News Season 2006-07:

Grand Prix 8 7.8.07

The biggest and best Grand Prix yet finished tonight with any one of three players potential winners when play started for the last session. In the end a third place on the night was good enough to see off the challenge of tonight's winner Steve Smith by 10 points. A record 36 players took part over the six weeks and there was a different winner each week. Apart from Gerald and Steve, the others were Paul Elliott, Alan Farral, Paul baker and Graham Trimming.

 

European Youth Olympics 24-27.7.07

It's been a long hard summer for Gavin Evans who has hardly been at home. What better way to finish a grueling period than by winning the gold medal at the European Youth Olympics. Gavin once again showed his supremacy on the international stage against players of his own age group (and a year older) beating a Belgian player 11-9, 11-3, 9-11, 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8 in the final. Congratulations, Gavin, on another superb season!

 

European Youth Championships 13-22.7.07

Gavin Evans returned from Bratislava, Slovak Republic, with another international medal to add to his growing collection. This time it was the bronze from the Cadet Boys' Doubles. However, Gavin was top seed for both doubles events and might have hoped for more. He also reached his allotted quarter-final position in the Cadet Boys' Singles and won six out of eight singles as England finished 7th in the team event. Melanie Farquhar was also in Bratislava representing England junior girls. Mel won three out of seven as England finished 31st and she reached the third round of both doubles events and the quarter-final of the consolation singles.

 

Cippenham Veterans' Summer 2-Star Open Championships 1.7.07

A lower turn out due to a clash with the European Veterans' Championships did not detract too much from another successful event at Cippenham - one that brought the club's tournament season to a close. Fred Dove and Diane Melville were the successful players.

European Veterans' Championships 24-30.6.07

Evergreen Georgia Veneer return from Rotterdam proudly displaying a bronze medal for third place in the over-85 Women's Doubles. Remarkable, for someone who endured extensive knee surgery four month ago, Georgia also won her preliminary round group in the Women's Singles.

 

Cippenham Young Players' Summer Festival 9-10.6.07

Another bumper event with about 320 entries kept Ken Phillips and his helpers busy all weekend. The jewel in the Cippenham tournament calendar produced some great table tennis but only one local winner. Eddie Mitchell won the U14BS and was runner-up in the U16. The other titles went to Patrick Thomas (U18BS, U16BS), Connor Neenan (U12BS), Charlotte Callcut (U18GS), Rebekah March (U16GS), Chloe Thomas (U14GS) and Charleigh Kirby (U12GS).

 

Annual General Meeting 29.5.07

Club Chairman Graham Trimming reported on another successful year for Cippenham at the AGM. He thanked all the members of the Committee for their hard work during the year and highlighted some of the successes especially the ETTA Volunteer of the Year awards presented to Jan Chapman and Catherine Hayes, the international successes of Gavin Evans and others plus the revitalisation that has occurred at the Club's Tuesday and Thursday practice sessions. The annual and financial reports were well received by the members present and thanks given to the Officers from the floor. All the Officers were re-elected unopposed as were the existing other members of the Management Committee whose numbers were swelled by the election also of Gemma Chapman and Steve Smith.

 

Tournament Organizers' Course announcement 23.5.07

Today Cippenham TTC announced that it will  be running a Tournament Organizers' course at the Club on 14 July. The object of attendance is for budding organizers to gain an official ETTA qualification and this is essential for anyone wishing to ultimately qualify as a Tournament Referee. Give Jacquie Lovell (01344 884331) a call for more details.

 

World Championships 20-22.5.07

David Hayes, representing Ireland, showed the value of his year training full-time in France as he took two games off English Men's Singles champion Paul Drinkhall before losing 4-2. Gavin Evans, representing England came much closer to pulling off a shock win but failed ultimately to get through all of the qualifying rounds.

 

English National Junior Masters 12-13.5.07

Melanie Farquhar could not quite follow up her triumph at the National Junior Championships a few weeks earlier and had to settle out of the medals in fourth place. Sarra Wang and Matt Ware both finished third in their sections but Myles Evans failed to qualify for the final day and Bradley Evans was ruled out entirely through injury.

 

English National Cadet Masters 5-6.5.07

Gavin Evans won his third successive National Masters title without ever being troubled. Gavin, who is streets ahead of anyone else in the country at this age level, dropped only one game over the entire weekend.

 

Club Championships 17.4-3.5.07

The Club Championships, played over six weekday evenings over a period of three weeks resulted in wins for Eric Van Looy (Open Singles), Graham Trimming (Veterans' Singles), Avijit Kelkar (Tweenie Singles), Peter Gajdus (Junior Singles), Tim Kiteley and Graham Trimming (Open Doubles) and Michael Bennett and Andrew Young (Junior Doubles).

 

English National Junior and Cadet Championships 6-8.4.07

Melanie Farquhar is the new national Junior Girls' Singles champion! Mel beat top seed Emma Vickers in the final at Doncaster. There were also two titles for Gavin Evans - Cadet Boys' Singles and Cadet Boys' Doubles while Sarra Wang won the Junior Mixed Doubles.

