This week saw the Cold Norton Club embark on a winning rampage in the top division of the Burnham & District Table Tennis League.   All 3 of their Division1 teams posted emphatic victories that leave the A Team in a clear lead at the head of the table.

Cold Norton A entered play this week without their talisman but still racked up a decent 7-3 victory over the hard-working Woodham C team.  Kevin Read was unbeaten for Cold Norton whilst Chris Hancox excelled for Woodham with victories over Matt Stringer and Steve Sawyer.  Sawyer was involved in the two most dramatic ties as he ousted David Penrose 11-7 in the first of his deciding sets, and then in the final match of the night, having squared the match up at 2-2 coming from 0-2 down, Sawyer and Graham Briggs went toe-to-toe all the way to 13-13 in the fifth leg before Briggs pulled his finger out and completed the task at hand for his sole point of the evening.   Cold Norton B hosted the current title holders Woodham A and will be delighted with their 6-4 victory.  The B Team trio of Eric Green, Ian Wall, and Sam Lowman all defeated Dan Piglet and Chris Penrose but none of them were able to master the modern defensive play of Woodham starlet Lee McHugh.  McHugh notched a very notable hat-trick of singles and paired up with Penrose for the Brucie Bonus doubles point.  Wall provided the most trouble for McHugh, taking the Woodham player to a close deciding leg.  Cold Norton C were boosted by the presence of Sam Lowman in their ranks and he did not disappoint in their clash with Woodham B.  Both Lowman and Arron Chandler won all their singles with the only blip being some dogged resistance from Woodham’s Eamonn Hall in his 5-setter with Chandler.  Lowman and Tim Cramphorn won the doubles, but Cramphorn couldn’t find his singles form as he lost out to all the Woodham trio for a final score of 7-3 to Cold Norton.

But what about the high-flying Cold Norton D team I hear you ask?  Have they completed a clean sweep for the Nortonites?  Well frankly, ‘no’ – they let the side down and have been severely admonished by their patron.  Cold Norton D visited Woodham D this week buoyed by the results of the Clubmates and hoping to claim top spot in Division 2, but alas they were undone by the youth and vigour of Woodham.  Peter Harverson was the star turn for Woodham with 3 comfortable victories.  He was ably wingmanned by Scott Perry and Jeremy Griffin each with a brace of wins.  Perry fell to the blistering hitting of Dave Hancox, and Griffin was outgunned by Terry Hyland.  Hyland and Hancox combined for a surprisingly easy doubles point to bring their score up in the 7-3 loss.  This reverse sees Woodham leapfrog Cold Norton into the runner-up spot, and they seem likely to be there or thereabouts come the reckoning hour.  Elsewhere in the Division, Mapledene C posted their first win of the season with a Tony Ayliffe inspired 6-4 triumph over Blackwater A.  Ayliffe was unbeaten across all formats all evening and was barely troubled in doing so.  Mapledene’s Mike Johnston got his money’s worth as he played out 3 five-setters in his singles with just a solitary point for his sweat and troubles – an 11-5 deciding leg victory over Neil Freeman.  Denis Balic was the most effective Blackwaterite with points taken from Johnston and Lin Roff.  Blackwater B have been a bit of a surprise package so far, and this week unleashed their fury onto Stow Maries C.  Blackwater’s Simon Quelch was the dominant force as he took a singles hat-trick with his usual intelligent play, and partnered Gary Smith for the extra doubles point in their 6-4 win.  For Stow Tim Huxtable and Pete Layzell both won 2 matches.  It was no barrel of laughs for Maldon B at Stow A this week as team stalwart Colin Barrell was unable to trouble the scorecard during his singles encounters.  However his team-mates came to the rescue as both Garry Eames and Steve Aspland were on good form to oust the challenges of Ken Sheard and Peter Chastin.  But neither of these protagonists could cope with the spinny play and array of serves emanating from the paddle of Ryan Pitt.  So the overall result came down to the doubles.  The unbeaten Pitt, stood aside for this one, could only watch in horror as the trusty Maldon pairing of Aspland and Barrell combined for the umpteenth time to win the doubles and secure the overall draw.

The Division 3 matches this week were all dominated by classy players.  Blackwater F and Woodham E played out a competitive stalemate that sees both teams record their first non-defeat of the season.  Woodham’s returning Allan Steel was a class above his opponents with an unbeaten evening, dropping just the single leg in the process.  Great to see the Man of Steel back at the table tennis arenas of the Burnham League.  With one old face returning it was also great to see the new face of young Oscar Wyman record his first 2 victories for Blackwater within the Burnham League – more to come from this young talent.  The star of the Maldon E V St Lawrence fixture was the wily Mike Burton with a hat-trick of singles victories including a 5 set comeback against John Leavett.  Dave Bateman chipped in with 2 two good wins to complete the St Lawrence points tally.  Leavett won his remaining singles matches and he and Kym Eames combined for the against-the-odds straight sets doubles victory over Burton and Bateman.  Blackwater C consolidated their position as league leaders with a powerful 8-2 winning margin over Club mates Blackwater D.  Mervyn Perriman and his pimple adorned bat ran riot against the 3 accomplished D team players, and he didn’t let up in the doubles as he and partner Neil Thompson completed an unblemished night for the Blackwater C luminary.  Thompson also kept a clean sheet of his own with 3 singles victories, although he was pushed to the limit by Jason Bush in a rollercoaster 5-setter. Chris Rolison completed the scoring for the C team with his single victory in another 5-setter against David Sage.

