Cleveland County Matters

CLEVELAND GRAND PRIX – January 14 & 15 2017

The Cleveland Table Tennis Association is pleased to present the largest Senior Table Tennis Tournament to be held in the Tees Valley area for more than 10 years.

The Cleveland Grand Prix, which has attracted entries from several of the country’s leading players including the English International Darius Knight and the Welsh No. 1 and many times Champion, Ryan Jenkins.

The Cleveland Grand Prix is part of an eight tournament series organised jointly by Table Tennis England and the Cleveland Association.  It will take place at Thornaby Pavilion on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January 2017, commencing at approximately 9am.

Play starts at 9am on Saturday with the banded events up first, where the former European Youth Champion, Mike O’Driscoll heads the seedings for band one

There are 6 bands in total for the men’s events, with one for the ladies.

On Sunday the Mens’ Singles, the Under 21’s and the Veterans events are to take place.  The Mens’ Singles commencing at 8.45am, with the semi-finals and the finals likely to commence around 12 noon.

Bringing a Grand Prix to Teesside gives a host of local players the opportunity of playing in a major event in their own locale, and this has attracted a good local entry.  Spectators are most welcome to come and watch the tournament.

Alan Ransome OBE

2015 CLEVELAND COUNTY CLOSED TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Pictured above are some of the Ormesby players after receiving their prize money from Alan Ransome. Left to right Bethany Wardell, Thomas Rayner, Ryan Nassau, Kieran Wardell, Alan Ransome and David Ashwell

Ormesby’s Martin Rutter won the Men’s Singles title for the third successive year in the Cleveland County Closed Table Tennis Championships that took place at the Ormesby Club on Sunday after tough matches in both the semi final and in the final.

Rutter was taken the distance by his Ormesby team mate, Dave Ashwell, in the final.  Rutter led by 2 games to 1 before Ashwell levelled at 2 all.  Rutter, who employs the more powerful game, stepped up a gear in the decider and ran out the winner by 11-7 in the fifth.

In the semi final Rutter lost the third game which was one of the best of the Championship to junior Kaine Macdonald by 14-12 but still led by 2 games to 1.  In the fourth Rutter built an early lead and never looked back, running out the winner by 11-7.  In his semi final Ashwell defeated another of his Ormesby team mates, Peter Wilkinson, by 3 games to 1.

Macdonald’s chance of honours came in the Junior (Under 18) singles where he won the title without the loss of a single game.  In the final he beat Nathan Kell by 11-9, 11-7, 11-5.  Second seed Kell beat Kieran Wardell in the semi final whilst Macdonald defeated Dewar.

The Cadet (Under 15) Singles was won by Kieran Wardell who beat Northfield’s George Forster by 3-1 in the semi final and club mate Thomas Rayner by the same score in the final.  Rayner did well to beat Jack Dewar in the semi final after trailing by 2 games to 1.  Rayner won the fourth at 11-9 and the fifth at 11-8.

In the Mini Cadet Singles Ormesby’s Rayner won the title after playing an even closer contest with Northfield’s George Forster.  Rayner led by 2 games to 1 before Forster won the fourth at 11-9.  Rayner took command at the beginning of the fifth to win 11-4.

David Ashwell above left winner of the Mixed Veterans Singles with Alan Ransome centre and David Pashley left who was runner up

The Veteran Singles was won by Dave Ashwell who defeated East Cleveland’s Dave Pashley by 3-1 in the final.  Ashwell’s toughest match was in the semi final against Michael Boyce where he won 11-6 in the decider.  Pashley did well to beat Peter Wilkinson, the second seed, in his semi final by 3 games to 1.

Ashwell won his second title in the popular Handicap Singles where he defeated Wardell in the final.  Wardell looked on track to clinch the title when he won the first game by 21-9 but Ashwell recovered from the 11 point handicap to win the second and third game, both at 21-19.

