The junior players of the Clacton and District Table Tennis League took centre stage this week as Paul Hume, Jonathan Found and Chris Simson came out on top in the 2012 Junior Combination Tournament.
In the final they won 3-0 against the combination of James Denyer, Lucy Burton and Rachel Simson, with Chris Simson inflicting the coup de grace by beating his sister Rachel in a close five game match, albeit with a healthy helping of nets and edges.
Seventeen juniors, including five youngsters from the Monday night coaching, took part and provided the spectators with an excellent evening’s table tennis, played in a spirit which was a credit to the players, their parents and the League’s coaches.
Losing finalists (l-r) Rachel Simson, James Denyer, Lucy Burton
Final results:
J Found (+1) beat L Burton (-3) 4-11, 11-1, 11-5, 11-4; P Hume/C Simson (+1) beat J Denyer/R Simson (-6) 11-6, 11-6, 11-7; C Simson (0) beat R Simson (0) 7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5.
In the Consolation Doubles, Sam Hume and Harry Beezer (+1) beat Tom Wilkin and Gracie Firkins (-1) 11-4, 11-5, 11-8.
Winners (l-r) Chris Simson, Paul Hume, Jonathan Found
* In the League there was no change at the top of Division One where Brotherhood A, Windsor Condors and Windsor Roosters recorded 10-0 wins over Brotherhood B, Windsor Falcons and Walton C respectively.
Walton A, playing with a reserve and a guest, beat Windsor Kestrels 6-4 although Windsor’s Frank Burbidge did well to defeat John Rice 11-7 in the fifth, whilst a weakened Walton B shared the spoils with Nomads Jaguars, Martin Hogg unbeaten for Walton.
In Division Two John Fenton and John Hatley took hat-tricks in Nomads Lions’ 9-1 win over Brotherhood E, as did John Barton and Andy Vincent in Windsor Hawks’ 7-3 success against Lawford.
Isabel Barton, John Long and Brian Thiel all won twice in Windsor Ravens’ 6-4 victory over Windsor Magpies, Thiel excelling to defeat Dave Martin but going down to Graham Bunce.
Trebles for Ian Fielder and Terry May helped Windsor Harriers to an 8-2 win against Nomads Lynx but the pair surprisingly lost the doubles in three-straight to Mike Vilka and Simon Smith-Daye.
Windsor Owls shared the spoils with Brotherhood D, Adam Jackson playing well for the Owls to beat Lee Harvey and unlucky to lose out 11-8 in the fifth to Russell Hillier and 11-9 in the fifth to Paul Alden.
In Division Three Brotherhood K were held to a draw by Brotherhood G for whom Fred Gallone was unbeaten, James Smith-Daye’s two including a 13-11 in the decider win over Brian Baines.
Brotherhood L beat Windsor Swallows 8-2, Lisa Baird and Debra Found each winning twice, Jordan Blanche-Price’s treble including a close 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 10-12, 15-13 victory over Malcolm Caley.
Lionel Goddard and Andrew Cousins of Nomads Pumas had an 11-7 in the decider doubles win over Kelvin Olano and Tom Burton but Brotherhood J edged the match 6-4.
Finally, a Darren Bunce hat-trick couldn’t prevent Windsor Penguins going down 6-4 to Brotherhood H whilst Nomads Bobcats were 10-0 winners over Windsor Kites.
* Players past and present will be saddened to learn of the death of Frank North, a much-respected member of the League and for many years a stalwart of the Nomads Club and its predecessor Great Holland and Jaywick Clubs.
Frank never professed to be more than an average lower-Division player, picking up only a couple of trophies in well-over forty years of playing League table tennis, but he was a loyal Club official and served as Club and Team Secretary through many difficult years.
In recognition of his services to the League, Frank was awarded the Bob Phillips Trophy in 1997.
Frank’s interest and enthusiasm also spread to his family with son Andrew, and grandchildren Caroline and David, taking an active part in the League. Our sincere condolences go to Frank’s family.
