There were fireworks galore at the Guy Fawkes night Des Flanagan Investment Solutions
County Antrim Table Tennis Open held Ballymena Academy.
The Over 60s and Over 40s events dominated the morning and early afternoon sessions
with top seed Sean McAnaney qualifying from his group to defeat Lisburn legend Jimmy
Robinson in the quarter final, Banbridge’s Arnold Morgan in the semi-final and Omagh’s
Jeremy Lappin in a hard-fought final. The over 40s was won by Ormeau’s Daryl Strong
who qualified from his group to play Letterkenny’s Bert McCloy in the last 16, Kingsland’s
Gus Agnew in the quarter final, team mate and top seed Philip Wallace in the semi-final
and Omagh’s financial guru and tournament sponsor Des Flanagan in the final.
The late afternoon and evening sessions was set aside for the Open event with an
excellent turn out of players ensuring a late conclusion to the days’ proceedings. The
eventual winner, top seed Tom Colvin from Craigavon, played an exciting attacking style
of table tennis enthralling all onlookers with his table tennis skills, most especially the large
Craigavon player contingent who supported him throughout the day. After qualifying from
his group Tom played Des Flanagan in the last 16, Ormeau’s eleven-year-old world
ranked sensation Peader Sheridan in the quarter final, Ballymoney starlet Adam Faulkner
in the semi-final and reigning County Antrim champion Conor Nugent in the final. Well
played Tom on a great day’s play.
Each of the competitions had a consolation event for those not making the top two places
in the group stages. The Over 60s consolation was won by Portadown’s Barry Dixon who
defeated Banbridge’s spin king Jimmy Sterling in a close final. The Over 40s Consolation
was won by Craigavon’s Wai Tat Som who defeated local Ballymena anti-loop specialist
Vladimir Brzak in the final. The Open Consolation was won by Ormeau’s Junior Close
who defeated Ballyclare’s Peter Baird.
The Ballymena TT Club, who hosted the County Antrim Open, would like to thank Mr Des
Flanagan for his generous sponsorship, Ballymena Academy for the use of their
gymnasium and to every player who participated in the event, making it such a success.
Umpires, Messrs Brown, McAllister, Sterling, Lappin and Morgan deserve special mention
too for their assistance throughout the day.
The next tournament in the Ulster Table Tennis calendar is the Ulster
Open on the 26th November: an extravaganza celebrating one hundred years of table
tennis in Northern Ireland. The Ballymena TT Club intend to hold an Adult Challenger and
Veterans event on the 10th December as part of its Christmas Schedule with the possibility
of an Open Doubles event also being mooted before the club’s well-deserved Christmas
break.
Fireworks galore at Guy Fawkes Day County Antrim Table Tennis extravaganza in Ballymena
Seniors
1st TOM COLVIN
2nd CONOR NUGENT
3rd DARYL STRONG / ADAM FAULKNER
Over 40s
1st DARYL STRONG
2nd DES FLANAGAN
3rd PAUL GALLAGHER / PHILIP WALLACE
Over 60s
1st SEAN MCANANEY
2nd JEREMY LAPPIN
3rd FERGAL O’HAGAN / ARNOLD MORGAN