An Irish team consisiting of top veterans Anthony Redmond, Kevin Mackey and David Pemberton were today celebrating a fine weekend at the Veteran’s British League, whcih saw the team top their Division and achieve promotion. The team were in inspired form, taking 7 of their 8 matches to pip Twymark to the Division 2B title. See player averages below – congratulations to all involved in the team.
Irish Shamrocks
Anthony Redmond
Irish Shamrocks
16
14
2
87.50
Dave Pemberton
Irish Shamrocks
16
12
4
75.00
Kevin Mackey
Irish Shamrocks
16
9
7
56.25
The Irish Women finished mid-table in Division 2, with Helen Dolan and Sharon Brien top-scoring for the team.
The purse that was offered for the 2010 STIGA Munster Open this year attracted some English players to the tournament. Former Irish international Jason Sugrue from the West London Academy brought some of his top players to the tournament.
First Anglo-Irish battle was between Conor Nolan and Daniel Basterfield from the Academy in the last 16. Nolan lost the first narrowly before going 2 sets to 1 down. Winning the 4th set with some ease the match set up for a grand finale, Nolan eventually winning out a closely contested match 11 9 in the 5th.
The battle continued in Quarter Finals with Ulster’s Ashley Robinson pitted against former Irish Number 1 Jason Sugrue. Sugrue won the first set easily 11:4 and the balance of the game may have been in the second set where Robinson narrowly lost out 12:10 and then went on to take the third set 11:4. Sugrue proved just too strong for Robinson though, comprehensively taking the 4th and final set 11:2. Next into the fray against Sugrue was Eastpoint junior Sam Hanley. Hanley produced a stunning display of table tennis winning in straight sets with what can only be described as a flawless display of table tennis. The Final of the Men’s was a most sublime game of table tennis between Sam Hanley and Paul McCreery. Sam Hanley took the first two sets and went 10:8 up in the 3rd. At this stage there looked no way back for Paul McCreery and it looked all over bar the shouting. McCreery’s coach Daryl Strong made the decision to use his time out and the 3rd game was turned around with McCreery taking it 12:10. McCreery went on to take the 4th set and the game now hung in the balance. This game had everything and some of the finest table tennis was on display for a very appreciative crowd. Hanley was leading 10:6 in the 5th set before “Paul “Houdini” McCreery clawed his way back into the match and title of Munster Open Champion 2010. The final game was a classic, evenly matched all the way until it reached 10-9 in Hanley’s favour with McCreery serving to save the match. McCreery serves, Hanley hits a magnificent winner, the umpire Tom Mitchell calls game and match 11-9. Hanley turns to the umpire and says “the service was a net!” Score returns to 10-9, Paul wins the point to even up the match at 10 all, and then goes on to win 14-12. Congatulations to Paul on winning his first Senior Tounament, congratulations to both for a fantastic final and congratulations especially to Sam Hanley for a great act of sportsmanship.
In the Junior Boys, McCreery was again in spectacular form, defeating Hanley in the semi-final before winning another 5-setter in the Final against ALSAA’s Sam Logue. In the Junior Girls, Sara Dolan claimed the title with a victory over Connacht’s Sara Timlin, after Ashley Givan lost to the Connacht player.
The Cadet boys was where the next defence of Irish table tennis standards was to take place. Shi Zhao Li the Number 1 Seed from Leinster also had ideas of his own when it came to taking on the number 3 cadet in England, Igor Morais, in the Final, coming back from a 2 sets to one deficit to clinch victory 11 8 in the 5th and lift the cadet title for Leinster. Zhao Li’s sheer aggression and power play overcame the Morais’ wonderful backhand spin shots.
The Senior women’ s final pitted Ulster’s international, Ashley Givan against Sabina Devereux of Leinster. Devereux went ahead after the first game but the determined Givan levelled proceedings before being forced to bring out her best in the subsequent third game. Givan had a tough time all the way until the score went up to 10-10. The Ulster player did not let the opportunity of lifting the title slip away when she won two points to end the game and giving her a one game advantage. Thereafter, Givan raced to a comfortable fourth game win to claim the title. Givan also doubled up by taking the Under 14 Girls final against Munster’s Edel O’Reilly.