Pic 1 – Lee McHugh of Woodham A in fine defensive form

Pic 2 – Sam Lowman in action for Cold Norton B and C this week

Pic 3 – Arron Chandler securing his hat-trick for Cold Norton C against Woodham’s Harry Sawford

Pic 4 – Woodham D’s star player Peter Harverson.

Pic 5 – Black water C’s Mervyn Perriman at full stretch

Report by Eamonn Hall

Two Brotherhood sides of talented juniors are setting the pace in
Division Three of the Clacton League.
Brotherhood F were given their sternest test to date but emerged
with flying colours, beating Walton D 7-3. Joe Sherwin won three,
Tom Bryden two and Ruby Gallagher one. Sherwin had a nail-
biting 11-2, 11-5, 10-12, 4-11, 12-10 victory over Maggie Earle,
whilst Bryden edged out Lynette Sparks 11-6 in the fifth. In two
more close matches, Earle defeated Bryden 11-8 in the fifth and
Gallagher 11-9 in the fifth.
It’s been a good start also for Brotherhood H, 9-1 winners this
week against Holland Hurricanes. Owen Woollard and Savindu De
Silva were unbeaten, with Harindu De Silva winning twice.
Woollard had two tight wins, 11-8 in the fifth against Ian Gwillim
and an even closer 12-10 in the fifth against Pam Cousins. John
Smith-Daye picked up the Hurricanes’ point with an equally tight
11-9 in the fifth win against Harindu De Silva.
All six of these Brotherhood juniors, together with the ‘H’ team’s
fourth player Lucy Carvell, recently attended the Essex trials. All
played exceptionally well, with Ruby Gallagher and Lucy Carvell
subsequently chosen to play for the Essex third Junior Team.
Back in the League, and in a match of more mature players,
Andrew Cousins took his maximum in Nomads Ocelots’ 8-2
victory against Holland Mosquitos, Arthur Wells-Garrett and Hazel
Blanche each winning twice. Brian Abram took the two points for
the Mosquitos.
There was a hat-trick also for Dominic Joannou in Nomads
Leopards’ 7-3 victory over Holland Vulcans. Anne Bonney added a
couple and Mark Taylor one, whilst there were a couple for
Holland’s Derek Foxley.

And in a third victory for a Nomads’ side against a team from the
Holland Club, the Bobcats proved too good for the Lancasters,
winning 9-1. Matt Sage and Alex Baldock stayed unbeaten, with
Sam Watling winning two. Dave Wright took the Lancasters’
consolation point.
In Division One, Windsor Hawks fielded their top trio against
Brotherhood B and ran out 9-1 winners, Gary Young and Andy
Vincent taking trebles. Felipe Rodriguez won two but suffered
defeat at the hands of Joe Plummer. The Hawks took the doubles
in the only match which went the distance, Vincent and Rodriguez
winning 11-5 in the decider against Sam Plummer and Joe
Plummer.
Three for Gavin Price, which included an 11-6 in the fifth win
against Paul Meikle, and two for Kevin James, in his first
competitive match for ten months, saw Walton A home 7-3
against Walton B. All three of the ‘B’ team’s points were five-
setters, Mark Ratcliffe defeating James 11-8 in the fifth and Derek
Willis 11-6 in the fifth, whilst Jason Gale beat Willis 11-2 in the
fifth.
Brotherhood A got their season under way with a share of the
spoils against Walton C. Kevin Gowlett and Russell Hillier won two
each but no-one could get the better of Walton’s undefeated Pete
Burrows.
Phil Smith returned to form with a hat-trick for Windsor Eagles in
their 6-4 victory over Lawford. John Pattrick contributed two for
the winners, as did Glen Laing for Lawford.
In an all-Windsor clash in Division Two, the Kestrels will feel
pleased with their 6-4 result against the Penguins, Graham Bunce
winning three, and Peter Aumord and Jackie Bunce one each. Neil
Chegwidden and Paul Woolnough took two apiece for the
Penguins.
Brotherhood E recorded their second 7-3 win of the season, this
time over Windsor Magpies. Duncan Dunne and Fred Gallone
stayed unbeaten with Dave Sweetland, John Plummer and
Malcolm Caley picking up a point each for the losers.
The Brotherhood D v Nomads Tigers tie ended all-square, a
second drawn match for both teams. No-one stayed unbeaten,
Paul Alden and Mark Salter winning two each for Brotherhood, as
did Bob Jillins and new signing Brian Adams for the Tigers. But
the Tigers had to fight hard for the draw, winning the final three

