DaveR
01-23-2008, 10:37 PM
http://www.sportfocus.com/newsimage/group.jpg
Stanstead Airport was the meeting point for fifteen enthusiastic table tennis players, accompanied by family members that had assembled from all parts of the country, Scandinavian bound! Within two hours we had arrived at the four star Scandic hotel situated in the south corner of Gothenburg City.Our entire party of 23 arrived the day before the tournament, and the hotel staff kindly prepared us all a traditional dish of Meatballs, mash and sauce, which for most of us went down well. The Molndals Club hosted the MBTK trofen that was played over the weekend of the 19th/20th January 2008.
The event attracted 235 competitors from many of Sweden’s top clubs, with the venue being held in three playing halls on 26 tables, with 6 available for practise.
The entire competition ranged from under 12 boys and girls, right through to the men’s and women’s elite classes.
Team “London” was made up from British players of all age groups from cadets up to seniors, many who achieved outstanding results throughout the weekend.
http://www.sportfocus.com/images/dynabiz/ID3153/imggallery/5763.jpg
West Yorkshire’s Mary Fuller, now fully recovered from an arm injury and an enforced 2-month absence, had a brilliant weekend taking gold in both the girl’s classes 15, and 17. Mary’s route to the podium was a tough one in girls age 15, in that she had to overcome the challenge of four determined Swedish players. Later in the higher age category, she had a fight on her hands in the shape of teamate, and semi-finalist Hannah Hicks, coming through in 4 tight sets. Her final opponent was the local club’s favourite Jessica Stensby, who had earlier beaten our own Kirsty Wilson from Kent, in a 4-deuce sets semi-final belter. Mary continued in her rich vein of form to take another prize home, outplaying Jessica with some all action play.
Matt Ware, returning to his second home was also matching Mary’s achievements, reaching the top step of the podium twice! On his way to the boys 17 title, he had his work cut out with a gutsy win against World ranked 68, Simon Linderoth of Angby club in the semi stage, eventually winning in the fifth end. He then faced Paraguayan player Marcello Aguirre, World ranked 65, who had earlier outfought our own Damien Nicholls in the other semi. Matt took revenge for Damo, to take the title, in an epic thriller, winning 10-12, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8.
Later in the day, Matt (unseeded) found more gears to take the coveted Men’s Elite title with a final victory over Chinese player and top seed, Peng Xing of BTK Warta, in the fifth end. Xing had earlier brushed aside the likes of Kalle Relfsson and Sebastian Andersson, two of Molndals club hotshots, to reach the final.
Damien played well throughout the entire event with podium placing in boy’s 17
http://www.sportfocus.com/images/dynabiz/ID3153/imggallery/5764.jpg
More notable performances came from twin sisters Angharad and Megan Phillips, the very talented 13 year olds from Denbigh in North Wales. They both came through hard fought matches to secure 2nd and 3rd spot respectively, in girls age 13. Megan also stood on the podium again with a 3rd placing in girls 14. These charming young ladies both have a bright future ahead of them in table tennis.
In the group stages of boy’s 20, Patrick Thomas (the welsh dragon), defeated Matt Ware in a five set marathon, with both of them going through as runner up and winner respectively. Patrick then progressed to the quarters where he met the Paraguayan, Aguirre, going out in straight sets, to the highly world ranked player, from top club Angby. Ware went on to meet Molndals club competitor, and eventual winner, Kalle Relfsson in the semi-final, also going out in straight sets.
Kent duo of Jasmin Ould and Kirsty Wilson also tasted their first international experience with success both claiming excellent wins in their own age categories.
Fourteen-year-old, Kirsty performed well above expectations reaching joint 3rd place in the girl’s age 17 class, which was a remarkable achievement.
Hannah Hicks also enjoyed good performances in three different classes. She reached the final of women’s class two, with also very respectable semi-final placing, in both girls age 17 and 20.
We cannot forget to mention Adam Ratajczak and Matthew Porter’s gritty wins en route to the men’s class 3 final. They both “mashed all the Swedes” along the way to the dizzy heights of the winners stand. The final confrontation was too much for Porter, the ETTA events co-ordinator. He simply failed to eat enough meatballs the night before, and left the gold medal on a plate to Ratajczak, going down in 4 sets.
The remaining players of the party all had some degree of success, namely Charlotte Airey, and Becky House, gaining victories in the group stages. Matthew Morris and Geoff Ware were both first round casualties.
We all enjoyed a great long weekend, and were unanimous in agreeing that our Scandinavian Host, Putte Andersson, head coach at the Molndals Club, looked after us so well, to the finest detail. The event was run in a relaxed atmosphere, yet highly competitive, with exceptional and efficient organisation.
It won’t be long before we return for another, “Swedish experience”.
Full results can be viewed on the following Molndals club website at; http://www.mbtk.nu/ (http://www.mbtk.nu/) then click on Klubben Online.