In the Under 12 Girls, the up and coming McGlone sisters met in a thrilling Final, with Katie eventually beating Elayna over 5 sets. Jonathan Porter took the Under 12 title with victory over Ulster team-mate Eric Sheckleton.
The Munster Branch is very grateful to all the people who made the journey to Cork this year. To all the coaches and players who conducted themselves fantastically well over the weekend. Also to all the parents without whom many competitors would not have been able to get to the Munster Open. The amount of volunteerism involved in our sport must be saluted specially for the long trek to Cork, many thanks to all. The Munster Branch really pulled together in support of Chairman, Anthony Redmond to make this tournament possible with most clubs in Munster played a part in the success it was. JJ Buttimer and Paul O’Shea spent many long hours deliberating over the entrants long before the start of the tournament and did a fantastic job on the day. A special thanks has to go out to the support received from Ballincollig TT club as without them the tournament would not have been as good as it was.
Ulster champion Keith Knox steamrolled the opposition at the Co Antrim Open in Ballyclare on Saturday to win the class one title with ease while Norman Nabney (Belfast) Andrew Davies (Knockagh) and Pawel Sulkowski (Poland) also claimed silverware at the Newtownabbey Borough Council sponsored event.
Tornado Knox plays the game at dynamic speed and in the top 4 showdown he kept his opponents under the cosh for long periods with relentless smashes. He beat Polish teenager Dawid Sulkowski 3-1, the much improved Mark McGuigan 3-1 and combination bat specialist Amanda Mogey 3-0. Sulkowski just claimed silver after an entertaining five set marathon with Dangerman McGuigan while Irish international Mogey who had played superbly all day finally met her waterloo against the topspin trio.
Despite losing to Ashley Given (Dungannon) evergreen Glenburn captain Norman Nabney snatched victory in class 2 on countback from Peter Clarke after beating the Annahilt player 3-1. Topspin supremo Gary Crawford can count himself unlucky to lose out to both Nabney and Clarke 13-11 in the fifth. The class 3 section had a bizzare look to it with many top players placed there due to their low Ulster ranking which ensured an extremely high class competition ensued. At its conclusion local favourite Andrew Davies used his smooth textbook attack to see off both Cookstown battler Mark McAllister and Queens chopper Robin Agnew by 3-1 scorelines to loud cheers from the partisan crowd.
There was a major shock in the veterans class when Portadown defender Randolph Loney used his hocus pocus defence to force class 2 winner Nabney into a 3-0 submission to book a semi final place and McAllister joined him when he just got the better of the popular Barry Dickson in five close sets. However neither made it to the final where Pawel Sulcowski, who was struggling with a foot injury, looked to be down and out against Clarke but survived match points to stage a marvellous comeback to take the fifth and retain his unblemished veterans record.
The Leinster Premier League which was staged in a central venue at ESB Sportco, Ringsend, Dublin has its second session of matches where they were very one sided with the exception of the top of the table match between Eastpoint (Sam Hanley, Gavin Maguire, Mark O’Flynn) and UCD 1 (John Murphy, Sam Logue, Li Shizhao). John Murphy was in great form beating Gavin Maguire and Sam Hanley. Eastpoint led 3-2 going into the last match between Mark O’Flynn and Sam Logue and after a thrilling five setter Sam won for his team to earn a draw. Eastpoint head the league table by one point from UCD 1.
The ITTA has today released the Butterfly Senior National Ranking lists following the Ulster Open. John Murphy, following his victory in Ulster remains in the coveted top position, while Rita Kacsandi remains in the top spot on the Womens ranking list, with Amanda Mogey closing in fast. Many thanks to Rob Cowan for his work on these ranking lists and to Vivienne Barry who has been on hand to assist Rob where required. See Rankings page of this site to download full lists.
Irish National Squads equipment sponsor Butterfly has released its latest newsletter for January 2010, featuring a review of all the successful achievements of the 2009 Butterfly team. Butterfly Europe’s managing director, Yuki Kamizuru, presents his thoughts on the turn of the year. In the column “table tennis basics” Butterfly continue the Richard Prause series on the subject “the service trick with the different ball contact points”. There is also an interview with the Greek national player Panagiotis Gionis, who has pointed out that the number of young players, who show interest in the defensive play, has dropped significantly.
