DaveR
02-04-2008, 07:30 PM
By Geoff Ware Butterfly Grand Prix Press Officer
http://www.sportfocus.com/newsimage/Rumgay.jpg
Day two at the Doncaster Butterfly Grand Prix got under away on Sunday 3rd of February, with the main events on a busy schedule, that of the Men’s and Women’s open competitions. Following a day of all action play with most of the Saturday’s banded events going mainly to the juniors, could this pattern continue?
Step in Scotland’s Gavin Rumgay! He was not going down without a fight, with all the youngsters queuing up to take his Men’s Open title. Gavin was made to fight all the way to reach the final. One by one, they tried in vain to have a crack at the champ, firstly the talented left hander, Mark Simpson was the first to try his luck at Rumgay in the group stage, followed by Andrew Wilson, neither could get in a telling blow. Saturday’s band one winner, Lui Wanzhe, Norway’s 17year old penhold superstar, was next in the ring, and he had one hell of a match with Rumgay, going the full distance with some incredible rallies. Somehow you knew that the champ would not be beaten, and summing up all his wealth of experience, Gavin slowed the game down to his pace, overcoming the challenge of Wanzhe, in the fifth end. Tees-Sports own, Mike Marsden was next to feel the Rumgay blade, going out in straight sets, which left a semi-final confrontation with Scotland’s top junior, Craig Howieson.
Howieson didn’t have an easy path to the last four, with hard fought wins over Damien Nicholls. In the previous round, Damien had to pull out all the stops to finally overcome Stewart Mudie, who was in good form to reach the last 32 stage.
Howieson’s match with Rumgay, in the semi turned out to be a four set thriller, with Rumgay mastering the Scottish star with some master shotmaking and retrieval skills to reach the final.
Meanwhile in the bottom half of the draw, Ben Barlow was making his presence felt reaching the final, displaying some incredible form to remove the likes of Ireland’s Paul Mccreey, Shaun Marples, Tim Yarnell, then Wang Zheng to take his chance in the final with Rumgay. The stage was set for the men’s final. Step in Rumgay and Barlow. Right from the start of the match Rumgay returned everything that Barlow could throw at him, with some awesome long range counter topspin rallies that had the packed audience on the edge of their seats. Barlow, simply ran out of steam, having earlier produced probably one of his finest recent tournament winning runs, which left Rumgay to take the Men’s Open title, and put him one step nearer collecting the Butterfly Grand Prix points winner’s cheque for £1650 at the end of the series.
The women’s Open easily matched the drama and tension of the men’s event. Resident Northern Ireland, Lui Na, was showing lightning reflexes with some fantastic displays of immense power to make her way to the final. With the absence of top seed Helen Lower, Caroline Hallows stepped into that role, winning group one. Caroline had no problems seeing off Megan Phillips in the first round, however Egley Adomelelyte, following a tough match against Lindsey Reynolds, proved just too strong for Hallows, with Egley taking her place in the last four. Naomi Wilson eased past Mary Fuller, after Mary had shown tremendous form to overcome Hannah Hicks in the earlier round, but found Lui Na, too hot to handle, going out in the final end.
http://www.sportfocus.com/images/dynabiz/ID3153/imggallery/5913.jpg
Egley then faced the Ulster/Chinese Lui Na in the semi, but never got into the match with Na taking her place in the final. Further down the draw, Shu Ying Xu, another ferocious hitting resident Peniel Academy Chinese hotshot, was also making her way to the final. Shu Ying overpowered Lindsey Armstrong in the first round, to then face Welsh number one, Naomi Owen. Naomi had earlier dispatched young Chloe Whyte and Meihan Liu, but found Shu Ying Xu just too powerful, going out of the event in four sets.
So it was to be an all Chinese final, with Liu Na and Shu Ying Xu treating the packed centre court area with some oriental wizardry. Words cannot describe the magic these two charming ladies brought to the Doncaster Dome, with table tennis that was simply out of this world. Nail biting long hard hitting rallies featured in every single point, coming from all areas of the table, with drama and tension throughout the five sets final. Liu Na, coming back from two sets to one down, with neither young ladies showing any emotion, just power packed thrilling, spectacular play. Liu Na managed to cross the winning line, 16-14 in the fifth leg after an unforgettable match that was given a standing ovation from the appreciative audience.
