Essex Press Office

Reported by Steve Kerns
Press & Publicity Officer
Essex County Table Tennis Association

Over 100 players took part in this year's Essex Closed Table Tennis Championships held at the BATTS Team Peniel Table Tennis Club in Harlow with the BATTS Team Peniel Table Tennis Club capturing 10 out of the 15 titles that were contested..As expected, the top seeded John Holland won the Mens Singles title whilst his Club mate Rebekah March was a shock Winner of the counter part Ladies Singles.

The Mens Singles was decimated by the non-appearance of four of the eleven seeded players and with other seeded players exiting earlier than expected the event was more "open" than in previous years. None of this seemed to effect BATTS Team Peniel's John Holland, who duly took the title without too much bother. After wining his group Holland beat Luca Mariano (Eastlea School), Ryan Savill (Chelmsford) and his team-mate Billy Deville all without the loss of a game before getting the better of Umair Mauthoor (Ilford) 3-1 in the Final. There were shocks galore, none more so than in the Group stages where the seeded Matt Spero (Ilford) lost to both Steve White (Ilford) and Stephen Cooper (BATTS Team Peniel) and failed to qualify. One has to feel some sympathy for Zayd Mauthoor (Ilford) and John Monk (Romford), who had to contend with Billy Deville and Fred Dove (Harlow) in their Group. Deville won with Dove finishing second.

Last year's Champion Martin Kubrt was a 3-0 loser to Billy Deville at the Quarter-Final stage whilst the all-action Umair Mauthoor, playing his first Tournament after a long lay-off dominated the bottom half of the draw. Mauthoor appeared to grow in stature as the day progressed. He scored an excellent 3-1 win over Peter Radford (Romford), followed by a 3-1 victory against Neil Brierley (Harlow) and a 3-2 success against Steve Kerns (Chelmsford). Assisted by the withdrawal through injury of second seed Niall Cameron (Ilford), Mauthoor's semi-final victim was Stephen Cooper who fought bravely before succumbing 8-11, 10-12, 10-12.Umair Mauthoor produced some spectacular Table Tennis in the Final but Holland is a player of considerable experience and the England no.19 ranked Senior player was able to "move through the gears" to clinch victory 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-2.

Perhaps the biggest shock of the weekend took place in the Womens Singles. Rebekah March (BATTS Team Peniel), ranked no. 15 in England at Under 15 Girls level scored a stunning 6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 12-10 victory over team-mate and top seed Rachel Jamieson (ranked no. 13 in England Ladies) in the Semi-Final and she went on to win the Final by beating another Peniel player Rachel Anslow after another hard-fought battle 12-10, 5-11, 12-10, 11-7. The odds on Rachel Jamieson leaving the Tournamant empty-handed would have been incredibly high and sure enough Rachel made up for her disappointment by winning the Under 21 Ladies Singles title. She beat Rachel Anslow 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 in the Sem-Final and she avenged her defeat by beating Rebekah March 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 in the Final.

The counter-part Under 21 Mens Singles event was fiercely contested and it was the vastly improved Billy Deville who captured the title. Ranked no. 20 in England at Under 18 level Deville looks well capable of making the England Junior top 10 next Season. He was an excellent 3-2 winner over Umair Mauthoor in the Semi-final after Mauthoor had won the most dramatic clash of the day, just seeing off Stephen Cooper 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 14-16, 15-13 a round earlier. Deville's Final opponent was Emran Hussain (Ilford) and after four exceptionally close games he ran out a 12-14, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4 Winner. Luca Mariano (Ilford) also impressed and he was an excellent winner over another BATTS Team Peniel player - Oscar Slefridge (ranked no. 25 in England at Under 18 Boys level).

