A smaller than usual 47 players took part at the second HSTTC 2 Star of the 2014-15 season at Collyers College on 25th January 2015. However those who played enjoyed a very smooth running event, which ended well ahead of schedule, with County Umpire and Tournament Organiser Jim Skinner ably assisting me with the organisation. There were six mixed gender age groups as usual. This event creates history, as it is the first time since Horsham Spinners TTC was formed in September 2011, that one of its club members coached at the club, won an age group event at a 2 Star tournament. It was Ollie Michell who achieved this feat. See U11s report below for more details. The next HSTTC 2 Star event is on 22nd February 2015 & the form is available at the link below:
https://newsarchive.tabletennisengland.co.uk/content/uploads/2014/07/Horsham-Spinners-22-02-15.pdf
U10s:
This was a round robin group of six players. Top seed Felix Thomis (Bk) won all five of his matches fairly comfortably, only dropping one end to second seed, Harry Filson (Sx-Horsham Spinners TTC). However Filson had a tougher time of it, going 0-2 down vs namesake Harry Yip (Sx-Horsham TTC), before staging a comeback, eventually winning 11-8 in the fifth. However, he did come unstuck vs third seed Sophie Chiang (Sy), losing three close games all 11-9. Chiang came second, winning four matches in straight sets and Filson got the bronze medal.
U11s:
As mentioned above Ollie Michell became the first HSTTC player to win an age group at a 2 star. He also did it against the odds, as he was only the fifth highest ranked player in the event. First he beat second seed and Horsham Spinners club mate Louie Harris in the group in straight sets. In fact he did not lose a set in the group or in the semi final vs pocket rocket Chiang. Chiang had won Group 3 with ease. Top seed Thomis had made his way serenely to the final also not dropping an end, beating Group 3 runner-up Yip in the semi final. The final was a cracker. Both boys had been taking notes on their opponents game prior to the final. They had only previously played once before, which underdog Michell had won 3-1. However Thomis was not going down as easily today and he fought tooth and nail to try to overturn the previous result. In a match replete with long very controlled rallies, it was Thomis who drew first blood 12-10, as he got used to Michell’s combination bat style. Michell snatched the second game 11-9 to draw level and clinched the third 12-10 to take the lead. However Thomis showed great resolve and patience, mixing up his attack and defence to great effect and imposing his left-handed style on his opponent to win 11-8. In the fifth, I think home advantage may have been the deciding factor, with about eight Spinners players cheering Michell on to a memorable 11-7 victory. A great credit to both players, as this match was a fantastic spectacle for players so young. The third place play-off was won by Chiang over Yip. Kyle Buckley (K) beat another Horsham Spinners player, Scott Payne in the final.
U12s:
No. 1 and 2 seeds William McCarthy and Jake Buckley, both from Kent, both won their groups without too much drama. Third seed Jaden Aulakh (E) also won his group, but was extended to five sets by Julio Key (K). Key had a very impressive 3-0 win over up-and-coming Jacob Evans (Sx-Horsham TTC) and then won in four vs the top seed. In the other semi Aulakh knocked out Buckley in four sets. The final produced the same result as had previously occurred in the group, with Aulakh winning in the deciding game. The bronze medal went to Buckley by default, as McCarthy had already left. HSTTC player Edward Cozens missed out on reaching the consolation final, losing 11-9 in the decider Vs Max Shah (Mi), who won the final easily vs Anaya Patel (Ha).
U13s:
Top seed Reece Chamdal (Ox) had no trouble winning his group but second seed Federica Bonato (Mi) was displaced in four sets by Horsham Spinners Will Michell. Michell actually had more difficulty with third placed Key, who extended him to five sets, whereas Bonato beat Key in three. Evans excelled to win Group 3 with a quality win over Tim Walters (K). In the quarters, Bonato defeated Walters in five sets and Evans beat Buckley also in five. The semi finals were more straightforward, with Chamdal beating Bonato in three and Evans succumbing to Michell in four. England no. 8 Chamdal was too strong for Michell in the final. Bonato beat Evans in four for the bronze medal. Key beat Horsham Spinner Adam Boxall in the final of the consolation.
U15s:
There were no significant upsets at the group stage & all seeds progressed unscathed. In the quarters, fourth seed Alistair Smith (Sx-MMJ East Grinstead) struggled to beat Fraser Donnelly (Mi), but came through 12-10 in the fifth. However he then was annihilated 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 by Luke Gallagher in the semis. In the other semi top seed Ben Naylor-Smith (Bu) overcame third seed Jack Stockdale in straight sets. The final was a battle with underdog Gallagher taking games one and three, but then losing games four and five with eight points in both. The bronze medal went to Stockdale by default, as Smith left without telling the referee he was leaving. Ellis Crockford (Sx-Arundel TTC) won the consolation, beating Arron Fox (Mi) 3-2 in the final.
U18s:
This was the largest event with 19 players. Again there were no major upsets at the group stage and there weren’t at last 16 or the quarter final stages either. Top seed Joe Pilkington beat Roget Kou (Mi) in the quarters and third seed Jake Mitchell (Sy) in the semis both 3-0. Second seed Shaquille Webb-Dixon (Sy) emulated this feat in beating Andrew Jackson (Sy) and fourth seed Will Goodstone (Sx-Cavendish TTC) at the same stages in straight sets. In the final Webb-Dixon had an unexpected victory over Grantham team mate Pilkington 11-9, 11-7, 11-9. Mitchell defeated Goodstone in three for the bronze medal. Alix Bell (Mi) beat Kieran Gray (Sx-Horsham Spinners TTC) in the consolation final 3-2.
Summary of Results
U10s:
Round Robin: 1st Felix Thomis (Bk), 2nd Sophie Chiang (Sy), 3rd Harry Filson (Sx)
U11s:
Main Final: Ollie Michell (Sx) beat Felix Thomis (Bk) 3-2 (10-12, 11-9, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7)
3rd Place: Sophie Chiang (Sy)
Consolation Final: Kyle Buckley (K) beat Scott Payne (Sx) 3-0 (12-10, 11-5, 11-7)
U12s:
Main Final: Jaden Aulakh (E) beat Julio Key (K) 3-2 (10-12, 5-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-5)
3rd Place: Jake Buckley (K)
Consolation Final: Max Shah (Mi) beat Anaya Patel (Ha) 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-7)
U13s:
Main Final: Reece Chamdal (Ox) beat Will Michell (Sx) 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-6)
3rd Place: Federica Bonato (Mi)
Consolation Final: Julio Key (K) beat Adam Boxall (Sx) 3-0 (11-8, 11-3, 11-7)
U15s:
Main Final: Ben Naylor-Smith (Bu) beat Luke Gallagher (Sx) 3-2 (5-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8)
3rd Place: Jack Stockdale (E)
Consolation Final: Ellis Crockford (Sx) beat Aaron Fox (Mi) 3-2 (8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9)
U18s:
Main Final: Shaquille Webb-Dixon (Sy) beat Joe Pilkington (Ch) 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-9)
3rd Place: Jake Mitchell (Sy)
Consolation Final: Alix Bell (Mi) beat Kieran Gray (Sx) 3-2 (11-8, 4-11, 10-12, 11-3, 5-11)
Rory Scott
February 11, 2015