerged a straight game winner 11-8, 11-9, 11-4.

County Chairman and top 12 organiser Ken Marchant introduced Greg Dobrowolski who presented the trophies.

Placings: Group A 1. Andy Trott 2. Richard Elliott 3. Chris Ross 4. John Fuller 5. Gary Webb 6. Ken Philipson

Group B 1. Paul Gatiss 2. Kevin Bird 3. Terry Cardwell 4. Richard Bashford 5. Brian Wooding 6. Mikes Hawes

September 2009

Monday, 14 September 2009 10:52

Northants by Dennis Millman        9th September 2009

At one time I could begin my column with a welcome back after a dormant close season but nowadays there is no real break from action at any level.

Locally the progressive Westfield Club and the thriving Burton Baptist Club have played regularly throughout the summer with players from other league teams taking advantage of their facilities.
One interesting innovation has been a Monday afternoon session at Baptists John Yeomans Hall attended on a regular basis by twenty or more players of indeterminate age some of whom formerly played in local leagues. One notable participant has been Terry Sutton, who before he left Kettering in 1977, had won more than 800 Premier Division singles as he helped Kettering Town to twelve Premier Division Titles.
Twelve year old Sam Mabey continues to impress the England coaches. When he represented his country in the Euro Mini Under 12 event at Strasbourg at the end of August he won eleven of fourteen encounters against experienced European opposition with one of his defeats a tight fifth end finish at the hands of the eventual winner.
At the end of last season Mabey's Harborough Wanderers found themselves in direct opposition to Premier Division winners Kettering Town in the final of Kettering's GRP Designs Trophy. Mabey (scr) disposed of Mike Hawes (-1) and Dan Smalley (-1) but the vastly experienced John Fuller (-3) proved a bridge too far and won 15-8, 15-5, 15-13. However after Liam Burnham had also won twice, Mabey had the final word when he contributed to two doubles wins that completed a six five victory.
Northants season begins as usual with the Invitation Masters in which Chris Doran could encounter a resurgent Andy Trott who is currently excelling at Vetts Masters. This event is followed by a Veterans Top 12 with the Broadlands Trophy at stake. This magnificent trophy, presented to county by the well known Northants enthusiast Greg Dobrowolski was last competed for almost twenty years ago.
The final Thorntons Sport County ranking list for last season, issued by the ranking administrator Trevor Ore, will be used to determine Northants players for these events. Leading players are listed as follows:-

1.    Chris Doran    2. Andy Trott,     3.Richard Elliot    4. Dave Grundy
5. John Fuller    6. Gary Webb    7. Ian Bird    8. Steve Silk    9. Chris Ross
10. Mick Alsop    11. Ken Philipson    12. Dawid Przybysz    13. John Alsop
14. Matt Carter    15. Chris Gibbons    16. Mark Nannery    17. Jordan Dainty
18. Richard Bashford    19. Martyn Hancox    20. Paul Gatiss
21. Margaret Maltby    22. Mike Hawes    23. Ian Sclater    24. Alan Ashberry
25. Kevin Bird.

Finally my best wishes to all players and officials for an enjoyable and successful season.

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