This week, we are asking for more information about six young ladies.
We think the photos were probably taken at different times and different events. Can you identify the players along with date and event?
Click here to scroll to last week’s pictures
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Wide and varied responses to last week’s pictures from many different sources. Once again thank you to all who have contributed.
For comments on this week’s images or on any other previous pictures which can now be found under ‘Our Sport’ please contact me at [email protected] Any additional information on players and prominent people, as well as any amendments, would be most welcome.
Photo 1
People: Jill Hammersley, Karenza Mathews, Adrian Howard, Maurice Goldstein, Shelagh Hession, Diane Court (Simpson).
Date: April 1974.
Venue: Aston University, Birmingham.
Event: National Club Championships.
Information: The picture shows the Stiga Gainsford Cup being presented to Adrian Howard, the organiser of the London Central League. Gainsford beat Gatley YMCA in the final.
Pen pictures
Maurice Goldstein, OBE – ETTA Honorary Life Member 1957, ETTA President 1973-1988, Leslie Forrest Memorial Trophy 1969. OBE January 1978.
Birmingham TTA Secretary from 1930 when the membership of the league was 4,000 plus, Warwickshire County TTA Secretary from 1937, Midland League Secretary and Treasurer, National Executive Committee Member: League Representative (Birmingham) 1932-1947, Elected Member 1935-39. Served at National level from 1933-1988. Birmingham TTA HQ Club Secretary 1938/39, Jewish Cadets Secretary 1934/35, Midland Open Championships: Town Secretary 1932-35, Midland Counties Open Championships; Secretary 1935-1947.
As well as being a supreme administrator and organiser, Maurice played in several World Championships, reaching the last 32 in the Men’s Doubles with AJ Wilmott in 1936. Playing in English Opens in 1932, 1933, 1939 and 1947, Maurice reached the last 16 in the Men’s Singles in 1939 and the last 32 in several events on different occasions.
The ETTA Maurice Goldstein Merit Award is a fitting lasting tribute to one of the greats of English table tennis.
Affectionately known as ‘Mr Table Tennis’, in 1963 he was said to have organised more tournaments and international matches than any other single person is likely to do – and then continued for another 25 years. The 1977 World Championships in Birmingham were perhaps his finest hour and resulted in him being honoured the following year with his OBE. Maurice loved the game “but it was the warm-blooded heart of the game and the real people that captured Maurice’s soul”. (quote – Table Tennis News November 1963).
One quirky piece of information – I have been informed that Maurice was the umpire who initially took charge of the 1936 World Championship’s Swaythling Cup match between Paneth Farkas of Romania and Alex Ehrlich of Poland where the first point lasted 2 hours and 12 minutes (the ball passing over the net more than 12,000 times). Needless to say there was a change in umpire during this epic game and match. The first expedite rule came in shortly after.
Shelagh Hession – England International who played in the World Championships in 1977, reaching the last 32 in the Mixed Doubles with Douggie Johnson. In 1970 Shelagh competed in the European Championships as a private entrant, travelling to Moscow at her own expense and was rewarded with a Round of 16 placing in the Women’s Doubles. Shelagh’s England debut was on December 10, 1973 when she played against the Soviet Union in the European League. A considerable span of English Opens (1956-1972) saw Shelagh as a Junior Mixed Doubles champion in 1958 with D Grant and two runners-up positions in the Junior Girls’ Doubles – with Miss Pickard in 1956 and Jean Harrower in 1958. In the main event Shelagh reached the Women’s Singles quarter-finals in 1970, Women’s Doubles quarter-finals in 1960 (K Beamish), 1961 (Margaret Fry), 1968 (Judy Williams) and in the Mixed Doubles the same position with Ken Beamish in 1960.
Nineteen National Championships were played between the first, in January 1960 and 1978. Three times semi-finalist in the Women’s Singles and three runners-up placings in the Women’s Doubles – 1967, 1968 and 1973 all with Judy Williams. Added to this was a semi-final place in the Mixed Doubles in 1974 with Alan Hydes.
Diane Court (Simpson) – An England International who played in several English Open Championships in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1965 Diane won the Junior Girls’ Doubles with Karenza Smith(Mathews), and she also reached the last 16 in the Women’s Singles in 1970 and quarter-finals in the Women’s Doubles in 1967 (Elsie Carrington), 1970, 1972 and 1974 all with Leslie Radford (Bell).
In the National Championships, Diane was twice in the semi-finals of the Women’s Singles (1969 and 1973) but went one better in the Women’s Doubles, being runner-up four times, all with Leslie Radford (Bell). Similar success was achieved in the Mixed Doubles with one runners-up position, two semi-finals and three quarter-finals, all with Mike Johns.
Photo 2
Players: John Souter of Middlesex has been identified on the right with Joey Kennedy on the left.
