MK Juniors Presentation Night
Awards handed to youngsters
It was the Milton Keynes Junior Table Tennis Club Annual presentation evening on Saturday 20th December and it was enjoyed by over 200 spectators. Last year we saw Alan cooke and Bradley Billington entertain us all, but this year it was the future of our Table Tennis with Paul Drinkhall and Gavin Evans.
Drinkhall is only 13 years old and is England cadet number one and is ranked number 12 in the England senior rankings.
Gavin Evans is 10 years old and is number 4 in the cadet singles and in the top 100 of the England senior rankings.
Ian Musk, Dannel Pang, Ryan Keates and Kelvin Choonge were the local players who faced the top duo. Ian Musk, who doesn't play much these days faced Drinkhall in the first match and had some very entertaining rallies, but you couldn't help thinking that Drinkhall had another gear or two to go into despite beating Musk in convincing fashion in straight games.
The next match saw Dannel Pang, who represents Greenleys Troopers, face 10 year old Gavin Evans, which could have proved to be an upset. Pang was totally focused for this match and you could see it in his face that he wanted to make a point and even make a name for himself. Pang started off well and surprised everyone by taking the first game. Evans played better in the second and was constantly looking over to his family for support and took the second. The third match could have gone either way but an edge won by Pang was not seen by the umpire, at 8-8 could have favoured the game for Pang but Evans took advantage and claimed the third. The hardest thing to contemplate is Evans only being 10 years old and not having the width of the table as a player would who is twice is size. He uses his feet very well, which should be a very important point to all players. Evans' confidence was getting better and played some fantastic shots to beat Pang in the fourth.
Ryan Keates was playing next and when you think that Ryan is a top Five player in Northampton and Milton Keynes and you have played against him (like I have) you understand how good Drinkhall is. Keates, who likes to think of himself of being a bit of a showman, entertained the crowd in certain points, maybe it was a tactical ploy against his opponent, either way it didn't work because Drinkhall beat him in straight games. Keates in no way disgraced himself, as he came out with fantastic shots that a mere mortal would not have got back and he looked as if he really enjoyed it.
Intermediate player Kelvin Choonge entertained us all with his cheeky display of lobbing against Gavin Evans. The umpire could have called Choonge up on almost everyone of his serves, but that would have taken the laughter away from the spectators, who cringed with every foul serve. Despite that, Choonge played some great rallies against the youngster who read his pimples with ease. The match was won by Evans in straight games but was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
The main event was next, which was the Junior Presentation. The trophies were presented by the Milton Keynes Table Tennis League chairman Michael Wilkins.
Presentation winners
Pictures