The Wheelchair Singles, which was played as a round robin competition, was won by Brian Holloway who was undefeated.  The deciding match was against Noel Thomas who finished second, where Holloway won 16-14, 11-7, 11-9.

RESULTS

Men’s Singles – Martin Rutter (Ormesby) beat David Ashwell (Ormesby) 11-2, 6-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7

Junior Mixed Singles – Kaine Macdonald (Ormesby) beat Nathan Kell (Ormesby) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5

Cadet Mixed Singles – Kieran Wardell (Ormesby) beat Thomas Rayner (Ormesby) 11-7, 10-10, 13-11, 11-7

Mini Cadet Mixed Singles – Thomas Rayner(Ormesby) beat George Forster (Swerve)11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-4

Veteran Singles – David Ashwell (Ormesby) beat David Pashley (East Cleveland) 11-5, 11-7, 12-14, 11-8

Handicap Singles – David Ashwell (Ormesby) beat Kieran Wardell (Ormesby) 9-21, 21-19, 21-19

Wheelchair Singles – Brian Holloway (Ormesby) beat Noel Thomas (Ormesby) 16-14, 11-7, 11-9

Alan Ransome OBE

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THE 2014 CLEVELAND CLOSED TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT

SUNDAY 11 MAY AT ORMESBY TABLE TENNIS CLUB

Ormesby players dominated the Cleveland Closed Table Tennis Championships that took place at Ormesby last week with Martin Rutter retaining the open Singles title that he won 12 months ago.

Rutter was a comfortable winner in the final group.  He beat Michael Young and Dave Ashwell both in straight sets. Young beat Ashwell to take the runner up position.

The Junior singles was won by a new player into the area Nouradin Muktar from Somalia who defeated Kaine Macdonald to win the title. The match with Macdonald was close with Muktar winning 12-10, 8-11, 11-6 and 11-5.

Macdonald’s turn came in the Cadet Boys Singles where he was a comfortable winner against Michael Jones by 3-0 in the final.

The Mini Cadet Singles was won by Kieran Wardell who beat David Gofton by 3 games to one in the final.

Dave Ashwell’s claim for honours came in the Veteran’s singles when he won a good final against Peter Wilkinson in 3 straight games.

Michael Jones success came in the Handicap Singles when he won a very close final against Michael Young by 18 -21, 21-19 and 21-13. Jones also reached the final of the Banded Singles only to lose to Bruce Lowther in straight games.

The Wheelchair Singles was won by Brain Holloway who beat Noel Thomas 12-10, 11-7 and 11-7 to take the title.

RESULTS

OPEN SINGLES – Martin Rutter bt Michael Young 11-8, 11-4, 11-8

JUNIOR SINGLES – Nouradin Muktar bt Kaine Macdonald 12-10, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5

CADET SINGLES – Kaine Macdonald  bt Michael Jones 11-6, 11-5, 11-4,

MINI CADET SINGLES – Keiran Wardell bt David Goften 11-4, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6

VETERANS SINGLES – David Ashwell bt Peter Wilkinson 12-10, 11-7, 11-6

HANDICAP SINGLES – Michael Jones bt Michael Young 18-21, 21-19, 21-13

BANDED SINGLES – Bruce Lowther bt Michael Jones 11-6, 11-4, 11-6

WHEELCHAIR SINGLES – Brian Holloway bt Noel Thomas 12-10, 11-7, 11-7

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CLEVELAND COUNTY CLOSED – SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2013

Ormesby’s Martin Rutter was the open singles winner in the Cleveland Table Tennis Championships that took place at the Ormesby Club last Sunday, beating the county’s leading junior Alec Ward in a very close final.

Rutter, seeded 2nd, defeated the 6th seed Michael Young in the quarter final in a 5 game match at 11-3 in the decider.  In the semi final Rutter won another 5 setter against Chloe Whyte of Ormesby at 11-5 in the final game.  The final itself against Ormesby’s Ward was ever closer.  Ward won the first 2 games at 11-8 and 11-3 before Rutter powered back to win the next 3 at 11-6, 11-3, 11-9.

