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

4th February-2009
COLE LOSES THREE YEAR UNBEATEN COLCHESTER RECORD!

Colchester Men’s Champion Dave Cole’s unbeaten record in the Colchester & District Table Tennis League that stretched back three year’s, has finally fallen. In-form Essex representative, Steve Kerns was the man who finally beat him, somewhat surprisingly in three straight sets 11-5, 11-8, 11-9. Cole gained revenge over Kerns however, in this weeks Chelmsford tournament finals night and went on to beat England ranked number thirty-six Neil Charles in a pulsating five set Men’s final. Cole’s team still beat Rayne 7-3 with Kerns also beating Kevin Gowlett in a close five set encounter to record a superb individual performance. Following a 10-0 hammering of bottom team Walton C, Gt Horkesley A have extended their lead at the top of Division One. Maximums from Richard Goodhand, Mike Wright and Aimee Sparkes have given their team an eight point lead over second placed H20 Rowhedge B. The Rowhedge club seem to be doing their best to hand Horkesley the title as the ‘B’ and ‘C’ took points off each other. In a pulsating match Michael Andrews showed his growing authority winning all three of his singles with Dave Moss and John Andrews both winning a brace for the ‘C’ team in a 5-5 draw. Their wins were over top Brentwood and Clacton players Mark Mulley and Pete Burrows. St Mary’s A got back to winning ways, beating a two-player Walton B 8-2 with Gary Young once again unbeaten. Walton A thumped lowly Gt Horkesley B 8-2. Dave Binns starred winning his three although Ken Lewis returned to form with excellent victories over Colin Stallwood and Neil Crook.

In Division Two Walton D lost ground on the leaders, going down 8-2 at H20 Rowhedge D thanks once again to a maximum from recently crowned Chelmsford ‘Four-Down’ champion Phil Smith. Gt Horkesley C continue their fantastic season with a 9-1 win over Lawford A as Lorrie Austin and Steve Holland lead the way, unbeaten. Pegasus A have done extremely well to cement a place in mid-table and they beat fellow 2008 Division Three promotion team Clairmont 6-4 despite Paul Tracey’s resistance, as he won all three of his games. Jobserve are climbing out of danger and they did so at the expense of Tollesbury A, beating them 7-3 to leave them one point clear of the relegation positions.

Dave Jones grasped the ‘Bull by the horns’ to get St Peters promotion push back on track as he recorded his first maximum since Christmas 2004. This included a magnificent five-set win over St Mary’s B’s John Sorrell who had previously only been beaten once! Hazel Hume then inflicted defeat number three as the telecoms team won 9-1. Pegasus C maintained the pressure on the leaders with a 10-0 whitewashing of CRGS A courtesy of Sandy Isaac, Dave Haslam and John Richie maximums. Lawford B are third and they beat Pegasus D 7-3 with star players Mark Nowers and Peter Armes undefeated. Dedham beat Lawford C 8-2 with Andy Franklin leading the way, winning his three.

H20 Rowhedge G lead Division Four and a 7-3 win over fourth placed Pegasus E did their title aspirations no harm. Pegasus E were held by St Mary’s 5-5 as Ray Cole continues to impress, winning his sixth maximum. Gt Horkesley E’s bid to escape continues with an 8-2 win over bottom team Lawford E thanks once again to the unbeaten Jones-Thompson duo! Dale Young recorded his first three of the season, continuing to improve in a 9-1 win also over Lawford.