News & Views from the Colchester Table Tennis League
with Press Officer Martyn Green

21st October-2008
Gt Horkesley A Facing Combined Rowhedge Challenge!

Gt Horkesley A’s incredible start to the season continues with a 10-0 drubbing of Walton A in the Colchester & District League Division One. Ex-Dedham star Mike Wright joined the proceedings this week winning his three singles on debut despite being taken to five sets by Kevin James. Richard Goodhand maintained his one hundred percent record with Jimmy Farrow completing the Ipswich connection, also unbeaten. However, H20 Rowhedge B and C will be out to stop them as all three are yet to meet with Gt Horkesley facing back-to-back matches against their unbeaten title rivals. This will be made all the more difficult by Rowhedge B’s exciting new signing, 18-year old Mark Mulley, studying at the Essex University who achieved considerable success last season in the Chelmsford Division One. He will prove an ample replacement for the departing Antony Greenwood should he play regularly. H20 Rowhedge B made short work of Walton C 9-1 although there was a surprise defeat of Michael Andrews 6-11, 6-11, 13-11, 13-11, 11-9 by Paul Meikle. Greg Green did his best at H20 Rowhedge C completing a maximum for St Mary’s A but his team went down once again this time 6-4 as five matches went the full five set distance. Rayne are a team on the up as they overcame Walton B 8-2 with both Steve Elms and Ian Whiteside unbeaten. Dave Cole and Kevin Gowlett’s return heralded reigning champions H20 Rowhedge A’s first win of the season beating Gt Horkesley B 9-1 with Ian Brown Horkesley’s sole winner. Walton A ended the seaside club’s wretched week with a 9-1, win albeit at the expense of their ‘C’ team. Colin Stallwood and Martin Hogg were in dominant form winning three apiece as Matt Watson beat David Hall for the ‘B’ team’s only success.

Two big wins for Walton D moved them up three places to within two points of H20 Rowhedge D at the top of Division Two. Martin Edwards was unbeaten in both as his team beat H20 Rowhedge E 8-2 and Tollesbury A 7-3. John Hobson joined him winning three at home to Rowhedge whilst his wife, Christine recorded two good wins against the Blackwater team. Surprise teams Pegasus A and Gt Horkesley C fought out a tough 5-5 draw with the Copford based team coming back from 4-0 down to draw and would have won if they had not lost their twenty-two match unbeaten doubles record. Highlight of the night was Pete Mills four set win over Wuidong Liu, his first defeat in fifteen games! A new look Lawford A jump over Pegasus as they climb three places to fourth following a 10-0 whitewash of two player Jobserve. Graham Mortimer, Keith Armes and John Mills were their maximum men. Finally H20 Rowhedge E made amends for their earlier defeat with a 9-1 hammering of Pegasus B although Peter Kirkland slipped up against Martin Eversden.

Division Three leaders St Peter’s fell foul to St Mary’s B 7-3 for whom Mick Bowles on his first appearance of the season won two with John Sorrell going one better winning his three. Ian Carter was the man to beat Bowles in five sets but his maximum against Pegasus C ensured his team stay top as they won 8-2. Hazel Hume also won three as did John Sorrell once again completing a good week as St Mary’s B’s back-to-back wins included a 6-4 win over Pegasus D. H20 Rowhedge F remain second as Ed Rudge led from the front winning three in a 9-1 win at

Lawford C. Never give up was Dedham ’s motto as they won an amazing match 6-4 against Pegasus D coming back from 4-0 down with no player unbeaten on the night.