To reach the final the top seed, Ward, beat Ormesby’s Adam Smith in another very tight match at 11-8 in the decider.  A round earlier Smith defeated Ormesby’s Josh Harland by 4 games to 1.

Ward dominated the junior and cadet singles.  In the final of the juniors, Ward defeated Harland by 11-2 in the deciding game after Harland, the 3rd seed, had done well to reach the final with another very close win against Ormesby’s Sam Hitchen, the 2nd seed, at 11-9 in the 5th.

In the cadets (Under 15 boys singles) Ward took his second title.  This time his victory over Harland was more comfortable by 3 games to 0.

The mini cadets (Under 13) was won by Ormesby’s Josh Weatherby who beat Northfield’s Charlie Anderson 11-6 in the 4th game.

The girls’ events were dominated by Northfield players with the junior singles being won by Northfield’s Katie Barlow who beat her team mate Holly Williams in straight games.

The cadet girls’ singles was also won by Katie Barlow, beating Holly Williams again in straight games.

The mini cadet girls’ singles was won by Northfield’s Charlotte McCarty who beat Katie Ashwell of Ormesby in straight games.

Ormesby’s Keith Weatherby won the Veterans with a very narrow win against Michael Young at 13-11 in the decider.

The banded singles were won by Ryan Nassau of Ormesby who beat Northfield’s Chris Gregory by 11-7 in the 5th.  The Handicap singles was won by David Ashwell for the second year, beating Michael Young 21-6 in the decider in the final.

RESULTS 

Open Singles – Martin Rutter (Ormesby) beat Alex Ward (Ormesby) 8-11,3-11,11-6,11-3,11-9

Junior Boys Singles – Alec Ward (Ormesby) beat Josh Harland (Ormesby) 9-11,11-6,12-10,9-11,11-2

Junior Girls Singles – Katie Barlow (Northfield) beat Holly Williams (Northfield) 12-10,11-8,11-7

Cadet Boys Singles – Alec Ward (Ormesby) beat Josh Harland (Ormesby) 11-4,11-4,13-11

Cadet Girls Singles – Katie Barlow (Northfield) beat Holly Williams (Northfield) 11-4,11-9,11-3

Mini Cadet Boys Singles – Josh Weatherby (Ormesby) beat Charlie Anderson (Northfield) 11-8,5-11,11-3,11-6

Mini Cadet Girls Singles – Charlotte McCarty (Northfield) beat Katie Ashwell (Ormesby) 11-7,11-8,11-8

Veterans – Keith Weatherby (Ormesby) beat Michael Young (Ormesby) 11-8,10-12,11-6,10-12,13-11

Banded Singles – Ryan Nassau (Ormesby) beat Chris Gregory (Northfield) 10-12,11-7,9-11,13-11,11-7

Handicap Singles – David Ashwell (Ormesby) beat Michael Young (Ormesby) 19-21,21-12,21-6

 

CLEVELAND PREMIER LEAGUE REPORT – Wednesday 28 November 2012

With victories over Ormesby D by 9 -1 and Norhfield C by 10-0 Northfield A have taken an early lead in the Cleveland & District Premier Table Tennis League.

Northfield’s closet match was against Ormesby C which was a 5 all draw.

In the matches against Northfield C and Ormesby D, Jevon Chan produced the best results winning a hat trick in both matches.

Against Ormesby C, Alec ward was the best player on show scoring a hat trick for Ormesby whilst Sam Hitchin and Aidan Ranftler won one each

Lindsay Taylor and Tony Wilson won two each for Northfield whilst Jevon Chan was unable to produce the form that he showed in the other two matches.

In second place are Hartlepool A who beat Northfield C 10-0 and Ormesby A by 7-3 Dave Robson won three against Ormesby A which included victories against Steven Brunskill and Chloe Whyte whilst Darren McVitie won two.

Against Northfield C, Robson, Graham Barella and Mark Cotton all scored hat tricks.