Dubliner John Murphy was at his ruthless best in the Valley Leisure centre on Saturday when he dispatched the entire Ulster team one by one to claim the Ulster Open title in spectacular fashion. Popular oriental ace Na Liu once again dominated the main ladies event while the impressive Pawel Sulcowski (Poland) lived up to his No1 seeding in the veterans class.
Super fit Murphy, who plays his league table tennis in Belgium, was pitted against the Ulster champion Keith Knox in the last 16. The Trillick Tornado was the aggressor from the off but he was eventually tamed by the blocking and counter hitting of Irish No1 in four close sets. Murphy survived a close call against the brilliant topspin wizard Peter Graham who came back from 10-6 down in the fifth to draw level but then faltered at the line. The Dublin ace then used all his experience to outfox Under 21 winner Paul McCreery in a pulsating semi final clash.
Anyone who writes off Daryl Strong does so at their peril and the Queens destroyer reached the final after surviving two bruising five setters against Ashley Robinson (Clogher) and Sam Hanley (Dublin) respectively. Although the final was competitive it proved to be a bridge too far for Strong as Murphy completed his nemesis act over the locals with a four set victory.
Belfast based Na Liu has set an unreachable benchmark for Irish ladies so when one of her protégés Claire Nelson (Belfast) took a game off the master in the semi the teenager could be well pleased with her efforts. Unstoppable Liu then beat combination bat specialist Amanda Mogey (Carnmoney) in an entertaining final while French league player Nelson had the consolation of winning the under 21 ladies after just piping Sara Dolan (Dublin) in a hammer and tongs five set thriller.
Mayo battler Kevin Devaney always gives a good account of himself in Irish tournaments but the much travelled Connacht inter provincial star was disappointed to lose in both the finals he contested to Sulcowski in the veterans and to University of Ulster, Jordanstown captain Gervis “Razor” Knox in the class 2.
The second year of the revived Ballymena Table Tennis Open witnessed an entry of sixty six players from eight top clubs covering four of the six Northern Ireland Counties – a reflection of the continued interest in table tennis in the area.
Open Singles Tournament
Last year the Ballymena Open title went to Poland with Pawet Sulkowski defeating the then St Louis Grammar school’s teenage sensation Mark McGuigan. With Pawet unable to defend his title due to work commitments his son Dawid ensured the title would remain in the Sulkowski family when he defeated Ballymoney table tennis legend Brian Orr in four exciting sets.
Brian had defeated Wayne Charleton (Academy Strongtower) in the quarter final and used all his guile and experience to edge passed Queen’s student and strong favourite for the title, Mark McGuigan, in a pulsating semi final of hit and counter hit that had the audience spellbound. In the quarters Dawid comfortably defeated Mark Lynn (Restaurant 1608) and then defeated Annahilt star Gary Crawford in a four sets semi-final. Dawid’s devastating backhand drives proved the difference in both matches.
In the final Brian won the first set with excellent attack and counter hitting. But the sheer power of Dawid’s stroke play eventually forced Brian onto the back foot and although he had some success counter hitting David’s forehand drives, Brian had no answer to the famed Sulkowski backhand. Dawid eventually winning 9-11, 11-4, 11-6 11-8
Grade 2 Tournament
The Grade two tournament saw the two top seeds Mark Lynn (Restaurant 1608) and Jimmy O’Hara (Academy Strongtower) progress to the final. Top seed, Mark defeated Brian Bonnar (Coleraine Baptist) in the quarter finals and he then saw off team mate Paul McGuigan in the semi-final. Jimmy had defeated the much improved Jordon Hood (Academy Strongtower) in his quarter final and edged passed talented Bushmills star Aaron Douglas in the semi-final. Mark, who has yet to taste defeat in the County Antrim Division 2 league, took the final 11-6, 11-6, and 11-4. Mark’s forehand loops proved just too powerful for Jimmy on this occasion but much credit must go to Jimmy who as an octogenarian is still playing excellent table tennis and is a much-feared opponent.
