Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Leete’s repeat win
With the largest entry for many years, the annual Canterbury & District Table Tennis Association closed tournament threw up its fair share of surprises, writes Clive Hollingsbee.
More than 300 matches were played at the Canterbury College sports centre during the day, including a number of closely fought and entertaining games.
No.1 men’s seed Matt Leete (Hoath) retained his singles title with his easy style of combining controlled attack with defensive skills, overcoming Joe Britnell (Chestfield Warriors) in the final. Leete had defeated Ray Jordan (Iron Room) in the semis while Britnell had a challenging route to the final, defeating the No.2 seed, Harry Law (Hoath), in the quarters before overcoming the unseeded Will Power (Iron Room) in the semis with both matches going the full five set distance.
Tina Stewart (Faversham) retained the ladies’ singles title. In a tactical battle, she defeated Crystal Tseng (Blean) in the final. The men’s doubles is always a hard fought and high quality competition.
This year proved no exception and epitomised the competitive nature of the day with the majority of matches (including the final and both semis) going to a decisive fifth set.
Reigning champions Harry Law and Joe Britnell ran out winners, defeating Ron Rowley (Hoath) and Matt Leete in the final. The ladies’ doubles final was won by Tracey Deeley (Iron Room) and Tina Stewart who defeated the determined pairing of Linda Wickings and Jill Weaver (both Chestfield Warriors).
In another see-saw five set thriller, there was a win for Tina Stewart and Harry Law in the mixed doubles who, having come through a tough semi-final against Tracey Deeley and Ray Jordan, overcame last year’s winners, Linda Wickings and Matt Leete, in the final.
The consolation singles event for men’s and ladies’ singles group non-qualifiers was won by Ethan Braden (Chestfield Warriors) who defeated Tom Kwok (Blean) in the final.
A popular allocated doubles event went to Darren Mcculloch-smith (Choughs) and Ethan Braden who ran out winners against Dirk Froebrich and Sam Warman (both Chestfield Warriors).
Dirk Froebrich won the first division singles event with Tom Kwok runner-up. In a marathon match, Darran Smith (Herne Bay) took the second division singles title, with Tina Stewart runner-up. Alan Culver (Faversham) won the third division singles title with Ede Aruede (Chestfield Warriors) runner up, while in the fourth division singles, two young newcomers, Leon Cutting and Tom Harrop (both Chestfield Warriors) contested the final with Cutting running out the winner. The Alan Hayes merit award for the best performance of the day went to Joe Britnell. ■ The veterans’ tournament (over 40s and over 60s events) will be held on Sunday, March 15, at the Chestfield Warriors Table Tennis Club, Unit 33a, Joseph Wilson Industrial Estate, Milstrood Road, Whitstable, CT5 3PS, starting at 9am. Entry forms are available from Peter Chapman (chapman39@yahoo.com). For further information about the Canterbury & District Table Tennis Association, local table tennis, coaching, practice and starting the sport, visit www. canterburytt.co.uk.