Hartlepool’s played a 5-5 draw against Northfield B and despite a hat trick from McVitie, Matthew Stanforth and Billy Forster both won two from Northfield whilst Mark Walpole won one.

CLEVELAND CLOSED T T TOURNAMENT – Sunday 27 May 2012

With a bumper entry of over 50 players, the Cleveland Closed Table Tennis Championships has received the largest entry for several years when the competition takes place at the Ormesby Club on Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesbrough, on Sunday.

The England No 4, Karina Lefevre is aiming to win her second title in a month, following her success in the recent Middlesbrough Championships. Karina is seeded in No. 2 position in the Open Singles, behind the experienced Durham and Cleveland County star, Darren McVitie from Hartlepool who tops the seeding.

In equal 3rd position are the Durham County Player, Graeme Barella from Hartlepool and the Ormesby Junior, Paul Smith. The equal 5th seeds are the other two members of the Ormesby’s women’s team, Chloe Whyte and Karen Shepherd, plus two more Ormesby players Anthony Phoenix and Martin Rutter.

In the Junior singles, the top seed is the England Junior Masters Champion, Chloe Whyte, with young England under 13, No 2, Alec Ward in 2nd place. Sam Hitchen and Ashley Scott are in equal third position.

In the Cadet singles, the top seed is Ward with the much improved, Josh Harland, in second place.

Two more Ormesby Cadets complete the seedings with Calum White and Aaron Uppal the equal 3rd position.

Alan Ransome


CLEVELAND PREMIER LEAGUE: report for matches played upto 18 April 2012

 

With a hat trick from Karina Le Fevre, Ormesby A defeated Hartlepool by 6-4 and effectively ensured that Northfield A are the first champions of the Cleveland Premier Table Tennis League.  Le Fevre’s hat trick was scored with wins against Darren McVitie, Graeme Barella and Anthony Barella.

Only one set needed a deciding game when Le Fevre beat Graeme Barella at 11-6.  The result could have been more convincing for Ormesby as Darren McVitie only win was against Karen Shepherd at 12-10 in the 5th and one of Graeme Barella’s victories was against Steven Brunskill at 11-9 in the decider.

Le Fevre was supported by Brunskill who won two sets and Shepherd who won one.

This result virtually gives the title to Northfield as they have 103 points from 13 games.  Second position is still open as Hartlepool have 93 from 13 and Ormesby 86 from 12.

PLAYED PLAYED WON DRAWN LOST POINTS
1 NORTHFIELD A 13 11 2 0 103
2 HARTLEPOOL 13 10 1 2 93
3 ORMESBY A 12 9 1 2 86
4 ORMESBY C 14 7 0 7 67
5 NORTHFIELD B 14 4 1 9 52
6 ORMESBY B 13 3 0 10 42
7 KINGBRO 10 3 0 7 38
8 ORMESBY D 14 1 1 12 38

 

MATCH RESULT WEDNESDAY APRIL 17 2012
HARTLEPOOL D McVitie 1 Barella 2 4
ORMESBY A K Lefevre 3 S Brunskill 2 K Shepherd 1 6

CLEVELAND VETS HEAD FOR VETERANS PREMIER

After dropping just one point during the first weekend of the County Championship Division 1a fixtures it was Cleveland who held their nerve to win their remaining four matches when the division was completed at Milton Keynes recently.

Having drawn with Herefordshire and recorded 6-4 victories over the powerful Lincolnshire and Yorkshire seconds over the first weekend at Woodfield, Wolverhampton, Cleveland were always going to be the team to beat.

First up Saturday for Cleveland were the solid-looking Northants, and if any team other than the team from the north east were going to win the division everyone was looking to Northants to do some damage to their opponents title ambitions.

A confident Cleveland were not going to allow all their earlier hard work go to waste and quickly established a 3-0 lead with Lindsay Taylor, Tony Wilson and Mark Simon all recording singles wins.

