Chelmsford A (Wale Bada, Ryan Gooday and Eddie Ogbebor) are the 2018 winners of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Open Knock Out Cup.

They beat Danbury A 5-3 in a hard-fought final with their top player Wale Bada clinching the victory by fighting back from 2-1 down to get the better of Gary Young 3-2 (11-8, 6-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-7). Bada had also prevailed against Ryan Gooday in four hard fought ends 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-8.

Other games of significance here were a victory for the Chelmsford pairing in the opening doubles, a result that it is often a catalyst for ultimate success. Gooday and Eddie Ogbebor came up trumps against Eric Green and Steve Whiteley via a rather “wobbly” looking scoreline of 3-2 (11-7, 9-11, 1-11, 11-5, 11-7) whilst Gooday played his part with a well executed 3-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-7) victory over Whiteley.

The Division three Knock Out Cup final was even closer and Maldon A clinched a League and Cup Double by beating Danbury A 5-4. Maldon A were without their top player Ciaran Whelan and Danbury took full advantage, surging into 3-1 and 4-2 1eads.

Tim Pulham excelled by beating Hamish Innes 3-2 (7-11, 11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 11-9) whilst Ken Sheard defeated both Steve Scholz 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-8) and Colin Napper 3-0 (11-9, 12-10, 13-11).

Maldon were in big trouble but Scholz came up trumps with what was arguably a match-changing 3-1 (11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4) win over Pulham. Innes defeated  David Gatheral 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 12-10) to level the scores at 4-4 and Maldon, who had won both doubles, duly made it three doubles wins out of three when Napper and Scholz beat Gatheral and Sheard 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-7). So near and yet so far for a gallant Danbury A side.

Highwood A are this year’s winners of the Division Five Knock Out Cup. They beat Chelmsford B 5-3 in the final.

Their top player Melanie Bonnett won both of her singles. She beat Richard Gardiner by a last-gasp 3-2 (9-11, 11-3, 11-5, 6- 11, 11-9) margin in the match which fittingly clinched the victory for her side and she also defeated Jamie Dowsett 3-1 (11-3, 11-6, 3-11, 11-6).

Keith Fitz-John made his mark with a 3-1 (7-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5) victory over Dowsett although he missed out against Luke Richardson in five ends (8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 8-11). Gardiner had his work cut out against Nicola Pippen but he eventually edged home narrowly 3-1 (4-11, 11-9, 15-13, 15-13).

Chelmsford B (Robert Shrimpton, Mark Allaway and Wiktor Delimat) are this year’s Handicap Knock Out Cup winners. They beat Danbury D 5-1 in the final.

The first game had a major influence on proceedings with Wiktor Delimat beating Sam Ford after a titanic struggle (12-21, 27-25, 27-25). Danbury competed magnificently throughout but they just couldn’t get over the finish line.  Mark Allaway beat Ford 26-24, 21-19 whilst Robert Shrimpton defeated Eamon Hall 21-18, 21-18.  Delimat beat Ben Porter 21-15, 23-21. A very professional performance form the Chelmsford side on this occasion.

All players and officials are reminded that the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Annual General Meeting takes place on Thursday 31 May 2018 at 7.30pm at Old Chelmsfordians Association, Lawford Lane. This year trophies for the Cup competitions will be presented as well as trophies for the League competitions.