matches of the evening, all five-setters, Zein Shafat beating Tricia
Salter 11-6 in the decider, Jillins beating Mark Salter 11-8 in the
decider, and Adams beating Alden, also 11-8 in the decider.
Finally, Nomads Jaguars were 6-4 winners against Brotherhood G,
every player picking up at least one point. But Jaguars’ skipper
Tom Wilkin took the limelight with a treble, with Callum Hogg and
Chris Petrou winning one each. Gary Simpson’s two for
Brotherhood included an 11-7 in the fifth win over Petrou, whilst
reserve Tom Bryden edged out Petrou 11-8 in the fifth and Dan
Grindrod beat Hogg 11-2 in the fifth.

• The Windsor Club’s Quiz Evening is on Saturday 16th November
  at the Brotherhood Hall. For more details or to enter a team,
  contact Jenny Higgins on 07790 240566.
  RESULTS
  Division 1
  Brotherhood A 5 Walton C 5;
  Windsor Eagles 6 Lawford 4;
  Brotherhood B 1 Windsor Hawks 9;
  Walton B 3 Walton A 7.
  Division 2
  Windsor Penguins 4 Windsor Kestrels 6;
  Brotherhood D 5 Nomads Tigers 5;
  Windsor Magpies 3 Brotherhood E 7;
  Nomads Jaguars 6 Brotherhood G 4.
  Division 3
  Holland Vulcans 3 Nomads Leopards 7;
  Walton D 3 Brotherhood F 7;
  Holland Hurricanes 1 Brotherhood H 9;
  Nomads Ocelots 8 Holland Mosquitos 2;
  Nomads Bobcats 9 Holland Lancasters 1.

There were three wins for Liam Squirrell and two for Reece Seddon on their return to Chelmsford & District League action after a five year absence. 

Division 1

Chelmsford A lead the way in division one with three wins from three fixtures and while Danbury A are just four points back it is Chelmsford’s week four opponents Danbury C, last year’s runners-up, who will no doubt provide their biggest test to date. Harry Chivers fired his second hat-trick of the season in Chelmsford A’s 6-4 away win at Danbury B.  Liam Squirrell and Reece Seddon were in action for Danbury C as they won a tight encounter with Writtle A 6-4. Squirrell won all three, dropping just one game, while Seddon’s only loss was at the hands of Kevin Read who claimed the nail-biting decider 16-14.  There was a treble for Eric Green in his first appearance of the season as his Danbury A side won 8-2 at Galleywood A.  Green’s toughest match was with Alistair Hill who had held a 2-1 lead before Green stormed through.

Division 2

Hatfield Peverel A lead the way in division two following an 8-2 home win against Galleywood B.  Martin Archie fired his second treble of the season with two wins apiece for Julie Johnson and Alastair Piper – both players undone by Galleywood’s Mark Glenister.  Peverel’s toughest challenge may yet come from Buttsbury A who they face in Week 4 off the back of an 8-2 victory over Danbury F in week three.  Maldon A were without last week’s hat-trick hero Lloyd Bennett-Smith but Derek Balding made his first appearance of the season and took the player-of-the-match honours with three victories in Maldon’s 7-3 win at OCA B.  Hamish Innes and Dawn Baldry supported Balding with two wins apiece but both fell at the hands of Mick Richardson – Innes having led 2-1.

There was no Gary Ward for Writtle C but the three John’s – Webber, Gagg and Parodi claimed a 5-5 draw with Chelmsford C in his absence.  Webber fired his first treble of the season while teammate Gagg pulled off an eye-catching win over Felix Reeve.  The great Sanjay Saptarshi won all three of his matches as Danbury D beat Writtle B 7-3. In his first league match of the new season, Eamonn Hall backed Saptarshi up with two wins – losing out to Writtle’s Phil Smith who won two of his own.  Hall showed his never-say-die attitude by successfully overcoming a 0-2 deficit against both Trevor Collin and Trevor Carter.