Northants hit back by taking the next two ends as firstly Steve Silk and Clem Little took a hard fought five-game doubles win over Wilson and Jane Durham 3-2 (11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6), which was followed by a singles win by Fuller over Simon 3-1 (11-3, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8) as Northants pulled back their defecit and were now trailing 2-3.

Jane Durham steadied the ship with a three-game win over Little, while Taylor and Simon guaranteed their team at least a draw when the took a hard fought mens doubles against Richard Elliott and Fuller 3-2 (6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5).

Northants pulled an end back when Elliot took the game of the match with a 3-2 (17-15, 11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 13-11) victory over Wilson, but it was Taylor who secured victory for Cleveland with an 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-3) victory over Silk.

Northants took the last mixed doubles to reduce their arrears to 4-6 but for Cleveland it was another victory on their title charge and in their second match of the day Cleveland thumped doomed Yorkshire 3 9-1 to complete the day still ahead of the table on nine points from five matches and two victories away from the title.

Sunday saw Cleveland storm to the title by beating Oxfordshire 9-1 and finishing with another comprehensive win by beating Worcestershire 8-2 as they eased to the title by two points from their nearest rivals.

Hertfordshire took the runners-up spot by virtue of a draw with Cleveland over the first weekend and although they were beaten by Lincolnshire when the sides met, draws against Northants and Yorkshire seconds and a defeat by champions Cleveland meant Lincs had to settle for third spot.

Yorkshire thirds had a miserable campaign losing all seven matches and averaging less than two games per match. They will be joined in the lower division by Oxon who completed the season with one win and two points, while Cleveland now look forward to a premier campaign next season

Barry Snowden

County Championships Press Officer


Cleveland’s Paul Drinkhall, pictured above with Kelly Sibley, won the English National Men’s title for the 4th time on Sunday 4 March 2012.


The Latest League tables from the 2011/12 County Season


 

RESULTS FROM THE 2011 CLEVELAND  COUNTY CLOSED

Andrew Wilson retained his Open Singles title in the Cleveland Closed Table Tennis Championships at Ormesby on Sunday when he defeated his Ormesby team mate Karina Lefevre by 3-1 in the final.

The match was close for the first 2 games as Wilson won the first game at 11-8 after a controversial edge ball decision.  The second game was dominated by Lefevre who ran home a comfortable 11-6 winner but Wilson took command from that point and was both more powerful and consistent as he won the next 2 at 11-5 and 11-1.

Lefevre came through from the third seeded position to beat her Ormesby Women’s team mate Karen Shepherd in 3 straight game and junior Duncan Alexander in the semi final.  Wilson had a difficult semi final with Martin Rutter in which the champion won 3 out of 4 close games.  Rutter won the first at 11-9 and Wilson took the next 3 at 11-8, 11-9 and 12-10.

The most successful junior was Ormesby’s Alec Ward who won both the Junior Singles and the Mini Cadet (Under 13) Singles.  Ward won the Juniors by beating John Bousfield by 3-1 in the semi final and in the final he beat Sam Hitchen, coming back from 2-1 down to win 11-7 in the 5th.  In the Mini Cadets Ward beat John Harland in straight games in the final after Harland had beaten Northfield’s Joe Clark 3-1 in the semi final.

John Bousfield gained revenge over Ward to win theCadet Boys’ Singles by 3-1 in the final.  Bousfield was taken to 4 games by Alexander in the semi final.

The Cadet Girls’ Singles was won by Northfield’s Eleanor Davidson who beat her team mate Hannah Clark 3-1 in the final.

Alexander came into his own in the Handicap Singles where he did well to beat Dave Ashwell in the quarter final, Katie Barlow in the semi final and Ryan Nassau by 21-20, 21-16 in the final.

The Veteran Singles was won by Ashwell who beat Gary Whyman 3 straight in the final.  Ashwell also won the Banded Singles, beating Hitchen by 3-1 in the final.