Groups then started for the under 21, Women’s and Men’s classes.
Thirteen year old Laura Robinson from Yorkshire in her first Grand Prix was creating news by defeating another young star Chloe Whyte in the group stage of the women’s under 21 event.
Laura then followed up with another great performance to despatch Jessica Dawson, in the preliminary stage, but her magic run came to an end when she faced hot favourite and top seed Naomi Owen in the first round. Naomi made her way to the final with victories over Megan Phillips (after Megan had earlier recorded a solid win over Mary Fuller). Naomi then reached the final with a victory over Hampshire’s Hannah Hicks, at the penultimate stage.
Claire Nelson, another Irish star was steadily making her progress through to the final to meet Naomi. Claire had her work cut out with triumphs over Kirsty Wilson, and Lindsey Armstrong.
She then found herself up against Caroline Hallows (who had previously come through a real five set test against Reena Ardeshana). Caroline fought tooth and nail in the other semi, but succumbed to the talented Nelson in the 4th end.
http://www.sportfocus.com/images/dynabiz/ID3153/imggallery/5912.jpg
Setting up a Wales v Ireland final, top seed Naomi proved too strong for Claire with her wealth of International experience coming into play, taking the title in four sets.
Could anyone stop the Chinese star, Lui Wanzhe, in the under 21 Men’s, after his brilliant displays earlier in the Band 1, and Men’s Open last 16 placing?
http://www.sportfocus.com/images/dynabiz/ID3153/imggallery/5911.jpg
Wanzhe, the 17-year-old resident Norway penholder was made to work on his route to the final. Emran Hussein had a crack at him, as did Damien Nicholls who took the Chinese star to 4 sets, but neither could penetrate his all action style, on his path to the final. Another Irish star in the form of Sam Hanley (who had earlier despatched Matt Ware and Matt Dodds) had a go at him in the semi final stage, however Wanzhe proved a class apart to take up his final encounter. Will Maybanks was making an impact in the lower half of the draw, coming through clashes against David Mcbeath, and Alim Hirji, to then face Garth Kinlocke in the other semi final. Kinlocke had earlier defeated Tom Maynard in the quarter final and Kinlocke had his chances against Maybanks, however Will found the extra resolve, to set up a final against Wanzhe. Wanzhe continued in his devastating form to outplay Maybanks, and pick up the winners cheque.
I always enjoy watching the defensive super skills of Julien Gittens, who just keeps getting the ball back low over the net with tremendous chop. However he could not cope with the skills and touch of Veterans Master, Abdul Wuraola, losing out in straight sets in the Vets final.
Yorkshire’s own, Stephen Denny took the Men’s restricted title, but was made to work for it in the last eight stage against Christopher Martin, who took him to a fifth end, with Denny running out the Restricted Men’s winner, outpointing Matt Pernet in the final.
Final Days Results as follows.
Men’s Open
Gavin Rumgay (Sco) bt. Ben Barlow (Ys)
11-5, 11-7, 12-10
Women’s Open
Lui Na (Ni) bt. Shu Ying Xu (Chn)
6-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 16-14
U21 Men’s Open
Lui Wanzhe (Nor) bt. Will Maybanks (He)
11-7, 12-10, 11-6
U21 Women’s Open
Naomi Owen (Wa) bt. Claire Nelson (Ni)
11-8, 11-3, 8-11, 11-9
Veteran Men
Abdul Wuraola (Sy) bt. Julien Gittens (Y)
11-9, 11-9, 11-6
Restricted Men
Stephen Denny (Y) bt. Matt Pernet (Cv)
11-9, 12-10, 11-7
Tees Sport (https://www.tees-sport.co.uk/index_2.html)Player Of The Tournament.....
For his OUTSTANDING performances throughout the Men’s Open event, the Tees-Sport player of the weekend award and a voucher for £50 was unanimously awarded to Ben Barlow.
Image 1: Mens finalists Paul Rumgay and Ben Barlow.
Image 2: Womens finalists Lui Na and Shu Ying Xu.
Image 3: U21 Womens finalists Naomi Owen and Claire Nelson.