Division 3

The only two unbeaten sides in division three – Writtle D and Buttsbury B – sit in third and fourth positions respectively as Chelmsford D lead the way followed by clubmates Chelmsford E. Andy Swales and Kelvin Edeh hit three wins apiece as the leaders Chelmsford E beat Hatfield Peverel B 9-1.  Having played in division five over the past few seasons, Edeh’s improvement is apparent and showed his recovery powers when trailing Paul Mulley 2-0. Matthew Brown hit his second treble of the season in Writtle D’s 8-2 demolition job of leaders Chelmsford D, Malcolm Henstock and Bob Garson both won twice for the hosts as Chelmsford’s Adi Kamma stood firm with wins against both opponents. Three wins for Grace Liu and two each for Caroline Cole and Frances Hutt saw Buttsbury B win 7-3 at Danbury J.  An inspired Gus Heath hat-trick helped Danbury H to a 6-4 away win at Galleywood C, Heath consigned Galleywood’s Gary Copsey to his first defeat of the season over five games. Denis Ballic was undefeated as Danbury G won 6-4 on the road at Writtle E. Ballic beat Dave Moles over five games after Moles had beaten Danbury’s Louis Gunn by the same 3-2 scoreline.

Division 4

Maldon B and Hutton A look to be the two outstanding teams in division four at the moment with both sides displaying a perfect three wins from three fixtures going into week four. Brian Riedling and Chris Ravenhill won three apiece as Maldon B beat Hatfield Peverel C 7-3 while Alex Ware fired his third hat-trick of the season in Hutton A’s 7-3 away win at Danbury K.  Mark Nolan was in action for the second time this season and promptly served up his second treble as Chelmsford G beat OCA D 6-4.  Peter Harverson won three with teammates John Manning and Roy Gandy winning two each in Danbury L’s 8-2 win over Danbury M.  M team’s Oliver Martin prevented Manning and Gandy winning three – Martin fought back from 2-0 down in both matches. Roger Patient and David Cockrell hit trebles in Highwood A’s 8-2 win over Galleywood D.  Highwood’s Keith Fitz-John’s two wins were both five-gamers but Galleywood’s Lewis Armstrong prevented his hat-trick.  Jenne Seibolt won all three as Buttsbury D beat clubmates Buttsbury C 7-3, Seibolt gave Oscar Hutt his only defeat of the night in a competitive 11-13, 13-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9 triumph.

Division 5

Hutton B sit proudly top of division five with three wins from three, Writtle F and Maldon C sit four points back while Buttsbury E could be serious challengers having won both of their fixtures. Hutton B’s are showing a strength in depth having used eight different players for their three victories – Peter Moxham won all three matches on his first appearance with two victories for Charlie Gould.  Galleywood E’s Steve Peacock fired his second treble of the season in Galleywood E’s 5-5 draw with Writtle F. Ron Tam won twice for Writtle though missed out in five at the hands of Peacock, Tam had earlier recovered from 2-0 down against Doug Blaber, Blaber staged a 0-2 recovery of his own against Michael Anthony in a close encounter which ended 12-14, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9. 

The Maldon C trio of James Raymond, Kym Eames and Arthur Shadforth won seven of their nine singles matches for the second time this season in their 8-2 away win at Anglia Ruskin University,  Shadforth scored the hat-trick this time for Maldon while teammate Raymond missed out on a treble of his own when falling 3-2 to Connor Casey. There were first trebles of the season for Bruce Wickham, Andy Whiley and Andy Simmons in Hatfield Peverel D’s 10-0 win against Hatfield Peverel F.

Chelmsford Junior League division 1A

The Buttsbury Bees are top of junior division 1A with three wins from four fixtures as Vivaan Babbar and Joshua Freeman won all of their singles matches against Hutton Hawks and Hutton Harriers.  Adhuna Das won twice for the Chelmsford Lions in their 3-2 home win over the Chelmsford Tigers, while Charlie Gould and Billy Andrews were unbeaten as the Hawks beat the Buttsbury Bats 5-0.

Chelmsford Junior League division 1B

The Chelmsford Leopards look like the dominant force at this early stage of junior league division 1B though they were unable to keep their run of 5-0 wins going as they beat the Hutton Hammers 3-2.  Sai Suresh of the Leopards took his record to six individual wins out of six so far this season though he had to recover from 2-1 down against Michael Bradshaw.  Another undefeated player this season is Zac Berry who took his tally of individual wins to four from four as the Buttsbury Bears beat the Hutton Hyenas 4-1.  Theo Rugg of the Hyenas earned a last gasp win against Shay Coughlan with a 12-10 scoreline in the decider.  The Chelmsford Jaguars dropped just two games in their 5-0 away win at the Buttsbury Bulldogs – Bernard and Damon Chow doing the damage this week. The Jaguars move into second position with two wins from two.

