Essex Press Office

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

Burnham Closed - Clacton Closed

Former England international Stuart Gibbs dominated the 2010 Burnham Closed Championships beating Marko Jovic in the Veterans Singles Final and County Over 60s team-mate Dave Bowles in the Mens Singles decider. There was consolation for the inform Bowles who became Over 50s Champion with a four game win over Peter Ballard. Kevin Read/Andrew Halling were the surprise winners of the Mens Doubles beating Minda Sinkus/George Reeves in the Final.The Championships produced numerous close matches with Marko Jovic’s Semi- Final win in the Veterans Singles over George Reeves (11-13, 11-8, 5-11, 18-16, 14-12) and Kevin Read’s Quarter-Final victory in the Mens Singles over Duncan Taylor (11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10) providing two of the clashes of the weekend.

Results included -

Mens Singles - Stuart Gibbs beat Dave Bowles 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6.

Ladies Singles - Lin Attridge beat Diane King 11-2, 11-4, 11-6,

Mens Doubles - Kevin Read/Andrew Halling beat Minda Sinkus/George Reeves 14-
12, 11-4, 13-11.

Ladies Doubles - Lin Attridge/Valerie Board beat Janet Pannell/Diane King 8-
11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6.

Veterans Singles - Stuart Gibbs beat Marko Jovic 5-11, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 11-
6.

Veterans Doubles - George Reeves/Gary Baker beat Andrew Halling/Dave Calleja
12-10, 11-8, 11-2.

Over 50s Singles - Dave Bowles beat Peter Ballard 10-12, 115, 11-9, 11-9.

Mixed Open Singles - Charles Sweeney beat Peter Mynard 11-7, 11-7, 13-11.

Under 25s Singles - Graham Briggs beat Daniel Richardson 8-11,12-10, 5-11, 11-
9, 11-9.

Junior Boys Singles - Mark Richardson beat Jack Cranfield 9-11., 11-7, 11-7,
12-10.

Clacton Closed -
20 year-old Greg Green, a superb winner of the 2009 Colchester League Mens Singles title became the 2010 Clacton League Mens Singles Champion, beating Martin Hogg 3-0 in the Final. Both Hogg and Green had excelled in their semi- Finals with Green scoring a superb four game win over Gary Young (13-11, 3-11, 13-11, 11-9) with Hogg getting the better of defending Champion Colin Stallwood (9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6). Green added the Mens Doubles title as well, teaming up with Gary Young to get the better of surprise finalists Kevin James/Gary Stallwood 3-1. There was ample consolation for Hogg who became Veterans Champion. Hogg’s Final opponent Dave Hall last played in these Championships 21 years ago, and won’t be displeased with his efforts on this occasion, having beaten two seeded players - Neil Crook and Alan Burgess.

Perhaps the most unexpected winner of all was the seemingly ageless Terry Kirby - once ranked in the top ten nationally - who became the League’s oldest ever Champion by winning the Division two singles. From an unseeded position he fought his way to the Final and claimed the title by beating Bob Sawyer 11-9, 11-9, 14-12 in a closely fought final. It may be a well-worn cliche but Table Tennis really is a game for life !.

Results included -

Mens Singles - Greg Green beat Martin Hogg 11-8, 11-1, 11-9.

Ladies Singles - Jenny Binns beat Annabelle Rodriguez 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8.

Mens Doubles - Greg Green/Gary Young beat Kevin James/Gary Stallwood 11-5, 10-
12, 12-10, 11-4.

Mixed Doubles - Alan Burgess / Jenny Binns beat Colin Stallwood / Annabelle
Rodriguez 11-4, 11-9, 11-9.

Ladies Doubles - Isobel Barton/Sandie Isaac beat Hazel Blanche/Jenny Binns 11-
4, 11-7, 12-10.

Junior Singles - James Denyer beat Mark Smith 6-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-7.

Veterans Singles - Martin Hogg beat Dave Hall 11-5, 11-3, 11-8.

Junior Doubles - Mark Smith/Adam Wilkin beat James Denyer/Ian Porter 11-9, 7-
11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-3.

Super Veterans Singles - Alan Burgess beat John Rice 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-4,
11-9.

Steve Kerns
Press & Publicity Officer
Essex County Table Tennis Association