RESULTS 

Open Singles – Semi Finals

Andy Wilson (Ormesby) beat Martin Rutter (Ormesby) 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 12-10

Karina Lefevre (Ormesby) beat Duncan Alexander (Ormesby) 11-3, 11-6, 11-4

Final

Andy Wilson (Ormesby) beat Karina Lefevre (Ormesby) 11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 11-1

Junior Singles – Final

Alex Ward (Ormesby) beat Sam Hitchen (Ormesby) 12-14, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7

Cadet Boys Singles – Final

John Bousfield (Ormesby) beat Alex Ward (Ormesby) 4-11, 11-9, 11-3, 12-10

Mini Cadet Singles – Final

Alec Ward (Ormesby) beat Josh Harland (Ormesby) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3

Veterans Singles – Final

Dave Ashwell (Ormesby) beat Gary Whyman (Ormesby) 11-7, 16-14, 11-7

Cadet Girls Singles – Final

Eleanor Davidson (Northfield) beat Hannah Clark (Northfield) 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6

Banded Singles – Final

Dave Ashwell (Ormesby) beat Sam Hitchen (Ormesby) 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10

Handicap Singles – Final

Duncan Alexander (Ormesby) beat Ryan Nassau (Ormesby) 21-20, 21-16


ETTA COUNTY CHAMPIONS

PREMIER DIVISION

The picture above was taken after Cleveland County’s success is the mid seventies when they won the Premier Division of the ETTA County Championships.

From left to right: Nicky Jarvis, Carole Knight (Moore), Jimmy Walker, Colin Davison, Alan Ransome, Pam Richmond, Stephen Souter, Angela Tierney, Denis Neale and the late Joe Whittingham.


HARTLEPOOL SUMMER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

This picture above was taken in the 1970’s with from left to right Tony Taylor, Tom Snowdon and Peter Adamson. The three players had won the first division of the Hartlepool Summer Table Tennis League and can be seen with the trophy.

Tony Taylor is still involved with table tennis and at present is the North East Region Table Tennis Development Officer. Tony played in the Durham TT League and the Sunderland TT League for many years and is still playing in the Sunderland League.

As well as playing table tennis the late Tom Snowden was a prominent figure within table tennis for many years. Tom was a founder member and former vice chairman of Cleveland County Table Tennis Association and secretary for the Hartlepool Table Tennis League for over thirty years.

Peter Adamson has also been involved in table tennis for many years in both the Hartlepool and Middlesbrough Leagues. Peter was also a County Umpire. After a serious heart problem he is now back playing again. He resumed his table tennis at the popular 50+ sessions at the Ormesby club and has since played in both the Cleveland & District Summer TT League and at present, the Middlesbrough TT League.


 

TEN YEARS LATER

It is now almost ten years since Cleveland County Table Tennis Association honoured its chairman Colin Davison with his 25th anniversary long service award.

Both Colin, pictured above left, and Cleveland County President Alan Ransome seen presenting the award to Colin in December 2000, continue to serve Cleveland County as chairman and president respectively.


2010 CLEVELAND CLOSED

The 2010 Cleveland Closed Table Tennis Tournament took place at Ormesby Table Tennis Club on Sunday 11 April.

Andrew Wilson – Open Singles winner

In the Open Singles event Andrew Wilson of Ormesby played exceptionally well to beat the experienced Ormesby veteran Steve Brunskill 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 to claim the title for the second year running. Four Ormesby players contested the semi-finals with Andrew beating the up and coming Ormesby cadet Paul Smith 11-9, 11-9, 11-4 and Steve having to dig deep to beat Martin Rutter 11-9 in the fifth end.

Steve Brunskill won the Veteran’s title in three close ends against Northfield’s Nicky Corking 11-7, 12-10, 11-9.

Paul Smith won both the Junior title and Cadet Boy’s title. In the Junior event he beat Ormesby’s Chloe Whyte 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 and in the Cadet Boy’s, Ormesby’s John Bousfield 11-6, 11-8, 12-9.