Image 4: U21 Mens finalists Lui Wanzhe and Will Maybanks.
http://www.sportfocus.com/newsimage/Rumgay.jpg
Day two at the Doncaster Butterfly Grand Prix got under away on Sunday 3rd of February, with the main events on a busy schedule, that of the Men’s and Women’s open competitions. Following a day of all action play with most of the Saturday’s banded events going mainly to the juniors, could this pattern continue?
Step in Scotland’s Gavin Rumgay! He was not going down without a fight, with all the youngsters queuing up to take his Men’s Open title. Gavin was made to fight all the way to reach the final. One by one, they tried in vain to have a crack at the champ, firstly the talented left hander, Mark Simpson was the first to try his luck at Rumgay in the group stage, followed by Andrew Wilson, neither could get in a telling blow. Saturday’s band one winner, Lui Wanzhe, Norway’s 17year old penhold superstar, was next in the ring, and he had one hell of a match with Rumgay, going the full distance with some incredible rallies. Somehow you knew that the champ would not be beaten, and summing up all his wealth of experience, Gavin slowed the game down to his pace, overcoming the challenge of Wanzhe, in the fifth end. Tees-Sports own, Mike Marsden was next to feel the Rumgay blade, going out in straight sets, which left a semi-final confrontation with Scotland’s top junior, Craig Howieson.
Howieson didn’t have an easy path to the last four, with hard fought wins over Damien Nicholls. In the previous round, Damien had to pull out all the stops to finally overcome Stewart Mudie, who was in good form to reach the last 32 stage.
Howieson’s match with Rumgay, in the semi turned out to be a four set thriller, with Rumgay mastering the Scottish star with some master shotmaking and retrieval skills to reach the final.
Meanwhile in the bottom half of the draw, Ben Barlow was making his presence felt reaching the final, displaying some incredible form to remove the likes of Ireland’s Paul Mccreey, Shaun Marples, Tim Yarnell, then Wang Zheng to take his chance in the final with Rumgay. The stage was set for the men’s final. Step in Rumgay and Barlow. Right from the start of the match Rumgay returned everything that Barlow could throw at him, with some awesome long range counter topspin rallies that had the packed audience on the edge of their seats. Barlow, simply ran out of steam, having earlier produced probably one of his finest recent tournament winning runs, which left Rumgay to take the Men’s Open title, and put him one step nearer collecting the Butterfly Grand Prix points winner’s cheque for £1650 at the end of the series.
The women’s Open easily matched the drama and tension of the men’s event. Resident Northern Ireland, Lui Na, was showing lightning reflexes with some fantastic displays of immense power to make her way to the final. With the absence of top seed Helen Lower, Caroline Hallows stepped into that role, winning group one. Caroline had no problems seeing off Megan Phillips in the first round, however Egley Adomelelyte, following a tough match against Lindsey Reynolds, proved just too strong for Hallows, with Egley taking her place in the last four. Naomi Wilson eased past Mary Fuller, after Mary had shown tremendous form to overcome Hannah Hicks in the earlier round, but found Lui Na, too hot to handle, going out in the final end.
http://www.sportfocus.com/images/dynabiz/ID3153/imggallery/5913.jpg
Egley then faced the Ulster/Chinese Lui Na in the semi, but never got into the match with Na taking her place in the final. Further down the draw, Shu Ying Xu, another ferocious hitting resident Peniel Academy Chinese hotshot, was also making her way to the final. Shu Ying overpowered Lindsey Armstrong in the first round, to then face Welsh number one, Naomi Owen. Naomi had earlier dispatched young Chloe Whyte and Meihan Liu, but found Shu Ying Xu just too powerful, going out of the event in four sets.
So it was to be an all Chinese final, with Liu Na and Shu Ying Xu treating the packed centre court area with some oriental wizardry. Words cannot describe the magic these two charming ladies brought to the Doncaster Dome, with table tennis that was simply out of this world. Nail biting long hard hitting rallies featured in every single point, coming from all areas of the table, with drama and tension throughout the five sets final. Liu Na, coming back from two sets to one down, with neither young ladies showing any emotion, just power packed thrilling, spectacular play. Liu Na managed to cross the winning line, 16-14 in the fifth leg after an unforgettable match that was given a standing ovation from the appreciative audience.
