The favourite Neil Charles retained his M&G Investments Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Mens Singles title, winning his third crown in four years on Monday 14 February 2011 at the Old Chelmsfordians Club. Top seed Charles took the title in style, by not dropping an end as he disposed of four times Champion David Cole 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 in the Semi-Final and twice Chelmsford Champion and no. two seed Steve Joslin 11-6, 11-8, 13-11 in the Final. As hard as both of his opponents battled it was Neil who had that little bit extra and it was perhaps a fair assessment of his superiority that he didn’t drop an end. Full marks to Joslin who battled back from 7-1 down in the second end to lose narrowly 11-8 and he pushed his opponent all the way before missing out 13-11 in a tense and at times fascinating third game.
Joslin had booked his final appearance by beating team-mate Steve Kerns 11-9, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7 in his Semi-Final and although Kerns played well to win the second end he was immediately in trouble in the third game when Joslin raced into an 9-2 lead. Joslin finished strongly in the fourth end to win comfortably 11-7.
Julie Vansertima won an incredible eighteenth Ladies Singles title, and like last year she had to battle hard to do so. The hard-hitting Debby Auvache played superbly in the first end as she raced home 11-4. Julie looked to be in trouble but amazingly it was Julie who dominated the second game as she won 11-3. Debby pinched a tense third game 12-10 and looked to be in a good position. But, Julie is nothing if not resilient and she barely put a foot wrong in the fourth and fifth games which she won 11-3, 11-5. A truly compelling and widely fluctuating game if ever there was one.
David Cole put his Mens Singles Semi-Final defeat firmly behind him by getting the better of Peter Hayden in an entertaining Veterans Singles Final. The game hit the heights in the third end when Hayden pulled back from 10-6 down to win 13-11, egging himself on with some good-natured banter. The equally experienced Cole took it all in his stride and he kept his composure superbly to take the title 11-9, 11-8, 11-13, 11-8.
Unseeded pairing Steve Joslin and Michael Andrews (the 2010 Colchester Champions) are the new Chelmsford Mens Doubles Champions. They captured the title in what was the closest game of the night, edging out Neil Charles / John Cleasby 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10. John/Neil scraped home in the fourth end and it looked as it they might have the edge in the decider, but, Steve/Mike weren’t to be denied and in a very tense final game they finally prevailed 12- 10.
Brandon Crouchman, became the Under 21 Singles Champion and he turned in a superb performance to get the better of the holder Greg Green 11-8, 11-8, 12-14, 11-3. There were rallies galore in what was a superb open game and Brandon one the larger share of them. Greg edged home in the third end 14-12 but Brandon wasn’t to be denied. Totally unfazed by the occasion and determined to enjoy himself Brandon took his chances superbly as he forced his battling opponent away from the table and he raced home 11-3 in the fourth game.
David Cole/Julie Vansertima were hot favourites to take the Mixed Doubles title and they didn’t disappoint. They made it six titles as a pairing (and ten titles for Julie) beating Linda Attridge/Steve Joslin 11-4, 12-10, 11-6 in an open and entertaining Final. The second game held the key to the contest. Steve /Linda led 8-4 having played really well. However, their failure to clinch that end left them far too much to do in the third end. An increasingly confident Julie / Dave won 11-6.
Steve Kerns
Press & Publicity Officer
Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League