The Cadet Girls title went Jessica Dawson who beat Kayleigh Forster 11-7, 11-6, 11-4.

The Mini Cadet title was won by John Bousfield beating Ormesby’s Billy Forster 11-8, 11-3, 12-10.

A second title for John Bousfield came in the Banded event – an event for players on a handicap of 30 and above in the local leagues. In the semi-finals Shannon Walker of Ormesby beat Robert Evans of Kader Nomads 11-5, 11-13, 11-7, 11-3 and John Bousfield beat Chris Gunn of the University 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8. In the final John beat Shannon 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8.

The event with the most entries, the Handicap Singles had some really close games. Ormesby junior Wayne Parker with a 16 point start came close to knocking out Martin Rutter in the semi-final, but at 20 all in the final end, Martin’s serve proved too difficult for Wayne to return. In the other semi-final Ormesby cadet Duncan Alexander gave a 4 point start to Billy Forster which proved to much with Billy winning quite easily 21-9, 21-10. With a 13 point start, and going for every shot, Billy powered his way to the Handicap title beating Martin 21-10, 21-9.


2010 CLEVELAND CLOSED TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT

 

The Cleveland Closed Table Tennis Championships, which take place at the Ormesby Club on Sunday, have received a strong entry, including Ormesby’s Andy Wilson and Steve Brunskill.

In the Open Singles Wilson is the top seed with Brunskill second. The third and fourth seeds will be former Middlesbrough champion Martin Rutter and the up and coming County junior Paul Smith. Several other players in the competition are capable of challenging the seeds, including Nicky Corking of Northfield and two of the Ormesby British League champions, Chloe Whyte and Jessica Dawson.

In the Junior Singles, Paul Smith is the top seed with Chloe Whyte, fresh from representing England in the World Schools Championships, in second place. Third and fourth are Adam Smith and Jessica Dawson.  In the Veteran Singles Steve Brunskill is the top seed with Nicky Corking in second place.

The Championships commence at 10.00 am with the finals likely to be played from 4.00 pm.  Spectators are welcome.


SUNDAY 28 MARCH AT THE COUNTY PREMIER WEEKEND

With four wins out of four in the final weekend of the County Premier DIvision, Cleveland, who were in fifth place after the first weekend, finished in second place.

CLEVELAND 9 – BUCKS 1 

Cleveland, taking advantage of Paul Drinkhall’s considerable presence were understandably too strong for relegated Bucks and they ran out 9-1 winners. Paul Drinkhall (surprise / surprise), Steve Brunskill, Jess Dawson and Stephanie Donnelly were all undefeated and Martin Rutter won one on his County Premier Division debut. Cleveland had gone into the second weekend in fifth place and after four wins they finished second. Steve Brunskill scored an excellent 11-13 11-7, 13-11, 11-6 victory over Irish international David Hayes. It is perhaps worth sparing a thought for Hayes here. He lost his first singles with the knowledge that his second game would be against Paul Drinkhall !. It’s tough in the Premier Division !.

By Steve Kerns

CLEVELAND 9 – ESSEX 1

Essex were well beaten 9-1 by a very strong Cleveland team. The match was played in an excellent spirit with Cleveland coming out on top in the three fifth-enders. Paul Drinkhall, Bryn Dinkhall, Stephanie Donnelly and rising star Jessica Dawson were all undefeated. Matt Spero picked up Essex’s sole win, a good one. He beat Andy Wilson 11-8, 11-3, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9 and he also gave a great account of himself against Bryn Drinkhall. He missed out narrowly 11-8, 9-11, 6-11, 11-5, 8-11. Essex Junior Nicole Sydorenko stood poised at 6-6 in the
fifth end against Stephanie Donnelly but it was Stephanie who finished the better. She came through to win 9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-13, 11-7