Pen picture
John Souter – England International who was a member of the Swaythling Cup team in the World Championships which finished 12th in 1987. One European Championships representation in 1986 (team 13th) and three in the Quadrangular Championships – finishing with team gold (1985 and 1987) and silver in 1986. In the English Open, John reached the last 16 in 1988 with Jimmy Stokes. In the National Championships, John was runner-up in the Men’s Doubles in 1985 and 1987 with Colin Wilson. John reached several semi-finals: Men’s Singles 1986; Men’s Doubles 1981 (Mark Oakley), 1986 (Colin Wilson); Mixed Doubles 1987 and 1988, both with Jill Harris.
At the European Youth Championships in 1980, John won a gold medal in the Consolation Boys’ Singles.
Photo 3
Players: Andy Barden (aged 14 years), Desmond Douglas (aged 18 years), Ian Horsham (aged 18 years).
Date: 16th February 1974.
Venue: Thornaby Pavilion, Cleveland.
Event: Sunday Times Super League.
Information: The Sunday Times Super League was a series of team matches, two seniors and one junior, played around the country with the finals being held at Thornaby. The photo was on the front cover of the March 1974 Table Tennis News. Des was described in the article as “a sleepy looking chap, he thrives on hard hitting opponents”. Des won 14 out of 15 of his matches and his team won the series by one point over teams captained by Denis Neale, Tony Clayton, Alan Hydes, Nicky Jarvis and Brian Burn.
Pen pictures
Ian Horsham – An England international who played in several English Opens in the mid-1970s and National Championships between 1971 and 1983. A quarter-finalist in the Men’s Singles in 1976, also with David Brown in the Men’s Doubles in 1975 and 1976. Similarly in the Mixed Doubles Ian reached the quarter-final stage with Susan Lisle (1976), Carole Knight (1979) and Karen Smith (Rogers) (1983).
Desmond Douglas, MBE – ETTA Vice-president 2004, ETTA Victor Barna Award 1978, 1981, 1984, 1987, ITTF Fair Play Merit Award 1996, MBE 1988.
England International supreme, gaining more than 200 caps. England No 1 for a decade, European No 3, World No 7.
Des played in 10 World Championships from 1973 to 1995 with a highest Swaythling Cup position of fourth in 1983. In the Men’s Singles he reached the Round of 16 in 1979 and 1981 and quarter-finals of the Men’s Doubles with Denis Neale in 1977. In 1990 in the World Team Cup the team finished third. Participating in the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988 (the first time table tennis was an Olympic sport), Des reached the last 16 in the Men’s Singles.
Nine European Championships appearances from 1974-1990 and Des achieved one semi-final in the Men’s Singles and two quarter-final placings. In the Men’s Doubles there was a quarter-final place in 1984 with Ralf Wosik (Germany) and 1990 with Alan Cooke. The Mixed Doubles in 1990 saw Des with Linda Howard reach the finals. In the team event Des gained silver medals in 1978 and 1988 and bronze in 1980 and 1990. Possibly his finest achievement came in Duisberg when he won 18 out of 19 matches, including a full house against Hungary’s Klampar, Gergely and Jonyer. Over 70 European League matches were played, including 12 seasons in the Super Division. Des qualified for 10 European Top 12 competitions, becoming champion in 1987 and runner-up in 1979, 1983 and 1986.
Winning ways continued in the Commonwealth Championships, winning the Men’s Singles in 1985 and Men’s Doubles with Denis Neale in 1975, whilst with the ladies two further golds were added with Linda Howard in 1975 and Alison Gordon in 1985. Four team golds were added to the medal haul in 1973, 1975, 1985 and 1989.
13 English Opens from 1973-1992, with Men’s Singles wins in 1980 and 1984 and Men’s Doubles gold with Denis Neale in 1976, added to which were two Mixed Doubles Championships in 1978 and 1979, both with Linda Howard. To add to the tally, Des gained two team golds – in 1975 with Denis Neale and 1980 with Paul Day and Donald Parker.
At the National Championships Des reigned supreme and it is unlikely his record will be equalled. 11 Men’s Singles titles (1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990 – includes nine consecutive wins) plus five runners-up spots and six semi-final positions. In the Men’s Doubles, 15 Championships. 1976, 1977 – Denis Neale; 1979 – Jimmy Walker; 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 – Paul Day; 1985, 1986 – Carl Prean; 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 – Alan Cooke. Finally, in the Mixed Doubles four titles, all with Linda Howard (Jarvis) in 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982.
As described by Matthew Syed in Table Tennis News, November 2007: “One of the most naturally talented performers of any era . . . Douglas went for more than a decade without losing to any English player, a tribute to his remarkable consistency.”
Diane Webb
October 24, 2014