Article by Team "London"
Coutesy ETTA
Stanstead Airport was the meeting point for fifteen enthusiastic table tennis players, accompanied by family members that had assembled from all parts of the country, Scandinavian bound! Within two hours we had arrived at the four star Scandic hotel situated in the south corner of Gothenburg City.Our entire party of 23 arrived the day before the tournament, and the hotel staff kindly prepared us all a traditional dish of Meatballs, mash and sauce, which for most of us went down well. The Molndals Club hosted the MBTK trofen that was played over the weekend of the 19th/20th January 2008.
The event attracted 235 competitors from many of Sweden’s top clubs, with the venue being held in three playing halls on 26 tables, with 6 available for practise.
The entire competition ranged from under 12 boys and girls, right through to the men’s and women’s elite classes.
Team “London” was made up from British players of all age groups from cadets up to seniors, many who achieved outstanding results throughout the weekend.
http://www.sportfocus.com/images/dynabiz/ID3153/imggallery/5763.jpg
West Yorkshire’s Mary Fuller, now fully recovered from an arm injury and an enforced 2-month absence, had a brilliant weekend taking gold in both the girl’s classes 15, and 17. Mary’s route to the podium was a tough one in girls age 15, in that she had to overcome the challenge of four determined Swedish players. Later in the higher age category, she had a fight on her hands in the shape of teamate, and semi-finalist Hannah Hicks, coming through in 4 tight sets. Her final opponent was the local club’s favourite Jessica Stensby, who had earlier beaten our own Kirsty Wilson from Kent, in a 4-deuce sets semi-final belter. Mary continued in her rich vein of form to take another prize home, outplaying Jessica with some all action play.
Matt Ware, returning to his second home was also matching Mary’s achievements, reaching the top step of the podium twice! On his way to the boys 17 title, he had his work cut out with a gutsy win against World ranked 68, Simon Linderoth of Angby club in the semi stage, eventually winning in the fifth end. He then faced Paraguayan player Marcello Aguirre, World ranked 65, who had earlier outfought our own Damien Nicholls in the other semi. Matt took revenge for Damo, to take the title, in an epic thriller, winning 10-12, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8.
Later in the day, Matt (unseeded) found more gears to take the coveted Men’s Elite title with a final victory over Chinese player and top seed, Peng Xing of BTK Warta, in the fifth end. Xing had earlier brushed aside the likes of Kalle Relfsson and Sebastian Andersson, two of Molndals club hotshots, to reach the final.
Damien played well throughout the entire event with podium placing in boy’s 17
http://www.sportfocus.com/images/dynabiz/ID3153/imggallery/5764.jpg
More notable performances came from twin sisters Angharad and Megan Phillips, the very talented 13 year olds from Denbigh in North Wales. They both came through hard fought matches to secure 2nd and 3rd spot respectively, in girls age 13. Megan also stood on the podium again with a 3rd placing in girls 14. These charming young ladies both have a bright future ahead of them in table tennis.
In the group stages of boy’s 20, Patrick Thomas (the welsh dragon), defeated Matt Ware in a five set marathon, with both of them going through as runner up and winner respectively. Patrick then progressed to the quarters where he met the Paraguayan, Aguirre, going out in straight sets, to the highly world ranked player, from top club Angby. Ware went on to meet Molndals club competitor, and eventual winner, Kalle Relfsson in the semi-final, also going out in straight sets.
Kent duo of Jasmin Ould and Kirsty Wilson also tasted their first international experience with success both claiming excellent wins in their own age categories.
Fourteen-year-old, Kirsty performed well above expectations reaching joint 3rd place in the girl’s age 17 class, which was a remarkable achievement.
Hannah Hicks also enjoyed good performances in three different classes. She reached the final of women’s class two, with also very respectable semi-final placing, in both girls age 17 and 20.
We cannot forget to mention Adam Ratajczak and Matthew Porter’s gritty wins en route to the men’s class 3 final. They both “mashed all the Swedes” along the way to the dizzy heights of the winners stand. The final confrontation was too much for Porter, the ETTA events co-ordinator. He simply failed to eat enough meatballs the night before, and left the gold medal on a plate to Ratajczak, going down in 4 sets.
The remaining players of the party all had some degree of success, namely Charlotte Airey, and Becky House, gaining victories in the group stages. Matthew Morris and Geoff Ware were both first round casualties.
We all enjoyed a great long weekend, and were unanimous in agreeing that our Scandinavian Host, Putte Andersson, head coach at the Molndals Club, looked after us so well, to the finest detail. The event was run in a relaxed atmosphere, yet highly competitive, with exceptional and efficient organisation.
It won’t be long before we return for another, “Swedish experience”.
Full results can be viewed on the following Molndals club website at; http://www.mbtk.nu/ (http://www.mbtk.nu/) then click on Klubben Online.
Article by Team "London"
Coutesy ETTA