By Steve Kerns

SATURDAY 27 MARCH AT THE COUNTY PREMIER WEEKEND

CLEVELAND 7 –  GLOUCESTER 3

Cleveland included British no. one Paul Drinkhall in their team for their clash with Gloucestershire, and they were always ahead, eventually winning 7-3. The big shock here was Ann Barnes’ fine 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8 win over Stephanie Donnelly, a player ranked 61 places above her. The reliable Choi Sze To also won her two singles which included a 11-7, 11-8, 4-11, 12-10 victory over Jessica Dawson. Not surprisingly Paul Drinkhall and Bryn Drinkhall won their four singles, whilst Steve Brunskill also picked up two wins. He fought back from 2-1 down with real determination to beat Michael Harvey 9-11, 11-6, 14-16, 11-0, 11-9 and he completed what had been a very good performance by the Cleveland side by getting the better of Dan Kolesnic 14-12, 11-6, 11-7.

By Steve Kerns

CLEVELAND  7 – SUSSEX 3

Eyebrows were raised when Cleveland included the British no. one Paul Drinkhall in their side against Sussex, but, the former European Junior and Cadet Champion came close to making headlines for an altogether different reason. England no. four Veteran Ritchie Venner – counter-hitter supreme, and an impressive winner over David Meads and Da Quin Dong in last weekend’s British League Premier Division had his eyes set on an even bigger prize, the scalp of Paul Drinkhall. Few would have given him a chance but amazingly he stood at 2-1 and 8-5 up at one stage. The alarm bells must have been ringing loud and clear, but, Drinkhall to his credit kept his cool and changed tactics and he stormed through to win in the fifth end. The scores themselves make interesting reading: 11-2, 12-14, 4-11, 11-9, 11-2 to the Double National Singles Champion. Rising Cadet star Jessica Dawson, who looks set to cut her no. 49 Senior National ranking in half, impressed by beating both Rose Rainton and Sarah Stedman 3-2. Another vastly improved player this year – Cleveland’s Andy Wilson made his mark, by fighting back from 2-0 down to get the better of his Ormesby team-mate Nigel Eckersley 9-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 whilst Sarah Stedman also impressed. She beat Stephanie Donnelly 11-7, 12-14, 11-3, 11-9.Cleveland relieved any relegation worries by winning 7-3.

By Steve Kerns


BUTTERFLY INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

CLEVELAND SCHOOL QUALIFIERS

The following children have qualified to represent Cleveland County Schools at the Butterfly Individual Championships which take place at The Dome, Doncaster Leisure Park on Saturday 13 March 2010.

Under 11 Girls – Megan Eden

Under 11 Boys – Joe Clark

Under 13 Girls – Kayleigh Forster

Under 13 Boys – John Bousfield

Under 16 Girls – Jessica Dawson

Under 16 Boys – Paul Smith

Under 19 Girls – Chloe Whyte

Under 19 Boys – Marc Besford


Tuesday 2 march 2010

CLEVELAND COUNTY MEN’S TRIALS – SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2010

Steve Brunskill of Ormesby TTC finished in first position following his unbeaten run at the 2010 Cleveland County Men’s Trials held at Ormesby TTC.

Although Steve won all his 10 sets, he had three particularly tough games. Danny Welsh, Tim Surrey and Marc Besford all taking him to the fifth end.

Ormesby’s Martin Rutter did extremely well to finish in second place after starting as fifth seed. Rutter’s only two defeats were against Steve Brunskill and Andy Wilson. Andy finished in third position.

THE FINISHING POSITIONS WERE: 


 

WON LOST
1 Steve Brunskill Ormesby 10 0
2 Martin Rutter Ormesby 8 2
3 Andy Wilson Ormesby 7 3
4 Steve Bailey Northfield 5 5
5 Paul Smith Ormesby 5 5
6 Danny Welsh Northfield 5 5
7 Tim Surrey Northfield 4 6
8 Michael Young Ormesby 4 6
9 Adam Smith Ormesby 4 6
10 Anthony Phoenix Ormesby 2 8
11 Marc Besford Northfield 1 9
12 Jeavon Chan Northfield W/D

 


 

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