___________________________

Jeremy Hill, Press Officer, Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League

___________________________

• 

Cold Norton A and Fambridge cling on the joint leadership of the top division of the Burnham & District Table Tennis League despite both teams being held to feisty draws this week.  Cold Norton A were held by their own C team courtesy of an exceptional hat-trick of singles wins by Sam Lowman including taking the 100% unbeaten record off the league’s best player in Duncan Taylor.  Lowman took straight set victories over the A team’s Charles Sweeny and Rob Harris but needed all 5 sets to overcome the defensive prowess of Taylor.  Taylor and Sweeny won the remainder of their singles and combined for the doubles point to at least put a small pea-sized dent in Lowman’s skip home.  Fambridge made the short trip to Champions Manor Hall to face the current title holders Woodham A – and again we witnessed a pair of trios that would grace any Essex league match.   A feisty lengthy rollercoaster with plenty of bumps and twists this one as Woodham stormed to a 3-0 start, but then found them selves behind 5-4 going into the final loop.  Woodham’s Harry Chivers opened up against the wily John Poysden and after a tough 40 mins of play they found themselves at 9-9 deadlock in the fifth.  The youth of Chivers prevailed this time but the loss only spurred Poysden on to a better place as he was unbeaten from then on.  Lee McHugh beat Keith Adams in 4 sets and Chris Penrose saw off the returning Chris Ballard in straight sets.  Poysden used all his knowhow to hold on and eventually beat Penrose 11-9 in the fifth set and Adams atoned for his earlier loss with a 4 set triumph over Chivers.  The doubles was another lengthy and noisy affair with commentary aplenty from both pairs.  It was close all the way through and we again reached 9-9 in the deciding leg before Adams and Poysden saw off the challenge of Chivers and McHugh (-9,9,9,-6,9).  Buoyed by their doubles victory Adams and Poysden won the next 2 singles matches in straight sets to leave Chivers and Ballard to fight it out in the final match of the night.  Chivers set off at some pace and was quickly 2-0 up, but Ballard fought back bravely and played his way to a 2-2 stalemate.  The final leg was tight at the start but Chivers found his groove and dominated the finish of the match to secure his second win of the night and the draw for his team. A proper humdinger this one!  Across the arena in Woodham, Cold Norton B were racking up the points against Woodham B.  The points came consistently but the matches were tough going at times, so the scoreline of 8-2 to Cold Norton probably doesn’t sum up the closeness of some of the matches – as the match finished just before the A team’s marathon across the divide.  Eric Green knocked out a hat-trick on the night but was taken all the way to a fifth end by Woodham’s best player Daniel Patynski.  Patynski went on the take scalps off both Dan Anderson and Ian Wall for Woodham’s sole points of the encounter.  Wall edged past Eamonn Hall in 4 sets, and then showed great bouncebackability as he squeezed past Sanjay Saptarshi in 5 sets having been 0-2 down to the Woodham hotshot.  Anderson was frustrated by his opening loss to Patynski and channelled his aggression into his defensive work as he got past Hall and Saptarshi just dropping a single leg along the way.  

Maldon A are running rampant in Division 2.  This week they posted a 10-0 whitewash victory over the hapless Blackwater B crew.  With only 3 individual legs dropped all match by the Maldon trio, other than an early bath there was very little in the way for consolation for the Blackwater team.  Wins all round for Dawn Baldry, Hamish Innes, and Colin Napper.  Maldon B picked up their first win of the season as Steve Aspland found his form and recorded his first hat-trick of this campaign.  Having said this Aspland was a tad fortunate to come through against Stow’s Peter Chastin.  Aspland found himself 9-10 down in the deciding leg and word on the street was that he pulled out a lucky clipped edge to take the match to deuce before seeing out the match.  Chastin won his other two matches as did the lovable Dave Goody with two excellent victories over Colin Barrell and Garry Eames.  Stow A will be hoping to challenge Maldon A for the title this year and this week’s 8-2 win over Mapledene C will be seen as a good marker of their intent.  Fielding both Richard Storey and Gary Brignall would guarantee any team a significant number of points and neither disappointed as they went undefeated in both singles and doubles.  The ‘extra’ point came from Malcolm Storey with a hard earned triumph over Dave Woolmer.  In the final match of the week Woodham D travelled to Stow B and came way with  respectable 7-3 winning margin.  Two wins a piece for the Woodham trio of Scott Perry, Gus Heath, and Mal Henstock.  Perry’s 4 set victory over Peter Hance being the most note-worthy of the evening, with Hance winning his other singles on the night.

Division 3 has a distinct hint of sea salt as the Maldon D and C teams dominate the upper echelons.  Maldon C followed up their demolition of St Lawrence last week with a comprehensive victory over their own E team.  Marty Englander remains the star turn with his second hat-trick on the bounce, with team-mates Shirley Carroll and Ella Sach chipping in with 2 wins and a win respectively. For the E team John Leavett proved the toughest player with two wins to keep the rampant C team in check.  The Maldon D side had James Raymond and Arthur Shadforth to thank for their 6-4 win over St Lawrence A, as both players won all their singles albeit with a tough couple of 5 setters thrown in to keep it real.  Strangely the Raymond and Shadforth doubles act may need some work as they succumbed in straight sets to the wise and stoic pairing of Mikes Pratley and Burton.  Blackwater C were relentless and fastidious as they blew away their Club opponents from the F team.  Final score was 10-0, although the F team’s Andy Simmons almost pulled a victory out of the bag when he went 2-1 up against Keith Thompson but alas he ran out of steam and Thompson pulled through in 5 sets for his hat-trick to match those of team-mates Jacqui Treacy and Andrea Alleyne.  The other Blackwater derby saw the D and E teams play out a well contested draw.  Player of the night went to the D team’s Jason Bush who won all his singles but was not selected for the doubles which they lost and this cost them the overall victory – Club manager Erik Ten Hag was not available to explain that decision.  Deb Ginn won 2 of her singles as well as the doubles and the E team’s Thompson Twins, Keith and Vanessa, had ‘love on their side’ as they each added a point to their team’s total.  Poor Ron Tam of the D side played 19 out of a maximum 20 legs only to go home empty handed but pleased for the cardio workout he was given.

