Essex Four Star Junior Table Tennis Tournament

[DaveR]

The Under 18 events provided contrasting contests at this year’s Essex Four Star Junior Open Table Tennis Tournament played at Harlow Sports Centre. Whereas Rachel Jamieson (BATTS Team Peniel) had things pretty much her own way as she won both the Under 18 Girls Singles and the Under 18 Girls Elite Singles, the Boys events were fiercely contested with as many as eight lads looking capable of taking the two main titles.

It was Chris Doran (Northants), the number two seed who drew “first blood” by picking up the Under 18 Boys Elite Singles Crown, an event contested by the top 32 ranked players. Chris had to work hard to see off David McBeath (Hants) 3-2, Richard Andrews (Berkshire) 3-1, Mark Simpson (Durham) 3-1 and Stewart Mudie (Lincs) 3-1. It was England no. 20 Stewart Mudie who had most to celebrate. After scoring a notable win against Jake Collins (Suffolk) he sensationally axed top seed Matt Ware (Hampshire) at 11-9 in the fifth end as well as Billy Deville (BATTS Team Peniel) to book a Final appearance. However, Chris Doran proved to be that little bit too strong and he ran out a 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-3 winner. There were shocks galore in this event and Matt Ware also tasted defeat in his group matches before recovering to win the group on count-back. Essex’s Mark Mulley raised his game to new levels to defeat Ware 3-2, a stunning result against a recent Mens Singles Quarter-Finalist in the English Senior Championships. Mark Simpson also upset the seedings and he scored a superb 11-9 in the fifth end victory over William Maybanks (Hertfordshire).

The Under 18 Boys Singles saw Matt Ware prove yet again, just what a fine competitor he is. Quite simply he improved as the day progressed. As he moved through the rounds so his challenge gathered momentum and his 3-1 last 16 win against Richard Andrews seemed to suggest that he had rediscovered his best form. A 3-1 victory against the fierce forehand topspin of Alim Hirji (Hertfordshire) further confirmed this, and he duly booked his place in the Final by beating Billy Deville 3-0. In the other half of the draw William Maybanks fought his way past Jared Patel (Essex) 3-1, Mark Simpson by a nerve tingling 8-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10 margin, as well as David McBeath 15-13, 12-10, 11-7 and he then overcame Chris Doran after a superb all action battle 13-11, 11-7, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9. Doran led here at 9-8 in the fifth end of a spell-binding game but missed a routine backhand (one of those shots you know you have to go for and then regret it for evermore when it misses !) and this was followed by two superb rallies which enabled William to shade the match. Again, a run very worthy of booking a Final appearance. However, after such a successful performance a rejuvenated Matt Ware was in no mood to be denied and after a relatively slow start he ran out a 5-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9 winner.

The Under 18 Girls Elite Singles event (for the top 16 ranked girl entrants) was dominated by top seed Rachel Jmaieson (BATTS Team Peniel) and she never looked in any danger of losing. After beating Joy Whitehorn (Dorset) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 and her Clubmate Evie Collier 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 she surged to the title by beating Yolanda King (Sussex) 11-3, 11-2, 11-6 in the Final. Yolanda had done well to make the Final and she upset the seedings by beating the second seed Haylee Potts (Hertfordshire) 11-1, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6 in their Semi-Final.

It was a similar story in the Girls Under 18 Singles and this time Rachel Jamieson only dropped one end, against England no. 27 Junior Girl – Kirsty Wilson (Kent) in their Semi-Final . Rachel eventually won 12-14, 11-3, 11-7, 11-8. It was again Yolanda King who she faced in the Final and although this game was closer Rachel still ran out a decisive 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 winner. Yolanda had again made her mark and she again beat second seed Haylee Potts (this time 11-8, 11-3, 11-13, 10-12, 11-4) as well as fourth seed Joy Whitehorn 11-8, 13-11, 11-6.

