Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League first division Champions Chelmsford A completed their Season in style by beating Danbury C 8-2 to give themselves a massive total of 123 points out of 160. Their winning margin of 35 points must be one of the largest on record. Gary Young (87 %) and Daniel Young (85%); the two main-stays of this team were both undefeated. Gary Young enjoyed a quick-fire 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 win over Keith Adams – the player who beat him in this year’s Chelmsford Veterans Singles Final. Chelmsford A had also beaten Danbury B 9-1. Gary Young and Daniel Young were both unbeaten. George Ashley showed up well for the losers with a fine 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10 win over Kim Shead. Danbury B did better against Danbury A and won 6-4.  Sam Lowman led the way with a hat-trick. With the various teams who were in contention for second place all dropping points it is the hugely promising Chelmsford B (Harry Buckle, Josh Bickles and Charlie Craig) who have claimed second place. In contention throughout the Season they hammered Galleywood A 10-0. Galleywood were forced to field two reserves and it was one of them – the evergreen John Holland who came closest to winning a game. He pushed Charlie Craig all the way before succumbing 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 11-13. Charlie Craig had dismissed Steve Kerns 11-6, 11-8, 11-9.  Harry Buckle led the way with a 70 % record with team-mates Josh Bickles (60 %), Charlie Craig (62 %) and Saul Chivers (52 %) all playing exceptionally well in their first year in the top division. Chelmsford C did well to draw 5-5 with the higher placed Writtle A. Duncan Taylor (96 %) was undefeated for Writtle A whilst Simon Jarvis and Victor Chan both won twice for the Chelmsford side. Simon Jarvis pipped Richard Storey 11-13, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9 in the closest game of the night. Without Duncan Taylor Writtle A lost 7-3 against Danbury A. Dave Richardson took his three singles and this included a widely fluctuating 6-11, 11-7, 11-3, 2-11, 11-9 win over Aaron Chandler. Writtle’s Ryan Pitt did well to beat Bruce Kettle (7-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-9).  

Danbury G are division two Champions with a game left to play. Sanjay Saptarshi (88 %) led them to a 7-3 win over Chelmsford D. Sanjay gave his team a winning start by pipping Harry Chivers (6-11. 11-6, 4-11, 11-8, 13-11) in a very well contested opening encounter. Keith Martin impressed for the losers by getting the better of David Gatheral 9-11, 11-6, 12-14, 11-5, 11-9.   Danbury D ran out 7-3 winners against Danbury E. Chris Buer was undefeated whilst Tim Cramphorn (Danbury E) defeated Ian Cranstone 12-10, 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 13-11 in the closest game of the evening. In an incredibly close division this result means that Danbury E (82 points) have finished second to bottom. OCA B (84 points) finished sixth and they did well to beat Writtle B (who finished eighth with 83 points) 6-4. Trevor Carter won his three singles for Writtle B beating Phil Smith (12-10 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 11-3), Trevor Collin (11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-3) and Paul Sturton (9-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-9). Hatfield Peverel A (92 points) have a game left to play and a great chance of finishing second. Neil Freeman was on inspired form against OCA C beating Mick Hayes (9-11, 11-4, 14-12, 11-7), David Porter (11-8, 8-11, 11-3, 11-4) and most impressively Mick Richardson (7-11, 11-3, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10).   The win over Mick Richardson gave his side what might be a crucial 6-4 victory. Hatfield Peverel A had not fared so well against Danbury D where they lost 8-2. Ian Cranstone and Chris Buer were both undefeated. Ian Cranstone impressed this time. He beat Neil Freeman (15-13, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9), Martin Archie (9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6) and Gareth Davies (11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7). Teamwork enabled Chelmsford D to beat Writtle B 6-4. Sudheep Kamma, Harry Chivers and Victor Chan all won twice to repel the three wins that Trevor Collin picked up for Writtle B. Trevor Collin had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Sudheep Kamma (9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9).  