There was consolation for Oscar Selfridge who was paired with John Holland in the Open Doubles. They never looked like losing and duly won the Final by beating Fred Dove and Martin Kubrt 12-10, 11-9, 11-8.. Perhaps the biggest shock in this event took place in the second round where Scratch pairing Tony Cantale (Ilford)/Steve White scored a superb 3-1win over John Dennison (Harlow)/Emran Hussain.

Peter Radford (Ilford) was the only player over the weekend to retain a title when he won the Mens Over 40s Singles. Ray Lam (Ilford) impressed by beating George Reeves (Southend) and John Monk (Romford) before losing 3-1 against Radford in the Semi-Final. Fred Dove did well to beat Mark Wicker (Ilford) in the top half of the Draw where he met Steve Kerns in the other Semi-Final. Kerns had beaten Steve White 12-10 in the fith end a round earlier. It was Kerns who came out on top beating Dove 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 and Kerns started the Final promisingly. However, Radford was in no mood to be denied and he stepped up a gear to triumph 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6.

The Mens Restricted Singles seemd to be heading in Paul Martindill's direction after he had beaten Kevin Read (Southend) 14-12 in the decider and then Alan Burgess (Colchester) 3-0 in the Semi-Final. Dave Wright (Harlow), on the other hand had been making good progress and his confidence must have been high after he had come though marathon five enders against Reuben Okai (Harlow) and Robin Ashleigh (Ilford). Wright's form was a revelation in the Final and he never gave his Ilford League opponent the chance to settle. Wright was an excellent if very surprised 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 Winner.

The top seeds - Mark Wicker and Steve Kerns were second round fallers against John Monk and Reuben Okai in the Over 40s Doubles. Okai and Monk made a great game of it in the Final, just losing out 6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 5-11 against Fred Dove/Steve White.

Sunday's play belonged to the Junior players and as you would expect the BATTS Team Peniel Club dominated the action. After his exertions on the Saturday it was no surprise that Billy Deville won the Boys Under 18 Singles. Brandon Crouchman (Chelmsford) created the biggest shock of the day by beating Luca Mariano 11-8 in the fifth end but he was no match for Andrew McEwan (Braintree) in the Quarter-Final, losing 9-11, 3-11, 6-11. McEwan gave a great account of himself against Billy Deville only succumbing 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11 a round later. In the other half of the draw, Reece Tan (Brentwood) showed "a clean pair of heels" to Greg Green (Colchester) winning 3-0 and to Jack Cleminson (BATTS Team Peniel) winning 3-1. His opponent in the Semi-Final was an even younger Peniel youngster, the hugely promising Jared Patel. Tan edged home 11-7, 14-12, 11-9 but despite his considerable efforts it was Billy Deville who claimed the title 11-7, 12-10, 11-4. Jared Patel came through the closest clash of the event just getting the better of Joe Stannard (Fellows Cranlergh) 18-16 in the fifth end of their dramatic Quarter-Final.

The counterpart Girls Under 18 event was a personal triumph for Evie Collier (BATTS Team Peniel) who ousted team-mate and the previous day's Ladies Singles Champion Rebekah March in the Final 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9. Evie had seen off fellow Peniel players Georgina Barnes (3-1) and Hannah Hoskin (3-0) whilst Rebekah had beaten Bethany March (3-1) in the other Semi-Final.

Reece Tan was able to put his disappointment at losing the Boys Under 18 Singles Final firmly behind him by getting the better of Luca Mariano (last years Under 15 and Under 18 Boys Singles Champion) in the Under 15 Boys Final. Reece's victims were the three BATTS Team Peniel players - James Duval, Alex Holland and Jack Cleminson whilst Luca left Jack Baker (Fellows Cranleigh), and the BATTS Team Peniel duo - Jared Patel and Azarel Adebanjo trailing in his wake. Reece won an excellent Final 11-13, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6.

It was Rebekah March to the fore again in the Girls Under 15 Singles and this time her Final opponent was Hannah Hoskin who had won a dramatic Semi-final, 13-11 in the fifth end against Evie Collier. Evie had also been tested a round earlier where she needed five games to get the better of Georgina Barnes. Rebekah won a close first end and thereafter stayed pretty much in control to beat Hannah 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 in the Final.