Pic 1 – Sam Lowman of Cold Norton C – star player of the week

Pic 2 – Harry Chivers versus John Poysden in the opening game of the match of the week

Pic 3 – Eric Green in hat-trick action for Cold Norton B this week

Pic 4 – The lovable Dave Goody this week with his eye-catching victory over Colin Barrell.

Pic 4 – Woodham D trio of Scott Perry, Gus Heath and Mal Henstock   

The Braintree Table Tennis League does not keep sophisticated computerised records but it’s hard to imagine there has ever been a team to match that put out by division three Rayne H in the first week of the league season. 

Between them Ian Rubens, Ernst Midl and Chris High have notched up 243 years. 

It was particularly pleasing to see Ian Rubens back in action after a four-year gap and at 88, he has surely set an individual record.

Nor has he forgotten how to play the game.  He was beaten by Netts E’s new signing David Montgomery but came out top in his other two singles.

 Midl and High followed suit with two wins to give Rayne H a 6-4 victory.

 Sudbury Strollers were the big winners in division three with a 9-1 win over a far from negligible Rayne G side. 

Natalie Dodd and George Berry were unbeaten while Rayne’s new signing Conrad Gomes avoided a nil return by beating Geoff Bradford. 

There were 7-3 wins for Netts F over Black Notley H and Finchingfield A over their own B team. 

In contrast with Rayne H, Netts F’s team were all under 17 and equipped themselves well against experienced opposition.  JJ Calisin was the pick of the bunch, the only one to beat Nigel Parmenter. 

At Finchingfield, it was the B team’s Stewart Grant who was unbeaten, including a victory over the returning Dave Punt. 

Yeldham Whitlocks’ new B team started with a draw against Notley I with three wins from Steve Willis. 

Division two produced some more clearcut results, 10-0 wins for Sudbury Wanderers over Rayne F and Notley F over Netts D, while Notley D had a 9-1 win over Yeldham A. 

The other two matches finished 6-4, Netts C against Notley E while Rayne E got the better of their own D team. 

Jamie Brooks was unbeaten for Notley E and Matthew Brown for Rayne E.

BOB’S OFF TO A FLYER!

Bob Jillins has started life in Division Two of the Clacton League in fine style, this week recording his second hat-trick in as many matches.

Newly recruited into the re-formed Nomads Tigers’ side, Jillins starred with an excellent maximum in his team’s drawn match with club-mates Nomads Jaguars, all three wins achieved in three-straight. He also shared an 11-9 in the fifth doubles win with Zein Shafat against Tom Wilkin and Callum Hogg. Shafat picked up the fifth Tigers’ point while, for the Jaguars, Wilkin and Chris Petrou each won two, and Hogg one.

Five of the matches between Windsor Buzzards and Brotherhood D went the distance, but it was the Buzzards who edged it 6-4. Scott Campbell took a treble and Pete Bloomfield a couple, Campbell defeating Paul Alden 11-5 in the decider and Mark Salter 11-9 in the decider. Salter won two for Brotherhood, in the process denying Bloomfield his treble, winning 11-9 in the decider. And in yet another 11-9 in the decider result, Brotherhood’s Tricia Salter excelled to beat Ray Chillingworth.

The battle of last season’s top two Division Three sides ended with Brotherhood E defeating Windsor Harriers 7-3. Kevin Pryor was unbeaten, Rodney Betts took two and Tony Edmunds one. In two tight matches, Edmunds beat Jenny Higgins 12-10 in the fifth and Betts beat Windsor reserve Ferdy Rodriguez by the same score.

Brotherhood C have started the season in good form, three from Mark Boyland, and two each from Paul Metcalf and John Gallagher, seeing them to an 8-2 success over Windsor Kestrels. Graham Bunce took the Kestrels’ points.   

In Division Three, Kelvin Olano picked up a hat-trick for Windsor Falcons against Walton D, but two each for Lynette Sparks, Maggie Earle and Adrian Sexton gave Walton a 7-3 victory. Walton also took the doubles in the closest finish of the League season so far, Sparks and Earle edging past Olano and Nikki Hayes 4-11, 11-4, 12-10, 4-11, 15-13.