The Under 18 Boys Banded event not only featured a very large entry but it proved difficult to predict who might take the title. In the end it was 14 year-old Joshua Band (Jersey) (aptly named it has to be said !) who ran out the winner. A left-hander with deceptively quick reactions he powered his way past Thomas Dantzig (Middlesex), Igor Morais (Middlesex), Jack Cleminson (BATTS Team Peniel) and Michael Spiteri (Surrey) all by 3-0 margins. His opponent in the Final was TTK/Greenhouse starlet TJ Jaiyeola whose progress to the Final contrasted sharply. TJ had come through the hard way and he only beat Ross Wilson (Kent) 11-7, 7-11, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11, and William Morais (Middlesex) 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7. There was little respite for Jaiyeola in his next two games either as he overcame Jared Patel (BATTS Team Peniel) 11-5, 11-8, 4-11, 11-5 and then Tony Wilkinson (Middlesex) 11-5, 11-4, 6-11, 9-11, 11-8. Who would you favour in the Final after two such contrasting runs ?. Perhaps it was inevitable that the match would go the distance, but in the end it was Joshua Band who came through to win 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 12-14, 12-10 after a memorable match.

It was Dipa Tamang (Middlesex) who came through to take the counterpart Girls Under 18 Banded Singles. Placed at the top of the draw it is tempting to suggest that the Tournament Seeding Committee had done their homework well, but it is the open nature of the draw that makes the Banded events so interesting. Dipa’s big test came in the Semi-final and she survived it, just, 11-13, 14-12, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 against local girl Annabelle Gibson (BATTS Team Peniel).It was Abigail Moore (Hertfordshire) who fought her way through to contest the Final and she played impressively as she disposed of Majada Yasmin (Middlesex) 11-8, 12-10, 11-6, Grace Collier (BATTS Team Peniel) 12-10, 12-10, 11-5 and fellow Hertfordshire County player Nicola Walsh 11-7, 11-8, 12-10. However, it was Dipa who dominated the Final and she ran out an impressive 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 winner.

By Steve Kerns, Essex Press & Publicity Officer

[Pingpongeoff]

Call this a four star event? Harlow Sports centre should be knocked down! The lighting was dreadful, with above show court number1, both banks of four florescent tubes ALL OUT, with players trying to perform in near darkness! No wonder there were freak results. Sorry Essex tta, you totally mis managed this event, through negligence. Why was the Sports centre not visited 1 month prior to the tournament with demands made to the centre management that the missing/inoperable lighting be replaced PRIOR to the event. In my opionion it hardly was worth a one star rating, just ask any of the players and umpires that were there, struggling to see the ball!

[DaveR]

Geoff this has come up so many times whereby the venue is not up to scratch. One case in point is the Alderseley stadium in Wolverhampton where on one particular occasion the lighting was sub-standard and in the corners was rediculous ! When a hall is booked and sold by who ever does the selling, wether this be private or indeed council related the payement for the hall is on the premise that it is up to standard .....if it is not then why and is the cost going to be refunded or even reduced?

If you sold a new car with a wheel missing surely the price would reflect this ...........the issue is brought up so many times but not pushed by whoever seems to be running the event. Follow the problem up and find out why things wernt correct leading to more checks prior to the event in the future.

[Belisar]

First of all the event itself was well run - pretty much all of the tables were in use all of the time, I thought Steve and Margaret (who are not Essex people after all) did a great job of that.

As for the venue, I agree the lighting was poor, especially on courts 1&2 (where the lights were out). The flooring is good, albeit I noted some players struggling with grip and others having no troubles at all. But the lighting was poor in some places. That hall always seems dull when you go in, I think it is something to do with the walls and their colour as much as the lux of the lighting.

It would be interesting to know if any requests were made at the time of the venue booking (i.e. can we have over 400 lux please) and also what the light level was. If you advertise a 4*and the lighting is below the minimum then what happens ?

Personally not sure it made a lot of difference to the results. I saw Matt Ware losing to Mark Mulley and thought Matt just struggled with adjusting to Mark's game plus there was some pressure on him.

The organisors need some feedback it seems.

[Mr Wilko]

If you sold a new car with a wheel missing surely the price would reflect this ...........

i would hope you would realise if you bought a car with a wheel missing!!! only kiddy dave very valuable point!!!!

