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Eastpoint Take Lead Into Final Session

by International EventsTTI News
Mark O’Flynn

The Leinster Premier League which was staged in a central venue at ESB Sportco, Ringsend, Dublin has its third session of matches where the leaders Eastpoint 1 beat Pioneers and UCD 2 comfortably. UCD also won their matches beating Athlone and Pioneers leaving them one point behind the leaders going into the final session of matches on Sunday 21st March 2010 – it looks like being an enthralling battle between UCD and Eastpoint as UCD attempt to defend their crown from last season. In the individuals Mark O’Flynn (Eastpoint) has a comfortable lead and will be very hard to catch at this stage.

4 counties

Tommy Caffrey Award Launched

by AwardsTTI News

The ITTA has decided to introduce a new award, named in honour of Tommy Caffrey, one of Ireland’s greatest ever players and a long time supporter of Interprovincial Events. The award will be presented to the “Player of the Tournament” at each season’s Senior, Veterans/Under 21 Interprovincial Championships.

Launching the award, ITTA Chairman Joe Hickey stated:

‘There are many times when the word legendary is overused but, when I spoke at the 2009 Interprovincial series, I had no hesitation in referring to the legendary Tommy Caffrey. Apart altogether from his incredible record of achievement at table tennis, Tommy has, at all times, conducted himself in an exemplary manner and he is a perfect role model and ambassador for Irish table tennis. The Board are delighted that he acceded to our request that this new ‘Player of the Tournament’ award, to be given at the Senior, Veteran and Under 21 Interprovincial series,  be called the Tommy Caffrey Trophy.’

Tommy cites his career highlight as winning his first Irish Open in front of a packed house in Dublin in 1963, defeating former World Champion Johnny Leach in the Final. He returned 4 years later to reclaim a 2nd Irish Open title, this time in Omagh, with a victory over international team-mate Jim Langan. With an incredible 151 Senior International caps to his name, Caffrey is a true ambassador for table tennis and a role model for the elite players who aspire to follow in the trail he blazed. Still playing at a high level in Veterans Table Tennis sport and symbolic of the motto ‘A Sport for Life’, he has had a long association with the Interprovincials – he began representing Leinster in this event in 1958 and has yet to miss a year, a remarkable record of over 50 appearances in one of the domestic calendar’s most prestigious tournaments.

Speaking at the launch of the award, Caffrey was understandably thrilled:

“I am completely surprised but feel honoured and privileged that this important award recognising the outstanding player of the Interpros will be named after me”

This year’s Senior Interpros will be hosted by the Connacht Branch at Breaffy House, Castlebar, Co. Mayo on Friday & Saturday 26th and 27th March 2010.

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Butterfly National Seniors 2010

by National EventsTTI News

A fantastic day of table tennis saw John Murphy claim his 3rd National Senior Mens title in 4 years and 14 year old Ashley Givan becoming the youngest ever Senior Women’s Champion…For event photos check out:

OB6P2250.jpg

http://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/10030059/5000/

For full results…click here

Men

1.John Murphy

2.Paul McCreery

3.Keith Knox

3.Daryl Strong

Women

1. Ashley Givan

2. Rebecca Kenny

3. Clodagh McCullagh

3. Sara Dolan

U21 G

1. Sara Dolan

2. Rebecca Kenny

U21 B

1. Paul McCreery

2. Daniel Keenan

3. Gavin Maguire

3. Sam Logue

Restricted Singles

  1. Kevin Devanney
  2. Conor Fahey

Doubles Men

  1. Murphy/Nolan
  2. McCreery/Graham

Doubles Women

  1. Dolan/Dennett
  2. Kenny/Kenny

Wheelchair Singles

TBC(Final deferred)

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ITTF Museum Newsletter

by TTI News

The new ITTF Museum Newsletter, 1 March edition, is now available at this link:

ITTF Museum Newsletter 17

This is a webpage, so no download is needed.  You can also view any previous  Newsletter via the Museum website:  www.ittf.com/museum
Just click on the Newsletter icon and select an issue. 

The Museum Newsletter is published every two months as part of my Communications Program, giving updates on recent activities, VIP visitors, new acquisitions & donations.

Also check out our latest magazine, a free 24-page quarterly publication available as a pdf download in full color.  You can select any issue at:

http://www.ittf.com/museum/TTC.html

Hope you enjoy the new issue.  Feedback or corrections always welcome.

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McCreery Dominant in Cardiff

by International EventsTTI News

At the Cardiff Open in Wales this weekend, Irish players produced some top class performances to claim some major silverware. Paul McCreery took both the Men’s Open Singles and the Men’s Band 1 event to continue his good run of form going in to this weekend’s Butterfly Senior National Championships. In the Women’s event, as expected Na Liu took the Women’s title and Amanda Mogey produced a spectacular performance to defeat Welsh No.1 Naomi Owen, who is ranked significantly higher in the ITTF World Rankings. Irish players across the board showed improved performances – Ashley Givan won Band 2 and Band 3 of the Women’s event and made the semi-final of the Under 21s. Rebecca Kenny was also in fine form, making the semis of the Band 2 and Band 3 events, defeating Hannah Avery along the way. Team-mate Sara Dolan also made the semi-final of the Under 21s – Dolan had an excellent tournament, recording a significant victory over Angharad Phillips. Connacht’s Sarah Timlin also prduced a strong showing and is quicky developing in her 1st year at international level.

