For 58 years the Danbury Table Tennis Club has held a finals night to round off their season. On Friday 29th April a crowded Village Hall witnessed a fine exhibition of table tennis that demonstrated the strength in depth of their ten teams which compete in the Chelmsford and District Table Tennis League.
In an entertaining doubles final Michael Andrews and Kevin Willis beat the pairing of Dave Marsh and Tim Pulham 9-11 11-7 11-9 11-4. Michael’s first division experience backed by Kevin’s solid defence proving just too sound over the four sets.
We then came to the Restricted final between two of our younger players from Division four. The match came to an exhilarating conclusion with Lee Mchugh and Graham Briggs engaged in tremendous rallies in the closing stages. From an apparent losing position in the final set Lee fought his way back to parity only to fall at the final hurdle. Constant applause from the audience for a fine match which Graham won 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 13-11, 11-9.
It was some consolation for Lee that he won the Terry Shepherd Award for most improved player this season.
The final match of the evening the Open Singles was between the holder Anthony Greenwood, who beat Tony Forster in four sets in the semi-final, and Eric Green who had a fine win, beating Michael Andrews, in the other semi-final. It was always likely that Anthony’s aggresive attacking style might prove too strong for Eric and so it proved. However Eric did manage to take a set by virtue of scoring more edges in one game than some players have in a season! Final score 11-4, 4-11, 11-9, 11-7.
Eric did not go away empty handed either as he had won the Handicap Singles a couple of evenings earlier.
Norman Smith, the Club Chairman, organised the tournament which involved about 30 players with his customary skill.
Before we all settled down to refreshments supplied by the members our Club President Peter Linnet handed the Elizabeth Award to our secretary Brian Ellis for his sterling work throughout the year on behalf of the club.
By John Skuse