 

Cippenham Double Group Open Championship 1.4.07

A small entry of 25 contested this event with Patrick Thomas of Wales beating Yasir Mauthoor in the final. Last remaining local was Eric Van Looy in the quarters.

 

Grand Prix 6 29.3.07

The Grand Prix continues to get bigger and better with more players participating in this weekly Thursday evening series. The latest series announced the come-back of Paul Baker, who cruelly missed all the season after a freak accident a year ago left him with a badly broken leg. Paul's mobility is not back yet to 100% but his shot making capabilities were there for all to see in the three events he took part in. Two of these he won. Paul Elliott finished runner-up and Steve Crow rolled back the years showing he could still be a force to finish third. The next Grand Prix series will not start until after the Club Championships have concluded in April.

 

Cippenham Veterans' 2-Star Open Championships 25.3.07

Second seed Steve Davis overcame third seed Fred Dove to retain his Men's Singles title. Top seed Hari Gehlot fell to Steve Giles and the women's top seed and defending champion Regina Donovan went down to Diane Melville. Diane lost to Janet Brown in the final. Cippenham's only success came from Mike Rhodes who won the Men's Consolation.

 

Cippenham Cadet and Under-13 2-Star Open Championships 17.3.07

A disappointing entry did nothing to curtail the enjoyment of those that did attend. Like the YPNYF in January, many of the awards found their way westwards down the M4 to Wales. The only local winner was Edward Mitchell in the U13BS. Other winners were Daniel O'Connell, Jasmin Ould and Chloe Thomas.

 

British League 4th Weekend 24-25.2.07

Another season concluded with the three Cippenham teams retaining their positions in their divisions. The first team gained five points our of eight to finish in third spot in Division 1 South for the fourth time in six seasons and that remains the pinnacle of the Club's achievement. Team II won three points to finish seventh in Division 2 South and Midlands while a depleted third team gained two points to end fifth in Division 3 South. Most successful players of the weekend were Martin Adams and Nick Hansell who both won six of their eight matches.

 

Grand Prix 5 15.2.07

The fifth running of the Grand Prix concluded with Peter Gajdus juggling between playing in the Slough League for Outlaws against Buccaneers with gaining enough points to secure his position as winner for the second time. Krysztof Zemelka finished second and Gerald Finesilver third. GP6 starts Thursday 22nd February for another six weeks.

 

Junior British League 2nd Weekend 10-11.2.07

A great finish by all three teams who each managed runners-up spot in their divisions. For the girls' first team it was a case of holding on to what they had from the first weekend of the Premier Division after Sarra Wang pulled out and had to be replaced by Rachel Pilgrim, promoted from the second team. For the second girls' team it was a case of replacing Rachel with her namesake Rachel Farquhar and then gaining enough (seven) points necessary to leap from third to second in Division 2 over the two-player Redland Bats. The boys' team made the most progress, jumping from fourth to second in Division 2B. A welcome return to form for Eddie Mitchell coupled with good results from Ashley Shaw and Matthew Tucker produced four wins out of five.

 

Cippenham Team 2-Star Open Championship 4.2.07

A new event; a new concept. An open tournament in which the players play as teams of two and, regardless of whether they win or lose, everyone plays throughout the day. A resounding success and sure to be repeated next season. It was the second seeds, the juniors from Hampshire representing London Progress who prevailed. After winning their stage 1 group, Matt Ware and Garth Kinlocke saw off Brighton in the cross-over stage 2 and then defeated top seeds Frenford Club plus The Dosey Duo and The Dragons in the final stage group. Top locals were Phil Clarkson and Eric van Looy who finished sixth.

 

Veterans' British League 2nd Weekend 27-28.1.07

Cippenham succeeded in the objective of retaining Division 2 status in the VBL thanks to a good team effort from Mike Rhodes, Roger Hookey and Charlie Childs who won five matches each over the weekend. Eight points were ultimately enough: four in November and another four gained by 6-0 wins over the two teams below this time.

 

Women's British League 2nd Weekend 20-21.1.07

With Abigail Embling absent ill and Lesley Keast suffering from a bad back, it was a depleted Cippenham first team, with Sarra Wang deputizing for Abigail, that took to the tables. Just two drawn matches was not enough for them to rise above fifth place and surrender their Premier Division place held for the last five years. The second team had a great weekend and took seven points out of ten. However, despite finishing with an equal sets ratio of 30:30, that also was not enough to make up for a below par performance when missing Caroline Linz in the first weekend, and they also finished fifth in Division 3 and face possible relegation. 

 

Cippenham Young Players' New Year Festival 13-14.1.07

Another hugely successful event superbly organized by Ken Phillips and his team. 320 entries were received and the Festival format has become so popular that it had to be trimmed to four rather than five age groups to accommodate all the entrants. The Welsh reigned supreme, winning five events with Patrick Thomas and Chloe Thomas taking two each. Local success was restricted to Eddie Mitchell's U14 title.

