Last week saw the culmination of the Danbury Table Tennis Club annual championships. With both the Singles and Doubles Final going all the way to deciding 5th ends the crowds were kept enthralled right to the bitter end. Keith Adams got through a tricky semi-final against Dan Anderson and then had to come from behind in the Final to get the better of Ian Wall to retain his Title. Wall played superbly throughout having come through an epic semi-final of his own against ace defender Eric Green. He certainly took the game to favourite Adams and at times seemed to have the better of him with considered play and picking out when to attack with vigour. Adams held on and from the 4th game onwards cut out some of his errors and often pinned Wall against the wall! Wall was not out of it though and at 7-7 in the deciding leg he hit the most ferocious cross court forehand winner of the entire tournament to take an 8-7 lead. Unfortunately that wasn’t the fillip most expected it to be as Adams shrugged off the quality of his opponent’s finish and racked up the final 4 points to win out 11-8 in the 5th leg. A deserved Champion for sure but he was pushed all the way by the hard-working runner-up.
The doubles was an excellent sporting spectacle as both pairings had golden periods throughout a rollercoaster of a Final. Eventually we landed at 2-2 and went into a deciding set. Sanjay Saptarshi and Graham Naggs stormed into an 8-3 lead and seemed to have it in the bag. But the wily Eric Green and his young partner Oliver Martin were not done and eventually caught up at 10-10 having saved a couple of championship points. Then at 10-11 down it seemed Saptarshi and Naggs had somehow rescued defeat from the jaws of victory but Naggs served well and it was all square at 11-11. Saptarshi and Naggs survived the Green serve for another championship point and this time Martin could not return the forceful Saptarshi serve and the Champions collapsed in a heap of sweat and relief.
In the other competitions their were victories for Louis Gunn in the Restricted Singles, Daniel Anderson in the Handicap Singles, and a superb display of ping pong earned Bruce Kettle the Hard Bat Singles crown.
The Club also presented a couple of perennial trophies. Denis Crapnell was considered the most improved player within the Club and was presented with the Village Hall Cup, and Steve Martin was presented with the coveted Elizabeth Award for services to the Club over the season, in particular for his efforts in co-ordinating and managing the junior competitive teams.
Thanks also went to the chief organisers of the tournament Gordon Gatheral, David Gatheral, and Eamonn Hall.
Pic 1 – Danbury Singles Champion – Keith Adams receiving his trophy from Club President Norman Smith.
Pic 2 – Danbury Singles Final – Keith Adams versus Ian Wall (above)
Pic 3 – Danbury Singles Champion – Keith Adams
Pic 4 – Danbury Doubles Champions – Graham Naggs and Sanjay Saptarshi receiving their trophy from Club President Norman Smith
Pic 5 – Danbury Doubles Final – Sanjay Saptarshi and Graham Naggs v Eric Green and Oliver Martin
Pic 6 – Steve Martin being presented with the Elizabeth Award by Club President Norman Smith
