The Clacton and District Table Tennis League’s Closed Championships, sponsored by The Survey Initiative, courtesy of Gary Cattermole, take place on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th April at the Clacton Coastal Academy Sports Hall. Seventy players will be competing for thirteen titles.
In the Mens Singles, reigning Clacton champion James Denyer and recently-crowned Colchester champion Paul Hume are top seeds and favourites to make it to the final. But there will be a strong challenge from three previous winners of this event, last season’s beaten finalist Greg Green, and Kevin Gowlett and Gary Young who both reached the semi-finals in 2024.
James Denyer and Greg Green won the Mens Doubles last year but they’re paired with different partners this time, Denyer with Adam Cuthbert and Green with Paul Hume, and it’s difficult to look beyond these pairings as potential finalists. The partnership of Kevin Gowlett and Gary Young looks the best of the rest.
Gracie Edwards has dominated the Ladies Singles in recent times, triumphing in seven of the past eight seasons. But she may face one of her sternest challenges this year, with Gill Locke, herself a three times champion, making a welcome Championship comeback.
And the pair could also be on opposite sides of the table in the Ladies Doubles final where reigning champions Edwards and Debra Found are seeded to face the new pairing of Locke and Lynette Sparks.
Four combinations stand out in the Mixed Doubles, with holders Greg Green and Gracie Edwards seeded one ahead of James Denyer and Gill Locke. Kevin and Sharon Gowlett, and Paul Hume and Lucy Carvell are likely semi-finalists.
There will definitely be a new name on the Junior Boys Singles trophy where Joe Sherwin and Tom Bryden are seeded to contest the final.
Sherwin and Bryden combine for a second year in the Junior Doubles in an effort to retain the trophy they took last season. But although there are only four pairings in this event, the partnerships of Lucy Carvell and Ruby Gallagher, Callum Hogg and Owen Woollard, and Savindu and Harindu De Silva all pose a potential threat.
Meanwhile, Ruby Gallagher and Lucy Carvell renew their battle for supremacy in the Junior Girls Singles, a title which Ruby has taken the last two years.
There’s a strong field in the Veterans Singles, with holder Gary Young aiming to win the trophy for a fifth time since 2017. Charlie Fulcher and Kevin Gowlett will provide the strongest challenge, whilst Andy Vincent, John Hatley and Gavin Price are all capable of springing a surprise.
Charlie Fulcher took the Super-Veterans Singles title in 2024 in his first season with the League and he starts as favourite again this year, ahead of Andy Vincent and Gavin Price.
The Division Two Singles could be one of the most open events of the weekend, with little to choose between the top four contenders. Mark Salter will be aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive title, Jonathan Hockley is unbeaten in the League this season, whilst Scott Campbell and Dave Miller have both been in impressive form in recent weeks.
By contrast, Kelvin Olano-Harper starts as strong favourite in the Division Three Singles but the Closed Championships do not always go to form and any one of Lucy Carvell, who took the title last year, Tom Bryden, Joe Sherwin, or the unseeded Ruby Gallagher and Matt Sage, are in with a shout.
The Restricted Singles is unseeded and success can sometimes depend on the draw. However, the event starts with a number of potential winners – pick any one of Charlie Fulcher, John Hatley, Ethan Lloyd, Jason Lloyd, John Pattrick, Gavin Price, Andy Vincent, Adam Wilkin or Simon Smith-Daye.
Overall, 255 matches are due to be played in what will be a very busy weekend’s table tennis. Play begins at 8.45 am on both Saturday and Sunday, with the finals scheduled after 2.45 pm on both days. Admission is free and spectators are welcome. Light refreshments will be available. There will also be a raffle and any donations of prizes would be welcome.
Details of check-in times and other information will be sent to all competitors prior to the event. Any player who has not received this by Tuesday 8th April should contact Peter White on 07795 544498.
For the record, the seventy competitors at the Championships represents well over fifty per cent of the League’s regular players, an excellent entry for which our players are to be congratulated.
Report by Tony Oswick
