ASHFORD & DISTRICT CLOSED TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT
10th and 11th March 2018
(by Alan Provan)
Johnny Bispham proved his all-round talent as he picked up 3 titles at the Trophy Pet Foods (East Kent) Ashford table tennis tournament at the weekend. However with the high standard of play on show he did not have everything his own way over the weekend.
Bispham, seeded 2, won his third Men’s Singles Trophy as he overcame surprise finalist 13year old Arthur Bracken in the final in three straight games. However this did not tell the whole story of the event. In the early group stages Bispham had already lost to the same player in a shock five game defeat which meant he ended up in the harder side of draw for the knockout stages. This resulted in him having to earn hard fought victories against reigning champion Mani Khapung in the Quarter finals and recovering from a 2 game deficit against debutant Louis Bigallet an epic five set semi-final. Bigallet had early been involved in the match of the tournament in the quarter-finals where he defeated top seed Joe Britnell 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9 in a match of such high quality rallies that play stopped on all other tables to watch the latter stages.
Bispham combined with his father Steve to lift the Men’s Doubles title following a close four set victory over Mani Khapung and Charlie Richards in the final and also won the inaugural Under 40 singles title defeating for the second time in the day French player Louis Bigallet in the final. However Bigallet did help to prevent a clear sweep of titles for Bispham when he combined with Jenny Swain to defeat Bispham and partner Michelle Kingsland in the Mixed Doubles final. Amazingly Bispham also reached the final of the Allocated Doubles final narrowly losing out in four games to winners Cliff Ball and Darren Richardson.
In the Ladies events Michelle Kingsland won her fourth Singles Crown in a row defeating Heather Robertson in straight sets, and also combined with her mother Jenny Swain to retain the Ladies Doubles title defeating Robertson and Michele Chapman.
The Veteran Events (Over 40) were dominated by Malcolm Skates who defeated Paul Waumsley in four sets in lift the Singles title and also combined with Brian Cook to take the Veteran’s Doubles Title, recovering from 2 sets to 1 down in the final against Chris Hooper and Keith Harris to win in five sets.
In the other senior events:
Alan Provan won his first Over 50’s Singles title defeating Chris Hooper in four games in the final. The unlucky Hooper also lost in the final of the Over 60’s Singles going down in 12-10 in the deciding game to Paul Waumsley.
Darren Richardson won both the Divisional Singles A and B titles defeating John Jarvis and Luke Garvey in the respective finals. However Jarvis got some revenge by combining with Matt Hills to win the Divisional Doubles title defeating Darren and Tom Richardson in the final. Steve Bispham won the Consolation Singles event with victory over John Jarvis in the final.
The David Cue Merit Award for outstanding performance of the tournament went to Arthur Bracken for reaching the final of Men’s Singles at the tender age of 13, defeating several higher ranked and more experienced players en route
In the Junior Events:
The match of the day saw 12year old Shem Lejarde defeat reigning champion Tom Down in the Under 17 Boy’s Singles event over five sets. Lejarde started quickest taking the first two games 12-10, 11-7 only for Down to save a match point in the third before sneaking it 12-10. The momentum appeared to be with Down as he raced through the fourth game 11-1 however, showing great spirit, Lejarde responded and picked up his game to take the decider 11-7 and claim his first Under 17 singles title.
Lejarde also won the Under 14 singles event following a straight set victory over Max Behrens in the final, however lost out in the Junior Doubles with partner Ella Down going down in four sets to top seeds Tom Down and Luke Garvey in the final.
Ella Down won the Under 17 girls final defeating Shreya Verma in the final, and also won both the Non-League Junior Singles and Doubles crowns defeating Sam Timms in the former and partnering with Spencer Hewins to the defeat Harvey Horsley and George Patten in the Doubles.
The Stan Hastie Junior Award for most improved player over the season went to 7 year old Aarav Verma.
The Junior trophies were presented by the owner of Trophy Pet Food (League Sponsor) Graham Bingham with Association President Michael Claughton presenting the trophies for the Senior Events.
ANNUAL ASHFORD CLOSED TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT
(sponsored by Trophy Kent Foods East Kent)
10th /11th March 2018
FINALS
Men’s Singles: Johnny Bispham beat Arthur Bracken 5, 4, 9
Ladies Singles: Michelle Kingsland beat Heather Robertson 10, 9, 6
Men’s Doubles: Johnny & Steve Bispham
beat -9, 12, 13, 8
Charlie Richards & Mani Khapung
Ladies Doubles: Jenny Hogben & Michelle Kingsland
beat 9, 4, -2, 6
Michele Chapman & Heather Robertson
Mixed Doubles: Louis Bigallet & Jenny Swain
beat 5, -4, 10, 9
Johnny Bispham & Michelle Kingsland
Veteran Singles: Malcolm Skates beat Paul Waumsley -8, 8, 8, 3
Veteran Doubles: Malcolm Skates & Brian Cook
beat -11, 6, -5, 7, 4
Chris Hooper & Keith Harris
Under 40’s Singles: Johnny Bispham beat Louis Bigallet 9, 6, 9
Over 50’s Singles: Alan Provan beat Chris Hooper -6, 9, 7, 4
Over 60’s Singles: Paul Waumsley beat Chris Hooper 8, 9, -5, -13, 10
Allocated Doubles: Cliff Ball & Darren Richardson
beat 10, -9, 7, 5
Johnny Bispham & Jenny Swain
Consolation Singles: Steve Bispham beat John Jarvis 2, 13, -8, 7
Div. Singles A: Darren Richardson beat John Jarvis -8, 5, 9
Div. Singles B: Darren Richardson beat Luke Garvey 1, 7, 3
Div. Doubles: Matthew Hills & John Jarvis
beat 7, -7, 6, 6
Tom & Darren Richardson
David Cue Merit Award: Arthur Bracken (for outstanding performance of the Tournament)
Under 17 Boys Singles: Shem Lejarde beat Tom Down 10, 7, -10, -1, 7
Under 17 Girls Singles: Ella Down beat Shreya Verma 2, 5, 6
Under 14 Singles: Shem Lejarde beat Max Behrens 3, 6, 2
Junior Doubles: Tom Down & Luke Garvey
beat 7, 4, -8, 10
Ella Down & Shem Lejarde
Non-League Junior Singles: Ella Down beat Sam Timms 6, -11, 8, 4
Non-League Junior Doubles: Ella Down & Spencer Hewins
beat 8, -10, 6, 7
Harvey Horsley & George Patten
Stan Hastie Junior Award: Aarav Verma
(most improved junior player this season)
