SOUTH DEVON AND TORBAY TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE
ANNUAL CLOSED TOURNAMENT
TORBAY LEISURE CENTRE – SATURDAY 27TH APRIL
The Closed Tournament this season has a changed format with many finals being held back, to be played at a showpiece event next Tuesday (30th April) at Newton Abbot Racecourse. As well as the 6 finals taking place all the Season’s awards will be presented at this event.
Following problems with the Sports centre double booking the normal Sunday the event is held, which meant a late switch to the Saturday, and then Devon County TTA deciding to arrange the County Table Tennis Championships on the same weekend, fears were that the entry would suffer. The fears were ungrounded as a record 52 league players took part in the 12 events taking place.
The first event, the Men’s Singles had 32 competitors. Group winners in Round one being; Kevin Nicholls, Dennis Gibbs, Patrik Cincala, Shaun Gibbs, Yannick Tushingham, David Davies, Mick Mercer, Dan Webster-Hall & Tom Ricketts. The top 4 seeds progressed to the Semi finals, which saw Kevin Nicholls defeat Shaun Gibbs and Patrik Cincala beat Dennis Gibbs to set up an intriguing final between the attacking Patrik Cincala and the defence and spin of Kevin Nicholls.
A fascinating ladies singles contest for the Knight Cup saw league sponsor Sonja Ryland make her way to the final, where she will face Naomi Jackson on Tuesday night.
The Veterans, with a bumper entry of 27, ran a similar course to that of the men’s singles with three of the semi-finalists the same. Bob Parkins was the semi-finalist who didn’t get so far in the Men’s event and he lost out to Patrik Cincala in this event. Dennis Gibbs just got the better of Kevin Nicholls in the other semi-final to set up another Patrik Cincala v Dennis Gibbs Veterans final, the 3rd in a row I believe.
The Ladies Doubles was played off in one group to a conclusion, Naomi Jackson and Lauren Loosemore just seeing off the challenge from Sonja Ryland and Jackie Whitehorn 10-12, 11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9 to win the Reg Spooner Cup.
There were some great confrontations in the men’s doubles which will eventually be decided on Tuesday night between two father and son teams as Dennis & Shaun Gibbs take on Giles and Yannick Tushingham in what is sure to be a fast, hard hitting encounter between two aggressive pairs.
The Mixed doubles is also going to be completed on finals night. Kevin Nicholls partnering Sonja Ryland will take on Naomi Jackson and Shaun Gibbs.
Dennis Gibbs retained his super veterans title as he, for the second year running, defeated Bob Parkins in an entertaining open final, 11-2, 11-5, 11-9.
The Waine Cup for Junior Boys was won by Ben Hoare, Josh Redfern was the Runner-up
The final four events were the divisional singles. Rob Ferguson defeated Paul Beckley 11-3, 11-9, 11-4 to win the Division Five Competition. Bill Keywood beat Josh Redfern 14-12, 11-7, 11-9, to take the fourth division crown. The third division event was won by Ben Hoare with Peter Sercombe the Runner Up 11-8, 11-9, 11-6. The Second Division final will be played on finals night between Allen Pack and Stuart Shipley.
An excellent day’s Table Tennis with the prospect of even better to come at the Newton Abbot Racecourse on Tuesday night, commencing at 7 pm. Please do come along to watch some terrific table tennis and support this new event in comfortable spacious surroundings. Refreshments will be available and a draw will take place as well as the presentation of all the season’s awards.
The Finals to be played at the racecourse on Tuesday 30th April will be:
Veteran Singles - Dennis Gibbs v Patrik Cincala
Mixed Doubles - Sonja Ryland + Kevin Nicholls v Naomi Jackson + Shaun Gibbs
Division 2 Singles - Allen Pack v Stuart Shipley
Mens Doubles - Dennis + Shaun Gibbs v Giles + Yannick Tushingham
Ladies Singles - Sonja Ryland v Naomi Jackson
Mens Singles - Patrik Cincala v Kevin Nicholls