Grade 3 Tournament
The Grade three tournament saw local lad Kevin McElroy (Academy Strongtower) power his way to the final with excellent wins over Anselm Brankin (Coleraine Baptist) and Peter Neeson (Academy Strongtower) in the quarter final and semi final respectively. His opponent in the final, William Weatherup (Ballyclare Methodist) had wins over his son James Weatherup (Ballyclare Methodist) and Jordon Hood (Academy Strongtower) in the quarter and semi finals. In the final, Kevin, playing his best table tennis of the season, edged passed William’s dogged defence to record an excellent straight sets victory 11-4, 11– 8 and 11-3.
Grade 4 Tournament
Dermot McElroy (Academy Strongtower) – not to be out done by his older brother Kevin – reached the final of the Grade four tournament. With great all round play, Dermot defeated the up-and-coming star Thomas McCann (Restaurant 1608) in the quarter-final and David Peden (Restaurant 1608) in an excellent semi final. In the final he met William Riley (Restaurant 1608) who had defeated Darren Tweed (Academy Strongtower) in the quarter final and team mate Noel McCann in the semi-final. A real ding-dong battle in the final saw Dermot creep passed William in four close sets 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, and 11-8.
Hard Bat Tournament
The novelty hard bat competition is always very well supported and this year was no exception. Gary Crawford from Annahilt showed his obvious talent with the hard bat by defeating Mark McGuigan (Restaurant 1608) and last years winner Brian Orr (Restaurant 1608) in the quarter final and semi final respectively. Indeed Brian did not let go of his title easily as both he and Gary put on a display of hard bat table tennis that brought back memories of Barna, Bergmann and Leech. The other finalist was Francis Shirley (Bushmills) who had defeated the Open champion Dawid Sulkowski (Poland/Academy Strongtower) in the quarter final and Mark McAllister (Cookstown /Academy Strongtower) in the semi. It looked like a surprise was in the offing when Francis took the first set 12-10, but Gary found another gear to win in four sets 10-12, 11 -7, 11-4, 11 – 8.
Ladies Singles Tournament
The Ladies Open Singles had two local girls reach the semi-finals. Michelle Taylor (Academy Strongtower) was to lose her semi to Amy O’Brien (Islandmagee) while Kathryn Moore (Academy Strongtower) lost a very close semi against hot prospect Emily Hill (Islandmagee). In an all Islandmagee final it was Amy O’Brien that proved too strong for youngster Emily Hill winning 12-10, 11-9 and 11-3.
U12 Tournament
The U12 tournament had eight youngsters placed in two groups of four, Group one consisted of Aaron Rodgers (Restaurant 1608), Sam McCusker (Islandmagee), Emily Hill (Islandmagee) and Adam Steele (Academy Strongtower). It was the talented Emily Hill who emerged triumphant from her group. Group two consisted of Kyle Bonnes (Academy Strongtower) Timothy Burn (Islandmagee) David Barnes (Restaurant 1608) and George Graham (Academy Strongtower). In an extremely tight group it was Timothy who emerged top of the pile. But it was Emily that took the win in the final showing that her previous success in the Ladies was no fluke.
U16 Tournament
In the U16 event two local lads reached the final, Top seed Adam McIlmoyle (Academy Strongtower) defeated Andrew Herbison (Academy Strongtower) in the quarters and had a tough struggle to overcome Coleraine’s teenage sensation Andrew Mulholland (Coleraine Baptist) in the semi final. In the final he met Dermot McElroy (Academy Strongtower) who had defeated Tom Alexander (Academy Strongtower) in a close quarter final and then defeated the number two seed Aaron Douglas (Bushmills) in the semi final. But Dermot could not repeat his giant killing act in the final as Adam won it in straight sets 11-4, 12-10, 11-6.
The Academy Strongtower table tennis club that host the Ballymena Open would like to offer their sincere thanks to Ballymena Academy for the use of their excellent facilities over the two nights. Special thanks must go to Academy teacher Mr Tom McLeister who supervised the proceeding and in so doing had a couple of very late nights.
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