Galleywood B claimed the division three title by beating Danbury H emphatically 10-0. They can’t be caught by second placed Maldon A who have two games left. With 16 wins out of 18 (just the two setbacks against Maldon A) Galleywood B – John Holland (89 %), Gary Copsey (83 %) and Mark Glenister (70 %) are worthy Champions. Chelmsford F did well to beat the higher placed Danbury F 6-4. Nikita Tkachuk (72 % and on a fine run of form) led the way with three wins.

Danbury L, who had already been crowned division four Champions were able to rest their leading player – Denis Crapnell against Highwood A. They drew 5-5 which gave them 115 points and an impressive 16 points advantage. Mervyn Perriman led the way with three wins although he had to fight back from 2-1 down to get the better of Melanie Bonnett 8-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-4. Writtle E have finished second and they ran out 10-0 winners against Maldon B. A good all-round team effort over the Season with Ian Hockley (69 %), Malcolm Storey (56 %), Dave Moles (59 %) and Neil Thompson (69 %) all scoring well.  Chelmsford H led by unbeaten performances by Khalid Davis and Cleon Fernandes defeated Galleywood C 8-2. Steve Peacock certainly made his opponents work for their wins. He succumbed (11-9, 4-11, 12-10, 12-14, 8-11) to Khalid Davis and equally closely (11-7, 11-4, 10-12, 9-11, 8-11) against Todd Martin.  OCA E have finished fourth with 89 points. Farooq Ahmed (81 %) was undefeated in their 7-3 win over Highwood B. He had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Dave Cockerill (13-11, 10-12, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9).

Buttsbury are division five Champions. They beat both Chelmsford J (8-2) and OCA F (7-3) which gave them 108 points. Keith Cullen and Alex Ware were both undefeated against Chelmsford whilst Frances Hutt was unbeaten against OCA F. She downed the challenge of Stuart Wintle over five roller coaster games (11-13, 11-4, 11-13, 11-7, 11-2). Hatfield Peverel C (Mick Carter, Richard Drozd and Andy Simmonds) finished second with 105 points. They completed their Season by beating Hatfield Peverel D 9-1. Mick Carter had to dig deep to get the better of Davina Brazier 10-12, 2-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-6. Hatfield Peverel E also finished their Season on a winning note. Bob Hillis was undefeated against Chelmsford J who they beat 7-3. Jacqui Smith won twice for Chelmsford J. Hatfield Peverel E had previously lost 6-4 to Danbury M. Paul Thirkettle led the way with three wins including a last gasp 11-5, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10 victory against Gary Simmons. Danbury N beat Maldon C 6-4 which gave both teams 57 points. Both teams had also won four matches and it was Danbury N who finished ahead by virtue of having the better record of ends won. No fewer than seven games went the distance and no one player stayed undefeated. Conversely no one emerged without one win.  Ella Sach won twice for Maldon whilst Steve Martin and Dave Smith both won twice for Danbury N. Ross Wheeler beat Ron Tam 14-16, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8, 12-10 – a game which had deuce in the fifth written all over it !.

The three Junior Leagues are still in progress. Chelmsford Leopards (Dion Fernandes and Cleon Fernandes) ran out 4-1 winners against Buttsbury Bats in Junior division 2A. They picked up all four singles but missed out 11-4, 8-11, 11-2, 8-11, 8-11 to Oscar Hutt and George Hagland in a hard fought doubles.

The leaders Buttsbury Badgers made it five wins out of five in Junior division 2B. They beat Writtle Racoons 4-2 although Luv Goel was undefeated for Writtle Racoons with wins over Callum Walker (11-8, 11-7, 11-8) and Joseph Hutt (11-5, 11-7, 12-10).

Buttsbury Beavers (Callum Walker and Charlie Ware) ran out 3-2 winners against Chelmsford Eagles in Junior division 2C. Callum Walker was unbeaten getting the better of Aryan Gupta (11-8, 11-5, 11-7) and Atharv Gupta (11-6, 11-8, 11-7).

Steve Kerns Press Officer Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League