Groups then started for the under 21, Women’s and Men’s classes.
Thirteen year old Laura Robinson from Yorkshire in her first Grand Prix was creating news by defeating another young star Chloe Whyte in the group stage of the women’s under 21 event.
Laura then followed up with another great performance to despatch Jessica Dawson, in the preliminary stage, but her magic run came to an end when she faced hot favourite and top seed Naomi Owen in the first round. Naomi made her way to the final with victories over Megan Phillips (after Megan had earlier recorded a solid win over Mary Fuller). Naomi then reached the final with a victory over Hampshire’s Hannah Hicks, at the penultimate stage.
Claire Nelson, another Irish star was steadily making her progress through to the final to meet Naomi. Claire had her work cut out with triumphs over Kirsty Wilson, and Lindsey Armstrong.
She then found herself up against Caroline Hallows (who had previously come through a real five set test against Reena Ardeshana). Caroline fought tooth and nail in the other semi, but succumbed to the talented Nelson in the 4th end.
http://www.sportfocus.com/images/dynabiz/ID3153/imggallery/5912.jpg
Setting up a Wales v Ireland final, top seed Naomi proved too strong for Claire with her wealth of International experience coming into play, taking the title in four sets.
Could anyone stop the Chinese star, Lui Wanzhe, in the under 21 Men’s, after his brilliant displays earlier in the Band 1, and Men’s Open last 16 placing?
http://www.sportfocus.com/images/dynabiz/ID3153/imggallery/5911.jpg
Wanzhe, the 17-year-old resident Norway penholder was made to work on his route to the final. Emran Hussein had a crack at him, as did Damien Nicholls who took the Chinese star to 4 sets, but neither could penetrate his all action style, on his path to the final. Another Irish star in the form of Sam Hanley (who had earlier despatched Matt Ware and Matt Dodds) had a go at him in the semi final stage, however Wanzhe proved a class apart to take up his final encounter. Will Maybanks was making an impact in the lower half of the draw, coming through clashes against David Mcbeath, and Alim Hirji, to then face Garth Kinlocke in the other semi final. Kinlocke had earlier defeated Tom Maynard in the quarter final and Kinlocke had his chances against Maybanks, however Will found the extra resolve, to set up a final against Wanzhe. Wanzhe continued in his devastating form to outplay Maybanks, and pick up the winners cheque.
I always enjoy watching the defensive super skills of Julien Gittens, who just keeps getting the ball back low over the net with tremendous chop. However he could not cope with the skills and touch of Veterans Master, Abdul Wuraola, losing out in straight sets in the Vets final.
Yorkshire’s own, Stephen Denny took the Men’s restricted title, but was made to work for it in the last eight stage against Christopher Martin, who took him to a fifth end, with Denny running out the Restricted Men’s winner, outpointing Matt Pernet in the final.
Final Days Results as follows.
Men’s Open
Gavin Rumgay (Sco) bt. Ben Barlow (Ys)
11-5, 11-7, 12-10
Women’s Open
Lui Na (Ni) bt. Shu Ying Xu (Chn)
6-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 16-14
U21 Men’s Open
Lui Wanzhe (Nor) bt. Will Maybanks (He)
11-7, 12-10, 11-6
U21 Women’s Open
Naomi Owen (Wa) bt. Claire Nelson (Ni)
11-8, 11-3, 8-11, 11-9
Veteran Men
Abdul Wuraola (Sy) bt. Julien Gittens (Y)
11-9, 11-9, 11-6
Restricted Men
Stephen Denny (Y) bt. Matt Pernet (Cv)
11-9, 12-10, 11-7
Tees Sport (https://www.tees-sport.co.uk/index_2.html)Player Of The Tournament.....
For his OUTSTANDING performances throughout the Men’s Open event, the Tees-Sport player of the weekend award and a voucher for £50 was unanimously awarded to Ben Barlow.
Image 1: Mens finalists Paul Rumgay and Ben Barlow.
Image 2: Womens finalists Lui Na and Shu Ying Xu.
Image 3: U21 Womens finalists Naomi Owen and Claire Nelson.
Image 4: U21 Mens finalists Lui Wanzhe and Will Maybanks.