[DaveR]

There were a number of minor upsets on the second day of the Essex Junior Four Star Open Tournament and in only one of the events did the top seed come out on top. That honour went to the hard-hitting Lewis Gray (Kent) who won the Under 15 Boys Singles without being extended to five ends. Lewis, ranked no. eight in England powered his way to the Final beating Anthony Patten (Surrey) 3-0, Michael Ho (Surrey) 3-0, Damilola Thomas (Middlesex) 3-0 and Joe Thursby (Nottingham) 3-1. His Final opponent was number three seed, home grown talent Luca Mariano who fought his way past Jack Coleman (Northants) 3-0, Ryan Maynard (Middlesex) 3-1, William Morais (Middlesex) 3-1 and Azarel Adebanjo (BATTS Team Peniel) 3-1. The big shock here was the run that the very talented left-hander Azarel Adebanjo put together, a run that culminated in his beating second seed Eddie Mitchell (Bucks) 9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 7-11, 12-10 in a thrilling Quarter-Final. The Final featured some excellent rallies, but, after shading a close first end Lewis just held the edge and he eventually sealed a hard-fought 11-9, 11-4, 15-13 victory.

Other players to make their mark included William Morais who beat both fifth seed Helsan Weerasinghe (Sussex) 3-2 and Jared Patel (BATTS Team Peniel) 3-1, and, Jack Cleminson (BATTS Team Peniel) who battled his way through to the Quarter-Finals. Jack avenged his defeat of Saturday in no uncertain fashion by beating Joshua Band (Jersey) 3-0.

Second seed Yolanda King (Sussex), twice a Runner-Up on the Saturday annexed the Girls Under 15 title by beating Kirsty Wilson (Kent) 3-0 in the Final. Curiously enough the Girls rankings have altered since the seedings for this Tournament were decided and on this showing Yolanda looked well worth her higher ranking. She was ahead throughout as she stormed to a 11-5, 11-6, 11-3 victory. Yolanda’s big test came against Evie Collier (BATTS Team Peniel) in her Quarter Final and it wasn’t until the fifth game that she pulled clear to win 12-10, 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4. Yolanda made no mistake in her Semi-Final beating Rebekah March (BATTS Team Peniel) 11-7, 11-5, 11-9. Kirtsy Wilson would have had good cause to have complained of being exhausted after her Final defeat as her progression to the Final was a tough one. After beating Abisola Alousa (Middlesex) 3-0, she needed five games to get the better of Lauren Beaumont (Kent) whilst Bethany March (BATTS Team Peniel) went down fighting 10-12, 8-11, 16-18. Her Semi-Final opponent Sushmita Limbu (Middlesex) certainly looked very capable and Kirsty read her opponent’s Combination bat very well to pull through 11-5, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6.

With the seeded players not taking part in the groups you have to feel some sympathy for Feifei Pei (Surrey) who had to face such an established opponent as Tressa Armitage (Hampshire) in the first round. It was Tressa who battled through this encounter 11-5, 13-11, 7-11, 10-12, 11-7.Tressa then missed out after an epic struggle to Natasha Walsh (Hertfordshire) in a match where the scores tell their own story. Natasha won 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 9-11, 20-18, the closest match of the weekend.

There was further joy for the second seed – Charleigh Kirby (Middlesex) in the Under 13 Girls Singles. She beat Georgina Barnes (BATTS Team Peniel) 2-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 in the Final after both girls had had their work cut out to reach the big stage. Georgina had to retrieve a two game deficit to get the better of Tressa Armitage 2-11, 11-13, 11-9, 13-11, 11-6 whilst Charleigh also had to battle all the way before she finally saw off Annabelle Gibson (BATTS Team Peniel) 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7.

It was fourth seed Jared Patel (BATTS Team Peniel) who came out on top of an evenly matched field in the Under 13 Boys Singles. Ross Wilson (Kent), the sixth seed created havoc in the top half of the draw by beating top seed Helshan Weerasinghe (3-2) and third ranked Connor Neenan (Middlesex) (again 3-2). Jared Patel didn’t have it all his own way either, as he advanced through the rounds and he needed five games to get the better of Michael Ho (Surrey) and he also did very well to oust his club-mate and second seed – Azarel Adebanjo 11-4, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9. The Final was arguably the best of the day and could hardly have been closer. Jared just edged home 19-17, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8.

By Steve Kerns, Essex Press & Publicity Officer