 

British League 3rd Weekend 7.1.07

Chris Hansell starred with four wins as Cippenham III won both matches to mount a challenge near the top of Division 3 South. The first team won one and lost one to stay in third place in Division 1 South while the second team lost both matches in Division 3 South and Midlands.

 

British League 2nd Weekend 9-10.12.06

A decent weekend of results for the three Cippenham teams with the first team gaining six points and the second and third teams four each. Martin Adams and Rob Lemon both won seven out of eight as the firsts won three matches and lost only to a strong Barnets team. They are currently one point off the pace in third place in D1S. The second team, pointless from the first weekend, won both matches on Saturday to open up a four point gap over the bottom team in D1S&M while the thirds sit comfortably in mid table in D4S.

 

Grand Prix 4 7.12.06

Alan Farral, better known as the super coach of the Club's beginners' groups for the last ten years and Mr. Make-It when it comes to all things wooden, has now shown his prowess on the table. Alan won all four of the Grand Prix events he entered to win the series first prize. Consistency over the six weeks rewarded Peter Gajdus with second place while the "oldies" were represented by John Lloyd in third place. Grand Prix 5 commences 11 January.

 

Cippenham Junior 2-Star Open Championships 19.11.06

The top two seeds met in the finals of both the boys' and girls' events but while top seed Felicity Love had little trouble in seeing off second seed Megan Sparrey, Patrick Thomas upset the form book and took the boys' title across to Wales when he beat top ranked Matt Ware. Best performances from Cippenham came from Lindsey Armstrong (girls' semi) and Edward Mitchell (boys' quarter-final). There was a good entry of 83 ably organized by Terry Boxall and Peter Hillier.

 

Veterans' British League 1st Weekend 11-12.11.06

Against all expectations Cippenham made a solid start to the new VBL campaign. The four points gained see the team in third position and the only side to gain a point from Division 2 leaders Tameside. Roger Hookey, on debut, excelled winning eight out of ten (including seven against players ranked above him) while Mike Rhodes contributed six. On rankings Cippenham should have won 3 out of 30 sets, in fact they won 15!

 

Grand Prix 3 26.10.06

The Club's third Grand Prix finished with Eric van Looy in first place, unbeaten in the four events he entere. Peter Gajdus, winner of GP1, was second and Choi Lee third after winning the final event of the series. GP4 starts next Thursday.

 

Annual Awards 19.10.06

The Club celebrated ten years at the purpose-built Cippenham Table Tennis Centre with its annual Anniversary Party. As usual, the event was well attended and Jacquie Lovell presented the Club's volunteers with gifts in recognition of their valued service. The major annual awards were also made with Martin Adams and Lindsey Armstrong being presented with the Senior and Junior Players of the Year awards and Gill Tucker with the Karen Mitchell Memorial Trophy for Outstanding Contribution. As an additional highlight Club Chairman Graham Trimming presented Jacquie with the ETTA Maurice Goldstein Merit Award for her fantastic service as the Club's Social Officer over the past ten years.

 

Junior British League 1st Weekend 14-15.10.06

The Club's top girls' team lie in second place in the Premier Division after the first weekend of matches. Melanie Farquhar was superb in winning nine of her ten matches but three points were lost in the race for the title with Draycott & Long Eaton. The second girls' team lie third in Division 2 while the boys' team are fourth in Division 2B.

 

Women's British League 1st Weekend 30.9-1.10.06

Both Cippenham teams made poor starts to the WBL campaign, gaining only two points each. The first team of Abigail Embling, Lesley Keast and Gemma Chapman lie in fifth place in the Premier Division while the second team of Sue Hayes, Lindsey Armstrong and Jan Chapman (deputizing for Caroline Linz) are similarly placed in Division 3.

 

Cippenham Senior 2-Star Open Championships 24.9.06

Second seed Arturas Rybakas beat fourth seed Adam Laws to win the Men's Singles titles after a good day's table tennis in the annual Senior Open. Frances Potjewed beat Val Murdoch in the counterpart women's event. The best performances by Cippenham players came from defending champion Rob Lemon, beaten in the quarter-final, and Mark Jackson and Phil Clarkson who both fell one round earlier. There was an excellent entry of 80 players and the event finished on time thanks to the efforts of Referee Peter Hillier and Organizer Paul Baker.

 

ETTA Awards 16.9.06

Cippenham nominations scooped both the national volunteer awards at the ETTA presentations during the Conference at Lilleshall. Jan Chapman won the Volunteer of the Year award while Catherine Hayes won the Junior Volunteer of the Year award. To win both is a really fantastic achievement and a fitting tribute to the work that Jan and Catherine have put into the Club and table tennis over the past few years.

 

British League 1st Weekend 9-10.9.06

Cippenham I began their British League Division 1 South campaign with six points our of eight. New signing Eddie Smith won five, Martin Adams and Rob Lemon both six and Rob Hansell four. The second team found the going tough following promotion to Division 1 South and Midlands and did not gain a single point from the first weekend while the third team obtained four points from as many matches in Division 3 South.

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