In their second match, Walton D fielded a guest against Holland Hurricanes, Sparks winning three and Sexton two to earn a draw. Ian Gwillim picked up a point for the Hurricanes while Gerry Widnell twice went close, losing 11-7 in the fifth to Sparks and 13-11 in the fifth to Sexton. But Gwillim and Widnell had the satisfaction of taking the doubles 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 12-14, 11-7 against the more experienced Sparks and Sexton.

However, the Hurricanes then lost 10-0 to Lucy Carvell, Joe Sherwin and Tom Bryden of Brotherhood F who, even at this early stage of the season, look the team to beat.

The Brotherhood H v Nomads Bobcats encounter proved a hard-fought match, Brotherhood emerging narrow 6-4 victors. Savindu De Silva recorded a maximum whilst Owen Woollard played well to defeat both Jack Riddleston and Alex Baldock in five-setters. Harindu De Silva won one but lost in five to both Baldock and Matt Sage. Sage took two for the Bobcats.

Holland Lancasters were 8-2 winners over club-mates Holland Vulcans who fielded a guest player. Frank Wimpress and Dave Wright were unbeaten. For the Vulcans, there was a debut League win for Derek Foxley and, after a barren spell, a welcome success for Mick Coker.

Dominic Joannou took his maximum as Nomads Leopards drew with Nomads Ocelots. Joannou was involved in both matches which went the distance, beating Andrew Cousins 11-9 in the fifth and, with Anne Bonny, taking the doubles 13-11 in the fifth against Cousins and Arthur Wells-Garrett. Cousins and Wells-Garrett each took two for the Ocelots.

In Division One, Nomads Panthers recorded a second 9-1 win of the season, this week beating Nomads Lions. Greg Green and Gracie Edwards remained undefeated. Ethan Lloyd beat John Hatley to take the Lions’ point, while Adam Wilkin took Green close before going down 11-8 in the fifth.

In an all-Windsor clash, the Hawks came out on top 7-3 against the Eagles. Gary Young won three, Andy Vincent two and John Barton one, with Gary Cattermole picking up a couple for the Eagles. 

It was also 7-3 for Walton B against Lawford, Mark Gale winning three, Mark Ratcliffe two and Paul Meikle one. The doubles was the closest match, Gale and Ratcliffe getting past James Tindle and Glen Laing 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7. Laing won two for Lawford.

Finally, Walton C and Brotherhood B enjoyed an excellent evening’s table tennis, the match finishing with honours even. Simon Smith-Daye stayed undefeated for Brotherhood, with Sam Plummer’s two victories including the only match which went to a decider, beating Graham Buxton 11-9 in the fifth. Pete Burrows won two for Walton, with Buxton and Paul Newbould winning one apiece.

* The Windsor Club is holding a Quiz Evening on Saturday 16th November at the Brotherhood Hall, 7.00 pm for a 7.30 pm start. It’s for teams of up to six, £5.00 per person, bring your own drinks and nibbles. For more details or to enter a team, contact Jenny Higgins on 07790 240566.

* There are two vacancies on the League’s Management Committee. Anyone who may be interested in joining the Committee should contact League Secretary Isabel Barton (Tel : 07706 450488) for more information.

RESULTS

Division 1

Walton C 5 Brotherhood B 5;

Windsor Eagles 3 Windsor Hawks 7;

Nomads Lions 1 Nomads Panthers 9;

Lawford 3 Walton B 7.

Division 2

Windsor Kestrels 2 Brotherhood C 8;

Windsor Buzzards 6 Brotherhood D 4;

Nomads Tigers 5 Nomads Jaguars 5;

Brotherhood E 7 Windsor Harriers 3.

Division 3

Nomads Leopards 5 Nomads Ocelots 5;

Brotherhood H 6 Nomads Bobcats 4;

Brotherhood F 10 Holland Hurricanes 0;

Walton D 7 Windsor Falcons 3;

Holland Hurricanes 5 Walton D 5; Holland Lancasters 8 Holland Vulcans 2

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Mapledene A take an early lead in the top division of the Burnham & District Table Tennis League largely thanks to an impeccable hat-trick of wins from their ‘ace in the pack’ Liam Squirrell.  That’s two on the bounce for Squirrell as he looks to recapture the Peter Ballard trophy he last won in 2020.  Squirrells are certainly not endangered in Burnham as another Squirrell, this time of the Dennis subspecies, was the star player in Division 2 this week.

