Essex Press Office

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

After a six year absence from the Sport and despite having only played in four League matches former Essex no. one Junior and Senior Cris Sladden won his eighth Southend Mens Singles title. In his Semi-Final Stuart Gibbs beat another player who has made a dramatic return to the Sport with a swift climb up the ETTA Veterans Rankings - Kevin Caldon. However, Stuart
couldn't contain Cris in the Final and Cris ran out a 11-7, 15-13, 11-5 winner. Stuart sportingly acknowledged "Cris was just a different class".

Elsewhere, Duncan Taylor and Kevin Read impressed in winning the Mens Doubles with a superb quick-fire 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 victory over Kevin Caldon and Dave Bowles whilst Terry Guymer picked up the Veterans Singles after a marathon struggle against Caldon. Terry pinched this one 4-11, 16-14,
9-11, 11-8, 12-10. Linda Murray had few problems in annexing the Ladies Singles - beating Sarah Mapes 3-0 in the Final.

Selected results included -

Mens Singles - Cris Sladden beat Stuart Gibbs 11-7, 15-13, 11-5.

Ladies Singles - Linda Attridge beat Sarah Mapes 11-3, 11-5, 11-1.

Mens Doubles - Kevin Read / Duncan Taylor beat Kevin Caldon / Dave Bowles 11-6, 11-4, 11-5.

Ladies Doubles - Linda Attridge / Mel Jones beat Pam Swan / Sarah Mapes 11-8, 11-7, 11-8.

Mixed Doubles - Stuart Gibbs/ Linda Attridge beat Jamie Wilson / Sarah Mapes 11-8, 11-8, 11-3.

Veterans Singles - Terry Guymer beat Kevin Caldon 4-11, 16-14, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10.

Veterans Doubles - Kevin Caldon / Dave Bowles beat Marco Jovic / Glenn Johnson 11-6, 9-11, 19-17, 12-10.

Over 60s Singles - Peter Saunders beat Bill Smith 11-5, 11-3, 12-10.

Over 70s Singles - Ray Farmer beat Brian Cooper 11-3, 11-3, 11-5.

Restricted Premier Division Singles - John Poysden beat Minda Sinkus 11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9.

Under 18 Invitation Singles - Owen Warren beat Sam Langton 11-7, 5-11, 11-4, 12-10.

Mixed Doubles - Stuart Gibbs Linda Attridge beat Jamie Wilson / Sarah Mapes 11-8, 11-8, 11-3.

Steve Kerns
Press & Publicity Officer
Essex County Table Tennis Association