Closed Championships
Tournament report - by Dave Murphy
The Milton Keynes Table Tennis League held it's annual Closed Championships on two separate Sundays, due to the number of events played.
The Championship Singles was number one seed, Norman Swift, who won the event last year, take on fellow team mate Andrew Misseldine in the semi-final. Swift, who beat Kingpins' Mark Purcell in the quarter-final in straight games, lost the first game to Misseldine (9), but won the next two (4, 6.) Misseldine won the fourth 12-10 to force a fifth set. Swift and Misseldine, who both play for Stormers, had the spectators on the edge of their seats, with some fantastic rallies, but it was Swift who made it to the final again, winning 11-8.
The other semi-final was between number two seed, Dave Gatiss and number three, Steve Munson. After beating Dave Murphy in the quarter-final, Gatiss had to play his absolute best against Munson, who beat his brother Paul in straight games in the first round. Munson, who only entered the singles, won the first in a tight game 12-10 and the second game could have gone either way, but it saw Munson go two games up, with Gatiss all to do. Munson, who plays for the same team as Gatiss, Newport Pagnell Avengers, pulled out some great shots and won the third game 11-4, to face Norman Swift in the final.
The last time both of these players met in a competition was in the Premiership Top Eight final, which saw Munson won, but Swift beat Munson in the groups prior. Swift won the first comfortably if the score was to suggest anything, 11-6, but Munson won the second in the same score, 6-11. Munson went out in the third and fourth with his bat blazing and stopped Swift winning the title for the second year running, winning 5-11, 7-11, for the Closed Singles title.
The upset of the day was Junior, Daniel Andersson, of MK Kempstonians, beating Michael Wilkins of St Christopher Vets, in straight games, 13-11, 11-6, 11-8 in the first knock-out round.
Gareth Jones almost made a name for himself as well, when he came up against Dave Murphy in the groups. Jones, who plays in Division Three, was two match points up against Murphy in the fifth, 10-9 and 11-10 before Murphy turned it around and won 13-11.
Last year's doubles champions, Dave and Paul Gatiss, met the Stormers duo of Dave Wackrill and Norman Swift in the semi final. The Stormers duo had already knocked out their other team-mates Misseldine and Tim Moynihan in the quarters, but were now up against tougher opposition. The Gatiss' won the first in a very close game, 11-9 and it was even closer in the second, but still managed to win 12-10. Dave and Paul stepped up another gear to progress to the final, winning 11-5.
The number two seeds were Dave Murphy and Neil Riddy, of the Likely Lads, who faced Sarah Hudson and Julian Adams. The number two seeds took the first 11-5, but it was even tighter in the second for the lads, but still won the second 12-10. Hudson and Adams were nowhere to be seen in the third, as the Likely Lads steamed them 11-1 to enter the final.
The first two games in the final favoured the Gatiss', winning 11-7, 11-9, but the Lads were determined not to go out without a fight and won the third and fourth 7-11, 8-11 to set up a fifth. Murphy and Riddy needed to have a good start to stand a chance of winning the final, but the start couldn't have been any worse. The float serves from Riddy, which were winning the points against Paul in the third, all went against him in the fifth, with Paul booming all his serves to take a great start. Taking the bad start into consideration, it was too little too late for the Lads and it the Avengers duo to win the final 11-4 and to pick up the doubles title two years in succession.
The third main event was the Veterans Mens Singles title, which saw two of the four players in the semi-final who have won the title in the last two years. Norman Swift, who won the title last year, was up against Mark Purcell and he won the first game 11-9, but Purcell won the second in a close 10-12. Purcell could not do anything wrong and played some great table tennis, with Swift trying to match him, but it was Purcel who was the better player on the day and won 6-11, 7-11, to progress to the final.
Alan Cherry was the other player who won this title, but it was two years ago and he was up against Michael Wilkins, who beat Neil Riddy in the fifth in the previous round. Wilkins only just won the first 13-11, but lost the second 9-11. Wilkins seemed to go up another gear and beat Cherry Comfortably 11-3, 11-5 to meet Purcell in the final.
Purcell and Wilkins, who have never won the Vets title, entertained everyone and it was in-form Purcell, who squeezed the first 13-11 and took the second game in deuce, 12-10. Wilkins must have thought nothing was going for him and the third was just as close, but it was no cigar for Wilkins, with Purcell winning the title for the first time, by winning the third 11-9.
The Women's Singles competition had Audrey Robinson and Sarah Hudson in the final. Robinson had beaten Nicky Leeder game-12 in the third, with Sarah Hudson beating Barbara Peters 11-8 in the fourth. Robinson, who is the reigning champion, has won the title seven times out of 11, with Sarah never winning it at all. Robinson won the first game 11-9, but Sarah came out a lot sharper and won the second comfortably 3-11. Hudson, who is the league's coaching officer and has come off the back of a recent singles win of a tournament, took the third 8-11, but Audrey sneaked the fourth 12-10 to force a fifth set. Hudson had to break Robinson and she did it in style, with a combination of forehand and backhand loops and crushed her opponent 2-11 for her first ladies title.
The Vets Ladies Singles was also held by Audrey Robinson, who has won the title eight out of 11 times, and because of lack of entries, it saw a straight final between herself and Janet Pullan. It was just a formality for Robinson, beating Pullan in straight games 11-7, 11-9, 11-3, to win the title for the fourth time in succession.
The Ladies Doubled was won by Sarah Hudson and Julie Snowdon, with Barbara Peters and Nicky Leeder coming runners-up in a round-robin group.
The Mixed Doubles saw an early exit for current champions, Neil Riddy and Audrey Robinson, who lost to Julie Snowdon and Mark Purcell 11-9 in the fourth of the semi-final. Dave Gatiss was partnered by Sarah Hudson and they beat Barbara Peters and Norman Swift in the fifth, 11-7 in their semi-final.
Gatiss and Hudson lost the first 5-11, but won the second 11-8. Purcell and Snowdon won the third 13-11 and could have won the title, but lost the fourth 16-14 to see the match go to five. Gatiss and Hudson got the better start and led all the way to see them win the final, 11-6.
The Over 50s Singles Final was between John Simms of MK Kempstonians and Terry Lau, of Mursley Pioneers. Current champion, Brian Mayfield, was absent from the tournament, but Simms won it the year before last. Simms won the first game 11-6 but lost the next two 7-11, 14-16, to see Lau in command. The fourth could have determined Lau as the new champion, but Simms kept in the match, by winning the game 11-9, to force a fifth game. Simms was the stronger of the two and it was to be proven when he took the match 11-6 and won the title two out of three times.
The Restricted Doubles saw Milton Keynes Junior Club players Alan Kempton and Jon Hall beat Mursley's Paul Hooley and Terry Lau, 4-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4.
Daniel Andersson beat his brother Johan 11-4, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9 in the Under-17 Boys Singles.
In the Intermediate Singles, Hendrick Oppelland beat John Simms in straight games, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9.
Congratulations to Nick Warton, who won his four player group of the Division One singles, with Jim Brogan coming second.
Alan Kempton won the Division Two Singles in the four player group, with Terry Lau coming runner-up.
Division Three saw Gary Jones won the title in a four player group, with Dad Ray coming second.
Division Four runner-up was Janet Pullan, with Gary Goldbourn winning the title in a four player group.
Congratulations to Milton Keynes Club Junior Craig Brown in beating Richard Pitman 11-2, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8.
The Division Six Singles was won by John Bradley in a three player group, with Bernard Atkins coming second.
A special thank you for Madeline Baxter for running the tournaments and referee Neil Riddy.