Squirrell was the stand out player in the Mapledene derby this week as with a 9-dart hat-trick followed by the bonus double point secured with partner Steve Muth.  Mapledene B fielded a very strong side with Simon Jacob taking 2 wins over George Reeves and Muth, with everyone else spreading out the remaining victories so no-one went home empty-handed.  Cold Norton A and their talisman Duncan Taylor continued their winning start to the season with a close fought 6-4 victory over their own B team.  Taylor yet again was the difference with a hat-trick of singles and this week he added the doubles point with Matt Stringer keeping him company for the duration. Stringer added victories over Dave Richardson and Dan Anderson to complete the scoring for the A Team.  Sam Lowman was the best of the B team with 2 victories over Stringer and Steve Maltby to kick off his season.  Fambridge showed great bouncebackability following last week’s unexpected reverse with a commanding whitewash victory over Woodham B.  Fambridge fielded the same trio that had lost out to Cold Norton in the opening week encounter so they were all delighted to register their first clean sheet of the season.  Captain John Poysden secured the player of the match accolade with an unblemished 9-0 scorecard, with his ‘toughest’ shootout being a 10,9,7 victory over Eamonn Hall.   Keith Adams went to the customary deciding leg with Sanjay Saptarshi but pulled through comfortably in the end – a great battle this one as Adams was constantly surprised with the blocks coming back from his powerful and loaded loops.  Hall took a leg off Adams but that was the only other blemish for his first hat-trick of the season.  Gary Young completed the rout just dropping 2 sets all night – one apiece to Trevor Collin and Saptarshi – although the Saptarshi encounter was an extremely close affair and probably deserved a deciding fifth leg – final score was 11,11,-10,9.

Division 2 hot favourites Maldon A continue to wreak havoc with a superb 9-1 victory that sees them sit atop the leaderboard and it would be a foolish gambler that would bet against them this season.  It was all going swimmingly for the Maldon team as they largely cruised their way through the first 9 matches – whitewash headlines and ‘low blow for Stow’ puns at the ready – but up stood Stow C’s Peter Chastin – the whitewash spoiler with a fine last ditch 5 set face-saving victory over Maldon’s Lloyd Bennett-Smith.  Chastin skipped home without a care in the world whereas Maldon were left with that bitter taste of doubt.  Well perhaps, but if finished 9-1 to Maldon with hat-tricks for both Colin Napper and Hamish Innes.   Cold Norton D followed up last week’s victory with another fine team performance that saw then triumph 6-4 over Blackwater B.  Cold Norton’s Dave Hancox and Peter Lucraft chipped with a brace of wins each, whilst Blackwater’s Noah Sage emulated the Norton boys with 2 wins of his own.  Sage came very close to the perfect night but was pipped at the death in the deciding leg of the opening match versus the tricky Terry Hyland.  The Maldon B crew must have been hounded into some practice this week as their results bear no relation to their very poor opening match last week.  Hat-trick merchant Steve Aspland finally registered a couple of wins, as did his partner in crime Colin Barrell as Maldon B forced a 5-5 draw with Mapledene C.  Aspland and Barrell couldn’t quite muster the guile to defeat Mapledene’s star player Dennis Squirrell who registered his first hat-trick of the season.  The final game of the Divisional week saw League Chairman and Woodham D stalwart Alan Dadswell completely hog the table in his team’s tight 6-4 win over the tricky Blackwater A side.  Dadswell played the maximum 20 legs possible taking 2 singles victories over Roger Slade and Neil Freeman, and just losing out to the awkward Alan Scammell and his bamboozling rubbers.  Dadswell them combined with Adi Kamma to take the extra doubles point with a fifth set 16-14 victory.  Gus Heath took 2 points for Woodham, with Freeman and Scammell sharing the points for Blackwater.

There was no messing around in Division 3 this week with 3 very one-sided matches.  The newly monikered Blackwater E side kicked off their campaign with a comprehensive 9-1 turnover of the Blackwater F team.  The familiar Blackwater trio from the C team days of Phil West, Kath Little and Deb Ginn will yet again be in and around the podium no doubt.  West and Ginn both went unbeaten with Little dropping the opening match to the delighted David McHattie in a thrilling 5 setter.  Little continued thrilling the large crowd with another 5 setter against Peter Hughes but just about came out on top in this one 12-10 in the decider.   Title favourites Maldon C humbled current holders St Lawrence with a thumping 10-0 scoreline, dropping just one leg all evening.  What a performance from the Maldon trio of Marty Englander, Chris Ravenhill and the old warhorse Brian Riedling.  In the final match Maldon D produced a whitewash performance as they demolished 2 player Woodham E 10-0.  100% performances from James Raymond, Arthur Shadforth and Matthew Copsey.

Pic 1 – John Poysden playing the perfect match versus Woodham B this week

Pic 2 – Action from the deciding leg in the Sanjay Saptarshi versus Keith Adams encounter this week

Pic 3 – Steve Muth serving in his win over David Jacob in the Mapledene Derby

Pic 4 – Alan Scammell from Blackwater A with 2 wins against Woodham D this week.   

Pic 5 – The ever young, Gary Young getting ready to launch another loaded topspin against Trevor Collin