TABLE TENNIS: Ives got it under control
TOP SEED BOUNCES BACK FROM GROUP STAGE DEFEAT TO CLINCH TITLE
Top seed Peter Ives recovered from a shock defeat in the group stages to win the Maidstone Table Tennis League Closed Championships.
Favourite Ives lost to Miro Danadzhiev at Cornwallis Academy over the weekend but made amends when they met again in the final.
Ives found himself in the bottom half of the draw after finishing second in his group.
There, he beat Terry Clapperton 11- 6, 11-5, 11-2 and came from two legs down to edge second seed Martin Ball 7-11, 4-11, 11-5, 13-11, 11-7 in the semi-finals.
That set up a rematch with Danadzhiev, who beat Malcolm Skates 10-12, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7 in his semi-final.
Ives had his revenge, winning 9-11, 11- 6, 11- 6, 11-3.
Ives also won the doubles, teaming up with Peter Davis, to beat Danadzhiev and Petar Tancevski 11-7, 12-10, 13-11.
Claire Blackman beat Julie Parker 11- 8, 5-11, 11-3, 11- 8 in the ladies’ singles final.
Parker won the doubles, though, teaming up with Julie Hall to beat Christina Flinn and Sarah Martinelli 11- 6, 11- 6, 11-7.
A non-league taster tournament saw eight-year-old George Nott win a silver medal in the doubles with Justin Waters, while Paul Flemming beat Peter Murphy in the singles. Final results: Men’s singles: Peter Ives beat Miro Danadzhiev 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3; Ladies’ singles: Claire Blackman beat Julie Parker 11-8, 5-11, 11-3, 11-8; Men’s doubles: Peter Ives/Peter Davis beat Miro Danadzhiev/Petar Tancevski 11-7, 12-10, 13-11; Ladies’ doubles: Julie Parker/Julie Hall beat Christina Flinn/ Sarah Martinelli 11-6, 11-6, 11-7; Mixed doubles: Shev McDonald/Julie Parker beat Malcolm Skates/Julie Hall 11-5, 11-13, 13-11, 11-7; Veteran men’s singles: Petar Tancevski beat Shev McDonald 8-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8; Over-60 singles: Richard Bashford beat Steve Lakin 11-6, 11-9, 11-4; Veteran ladies’ singles: Claire Blackman beat Julie Parker 11-9, 11-8, 11-3; Veteran men’s doubles: Malcolm Skates/Shev McDonald beat Petar Tancevski/Richard Bashford 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9; Veteran ladies’ doubles: Claire Blackman/Julie Hall beat Julie Parker/Sarah Stevens; Veteran mixed doubles: Malcolm Skates/Julie Hall beat Keith Ball/Claire Blackman 11-6, 11-9, 11-13, 11-9; Junior boys’ singles: Patrick Jeffrey beat Hayden Vaughan 11-6, 12-10, 11-5; Under-21 boys’ singles: Patrick Jeffrey beat Hayden Vaughan; Men’s singles Class 1: Tim Noble beat Adam Simpson 16-14, 11-6, 11-4; Men’s singles Class 2: Patrick Jeffrey beat Graham Minter 11-6, 11-0, 11-6; Men’s singles Class 3: Dylan Wright beat Chris Jeffrey 3-11, 11-9, 14-12, 6-11, 11-8; Division 2 singles: Shev McDonald beat Rob Hart 11-5, 11-7, 11-8; Division 3 singles: Patrick Jeffrey beat Jason Brookes 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 3-11, 11-9; Division 4 singles: Robert Hudd beat Joe Boyle 11-4, 11-4, 11-5; Open handicap singles: Patrick Jeffrey beat Petar Tancevski; Under-25 handicap singles: Dylan Wright beat Billy Revell 21-13, 21-16; 25-49 handicap singles: Malcolm Skates beat Petar Tancevski 21-20, 21-17; Over-50 handicap singles: Richard Bashford beat Paul Cullern 21-15, 21-18; Nonleague singles: Paul Flemming beat Peter Murphy; Nonleague singles Class 1: Harry Nott beat Ethan Gubbins; Non-league doubles: Harry Nott/Peter Murphy beat Justin Waters/George Nott.