First title for Paul

Cippenham Table Tennis Club’s weekly Tuesday evening Grand Prix event is going from strength to strength. With the competitive season in full flow the Club’s league players are busy playing their league matches but the attendances for the Grand Prix have not diminished. The event has reverted to its original concept of an event for the less established players and those new to the Club. During the year and a half of its life, a staggering 138 different players have taken part.

The latest winner of Grand Prix 12 is Paul Chandler. Chandler has been one of the most regular participants in the last year and has become one of the most enthusiastic players at the Club. He managed a top five placing in each of the six weeks and it was this consistency that proved to be too much for others aspiring of the title. Chandler’s best finish was second and he managed that on two occasions.

Jack McCandless won two of the three events he entered and finished in second place while Dave Bradbury only entered two but won one of those to finish in third place. The other weekly winners were Tony Andrews, Ian Baker and Alan Farral.

Cippenham Group to Group 2-Star Open Championship (10.2.08)

The Cippenham Group to Group 2-Star Open Championship attached only a small entry of just over thirty players. Nevertheless, a good tournament ensued and players received good value by a format that eliminates losers only after they have already played in two groups each of four players, giving everyone at least six matches.

The final was an all-Surrey affair with Darren Pumford getting the better of Alain Choo Choy in four games after dropping the first. Cippenham’s Phil Clarkson was the most successful local and he took the first game off Pumford in the semi-final while Choo Choy’s victim at the same stage was Adam Trela.

Results of Finals:

Main event: Darren Pumford (Surrey) beat Alain Choo Choy (Surrey) 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 13-11

Consolation: Maurice Isaacs (Middx) beat Dean Rose (Kent) 7-11, 11-2, 12-10, 11-8