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YOUTH TROPHY 2005 Baddow continues to lead the way in junior table tennis in Chelmsford at present. So it was perhaps a little surprising to see just 15 of our juniors competing for the Ted Harris Trophy held on a Thursday evening at Newlands. The tournament started with 5 groups of 3 from which the winners would go through to the quarter final knock out stage and the best three runners-up. At least that's how we think it worked! To find out about the Purkiss Robinson Doubles event or the Tom Burns Handicap Singles take these links. The junior event was played on the 11up scoring system with positive handicapping. This left much less room for error, and for some that showed! The first group on featured a finalist from last year, Alex Stone, plus a former winner, Sam Pitt. With newcomer Matthew Davis being the outsider. But this year certainly wasn't going to be Alex's. Being one of the players for whom the handicapping left no room for error but on this occasion he just made to many! Allowing Matthew to sneak through in 5 ends from 2:1 down. Then losing out over 4 ends to Sam. Sam had earlier beaten Matthew in 4 close games -7,11,9,12 leaving himself top of the group. The win over Alex also gave Matthew a route through to the next round as one of the highest runners-up. One anticipated some fireworks in Group 2 where Girls Junior British League player Laura Pyman faced the up and coming Bradley Hudgell with Aled Upson - with a long handicap advantage - making up the trio. Giving Bradley points at the moment just isn't a good idea! But Laura had to in the opening set, and he took full advantage even though Laura pulled one back in the 3rd end. Laura then had a monumental tussle with Aled before overcoming him 15:13 in the 5th end. And Aled made Bradley work equally hard before coming through to top the group at 11:8 in the 5th. Indeed it was the tussle with Aled that stopped Laura taking a qualifying runner-up spot through to the next round. Last years winner Steve Clift featured in Group 3, up against Hannah Pitt and Ben Steed. A topsy turvy group with all three winning one. Hannah came through on top courtesy of picking up a game in her defeat to Ben. Steve taking a qualifying runner-up spot after beating Ben 3 straight! Group 4 again saw some really close encounters. Despite giving away a few points Andrew Orme came through in the first game against friend Alex Gill 13:11 in the 4th end. Alex then went the full distance against Haydn Upson. The surprise here being that it was Alex who came through at 12:10 in the 5th with both the last two games going to deuce. Haydn desperately needed to beat Andrew to stay in but somehow let a 2:1 lead slip to drop the 4th and 5th ends 1 & 6. Andrew through. Both Alex and Haydn out as a result of the count back. In the final group all 3 sets were won or lost 3 straight, with all three players Rykki Vansertima, Adam Pitt and Tom Lee winning one. Sorting this one was going to be a nightmare! After the count back Rykki qualified top, with Adam somehow snatching a qualifying runner-up spot. We're sure there was no favouritism from organiser Ryan Pitt! The knock out quarter final stage saw some real quality play. Sam Pitt was in sparkling form in the opening match with some powerful back hand and forehand play to dispose of last years winner Steve Clift. Whilst his sister Hannah suffered at the hands of Rykki Vansertima going out in straight sets. Adam Pitt had to show real strength of character to tough it out against Andrew Orme with his three wins all coming from deuce. Perhaps however that highest honour for this round should go to Matthew Davis, as the only outsider in the quarter final he put in a magnificent effort against high flying Bradley Hudgell. Fighting back from two down he took the third and fourth ends both at deuce. But maybe the effort was just too much as he narrowly lost out in the 5th. Bradley certainly breathed a sigh of relief as he took his semi-final place. It was the toughest searching he was going to face in the competition. TED HARRIS YOUTH TROPHY (Junior Event) Quarter Finals
Rykki Vansertima is one of the most improved juniors in the club. But on his day Sam Pitt is a match for the best and he certainly proved this in the first semi-final. With both players adopting open attacking play and little difference on handicap it was Sam who came comfortably through to book a spot in the final once more. By comparison to his quarter final encounter Bradley also had a fairly comfortable ride into the final with a 3 straight win over Adam Pitt. Although Adam tried his best to snatch the third end. Semi Finals
The junior final was possibly one of the best matches of the entire tournament. With both Sam and Bradley contributing to some thrilling rallies. And it was fitting that it should be on a Finals Night. They say fortune favours the brave, and Bradley was certainly brave. Going for his shots relentlessly everything seemed to go right. And to add to that Sam had to give him a point advantage! A ferocious barrage of attacking play saw him storm through the three games although Sam contributed to some excellent hard hitting and away from the table rallies. So it was to be game, set and match to Bradley taking his first club trophy. Hopefully there will be many more. But you can bet his handicap will go up a bit more next year! FINAL
There is a separate page covering the Purkiss Robinson Doubles and the youth event, The Tom Burns Trophy. |