Eleven year-old Jared Patel, ranked no. eight in England at Under 13 Boys level duly annexed the Boys Under 13 Singles title but he didn't have it all his own way. He had to work hard to see off Azarel Adebanjo 11-9, 11-9, 11-8 in the Final after having beaten Brandon Crouchman 3-0 a round earlier. Adebanjo's Semi-Final victim was Alex Holland where he ran out a 11-4, 11-6, 13-11 Winner.

There were shocks galore in the Girls Under 13 Singles with top seed and England no. four Bethany March falling to fellow Peniel student Esther Hoskin 14-12 in the Semi-Final. Georgina Barnes had beaten Hannah Hoskin in the other Semi-Final and she might have expected to have taken the title but Esther was having none of it. Esther came out on top, beating Georgina 12-10,.11-8, 6-11, 11-13, 11-8..

Chelmsford's Brandon Crouchman, a very fast riser, up to no. 24 nationally at Under 13 level excelled by taking the Boys Under 18 Restricted Singles. After beating Jack Baker 9-11, 12-10, 7-11, 16-14, 11-9 his confidence was sky-high and he excelled by getting the better of Adam Dukes (Fellows Cranleigh) 6-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-5 at the Semi-Final stage. He scarcely put a foot wrong in the Final as he beat Robin Onyelekere (Fellows Cranleigh) 11-8, 11-3, 11-7.

ESSEX CLOSED 2008

HONOURS LIST

EVENT
RESULT


MENS SINGLES
John Holland (Peniel) bt Umair Mauthoor (Ilf) 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-2.


MENS OVER 40 SINGLES
Peter Radford (Ilf) bt Steve Kerns (Bra) 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6.


MENS UNDER 21 SINGLES
Billy Deville (Peniel) bt Emran Hussein 12-14, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4.


MENS RESTRICTED SINGLES
David Wright (Har) bt Paul Martindill (Ilf) 11-6, 11-5, 11-8.


WOMENS SINGLES
Rebekah March (Peniel) bt Rachel Anslow (Peniel) 12-10, 5-11, 12-10, 11-7.


WOMENS UNDER 21 SINGLES
Rachel Jamieson (Peniel) bt Rebekah March (Peniel) 11-9, 11-7, 11-4.


OPEN DOUBLES
John Holland/Oscar Selfridge (Peniel) bt Fred Dove/Martin Kubrt (Har) 12-10, 11-9, 11-8.


OPEN OVER 40 DOUBLES
Fred Dove (Har)/Steve White (Ilf) bt Reuben Okai (Har)/John Monk (Rom)11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5.


UNDER 13 BOYS SINGLES
Jared Patel (Peniel) bt Azarel Adebanjo) (Peniel) 11-9, 11-9, 11-8.


UNDER 15 BOYS SINGLES
Reece Tan (Bre) bt Luca Mariano (Ilf) 11-13, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6.


UNDER 18 BOYS SINGLES
Billy Deville (Peniel) bt Reece Tan (Bre) 11-7, 12-10, 11-4.


UNDER 18 BOYS RESTRICTED SINGLES
Brandon Crouchman (Che) bt Robin Onyelekere (Fell. C) 11-8, 11-3, 11-7.


UNDER 13 GIRLS SINGLES
Esther Hoskin (Peniel) bt Georgina Barnes (Peniel) 12-10, 11-8, 6-11, 11-13, 11-8.


UNDER 15 GIRLS SINGLES
Rebekah March (Peniel) bt Hannah Hoskin (Peniel) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5.


UNDER 18 GIRLS SINGLES
Evie Collier (Peniel) bt Rebekah March (Peniel) 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9.

Steve Kerns
Press & Publicity Officer
Essex County Table Tennis Association