Essex Press Office

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

Octogenerian Eric Reynolds who has performed just about all roles on the Romford League Committee with diligence and enthusiasm was this year's deserved recipient of the County's top award for the Service to the Sport - the Corti Woodcock Memorial Award. Little-known Nicole Sydorenko (Southend), whose performances lit up the Essex Junior fiirst team in their succesful attempt to gain promotion back to the First Division of the Junior County Championships was the winner of the Harry Walker Memorial Player's Player of the Year Award whilst Fred Lockwood, a sensational winner of the World Veterans championships Over 75 Mens Singles title in Rio De Jainero in 2008 was awarded County Life Membership.

Few people would have been able to predict what an impact the first BATTS TTC “Elite” Hardbat competition (held in July) was going to have. The original 32 spaces were taken within 24 hours of entries going “on-line” and the organising committee generously agreed to accommodate 48 players.

The first reallly big shock came in round 13 (unlucky for some and in this case Essex‘s John Payne) who found himself relegated into third place in his group when he lost 21-13, 19-21,18-21 to an inspired Andy Holmes (Suffolk). Another favoured player who failed to win his group was Joe Kennedy (Kent) who finished second after losing to Fred Dove (Essex). Steve Horton (Worcs) who beat Dove could only finish in fourth place after losing heavily to Wayne Shaw (Suffolk) and missing out to Joe Kennedy (23-21, 11-21, 21-23) in a real thriller where he led 20-16 in the deciding game.

The Band I event produced fireworks right from the start and as it wasn’t seeded the first round produced three epic clashes. Colin Wilson (Middlesex) had to pull out all the stops to see off Dave Harvey 21-16, 11-21, 21-17, whilst Eli Baraty did well to beat Joe Kennedy 21-12, 15-21, 21-14. Darren Griffin (more of him later) was also involved in a real humdinger and he
eventually beat Paul Barry 22-24, 21-19, 21-17.

Round two produced the two biggest “shocks of the day” with the little known Paul Worrollo producing some stirring table tennis to beat Colin Wilson 21-17, 21-23, 21-16, whilst Darren Griffin who clearly benefited from his first round scare produced some top class play as he beat Gareth Herbert 21-19, 21-19. Trevor Kerry also booked his semi-final appearance but only after a last gasp win over Billy Pegg (15-21, 21-14, 24-22).

By now Worrollo was on a roll and he produced another masterful performance to beat Eli Baraty 18-21, 21-17, 21-15 in his semi-final, whilst Darren Griffin again came through an epic three-end battle as he beat Trevor Kerry 20-22, 21- 17, 21-15. Those used to seeing Darren counter-hitting with his reverse rubbers will have been interested here; he chopped his way out of trouble for a large portion of this match.

So to the final, could the relatively unknown Worrollo beat the established County Senior Premier Division star Darren Griffin? The answer proved to be “no” on this occasion and it was Darren Griffin who came through to win 21-14, 21-15, for a memorable victory and a £150 Cash prize.

Steve Kerns
Press & Publicity Officer
Essex County Table Tennis Association