Selected Results

Mens Band 1:

Paul Mc Creery beat Polish player Thomas Rzeszotko in Final and Welsh No. 4 Patrick Thomas in semis.

 Mens Open:

Paul McCreery beat Welsh No. 2 Stephen Jenkins in final in 5 sets

Men’s Under 21:

Paul McCreery beat Patrick Thomas Wales 3/0

Men’s Band 6:

Former Irish Champion and Irish International, Alan Monks bt. Stephen Slater. Monks, formerly from the Eastpoint Club in Dublin and now a coach in the Greenhouse Project also won Band 5.

 Women’s Open:

Semi final:  Amanda Mogey bt no.1 seed and Welsh no.1, Naomi Owen 3/0

Final: Liu Na bt. Amanda Mogey 3/0

 Women’s Band 1:

Amanda Mogey bt. Santa Clements 3/0 in final

 Restricted Singles:

Amanda Mogey bt.D. Arrowsmith 3/0 in final

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Fermanagh Open: A Magnificent Hat Trick for Paul

by TTI News

17 year old Paul McCreery (Crossgar) scored a magnificent hat trick of successes at the Stiga Fermanagh Open at Fivemiletown college on Saturday as combination bat specialist Amanda Mogey (Carnmoney) took the ladies title while Kevin Devaney (Ballina) and Peter Clarke (Annahilt) won the class two and veterans classes respectively.

Munster Open champion McCreery has often saved his best performances for forays outside the province but this time he really showed what he could do on home soil.  He was just a different class and won the mens singles without dropping a set.  In the quarters the talented Pole Maciek Szymanski felt the wrath of Crossgar teenagers ferocious attacks as did the much improved Sam Logue in the semis.  The Queens destroyer Daryl Strong dumped Irish national champion Gavin Maguire out in straight sets but then lost his semi to left hander Conor Nolan after losing momentum at the start of the fifth.  In their last four encounters McCreery and the hardhitting Nolan had fought out close five setters but this was different as the super fit topspin magician mesmerised Nolan with flashing forehands, breathtaking backhands and deft touches to run out an easy straight sets winner.  The adversaries then joined forces to win the doubles and McCreery completed his Lakeland rout with a four set victory over a game Logue who had taken out fellow Dubliner Daniel Keenan in straight sets.

Amanda Mogey never fails to impress and she badgered a series of opponents into submission with a fine display of power table tennis culminating in a 3-0 win over Dungannon topspin ace Ashley Given who is an ever growing threat to the Ulster No1.  Greystone league stalwart Randolph Loney raised local expectations when he scythed his way into the the class two semi finals but then met Devaney, an allround player at the vanguard of Connacht table tennis, who put the Portadown defender to the sword.  The other semi was a great match with Burke and fellow Connacht player Dennis McDonagh going toe to toe but the veteran was fastest to the draw when it mattered and won through.  Battler Burke found himself in another five set marathon with Devaney but this time lost 11-4 in the decider.

In the veterans class Dromore Chemist Jim Stirling produced a shock after leaving Irish international Robbie Davis (Dublin) puzzled with his sidewinder returns to win in straight sets in the preliminary groups.  The knockout stage was not for the fainthearted as Willie Cherry gained revenge over Kevin Devaney for a recent Ulster Open defeat, Norman Nabney had to concentrate to see off the swift footed Ted Mahaffy, Clarke beat No1 seed Karim Sabir (Athlone) and Kieran Burke dispatched Cavan farmer Cyril Fannin.  In the semis Cherry halted Nabneys challenge comfortably while a tiring Clarke struggled through in five against Burke.  After listening to wise tactical advice from his Annahilt team-mate Wallace Mehaffy Clarke just piped Cherry to the title after five bruising sets.

In his closing speech Fermanagh Table Tennis Association Chairman Alex Gordon thanked tournament referee Tom Mitchell for ensuring all players competed within the laws of the game and also the McConkey family Rachel, Jamie and Stuart who ran the top table with great professionalism and skill.

Fermanagh Open Results

Mens singles

Semi Finals
Paul McCreery (Ulster) bt Sam Logue (Leinster) 3-0
Conor Nolan (Leinster) bt Daryl Strong (Ulster) 3-2

Final
McCreery bt Nolan 3-0

Ladies singles

Semi Finals
Amanda Mogey (Ulster) bt Sarah Timlin (Connacht) 3-0
Ashley Given (Ulster) bt Sarah Dolan (Leinster) 3-0

Final
Mogey bt Given 3-0

Veterans singles

Semi Finals
Willie Cherry (Ulster) bt Norman Nabney (Ulster) 3-0
Peter Clarke (Ulster) bt Kieran Burke (Connacht) 3-2

Final
Clarke bt Cherry 3-2

Under 21 singles

Semi Finals
McCreery bt Ashley Robinson (Ulster) 3-0
Logue bt Daniel Keenan (Dublin) 3-0

Final
McCreery bt Logue 3-1

Class 2 singles
Kevin Devaney (Connacht) bt Randolph Loney (Ulster) 3-0
Burke bt Dennis McDonagh (Connacht) 3-2

Final
Devaney bt Burke 3-2

Open Doubles
McCreery/Nolan bt Logue/Robinson 3-0