Day 2 of the DL Open had arrived and Gervis was deep into his second bacon butty while I was enjoying my healthy porridge with nuts and honey. We waited for everyone to arrive and were a little taken aback to be greeted by many stressed and worried looking faces. Gervis leaned over to my right ear and with tomato ketchup running down the left side of his mouth whispered ‘Here we go again!’
JUNIOR RESULTS
UNDER 18 MIXED
SEMI FINALISTS: JAMES SKELTON & JOEL SMITH
RUNNER UP: TOM COLVIN
WINNER: MAX SKELTON
CONSOLATION WINNER: LUCY MCIVOR
SUMMARY
We added Lucy McIvor and Rachel Taylor to the draw due to the disappointing Under 18 Girls entry and they both did themselves justice. The girls are to be congratulated as they are seriously committed to the game and have superb attitudes, Lucy and Rachel will go far in the game in my opinion. Max continued his superb form from Saturday and he just seems to be going from strength to strength at the minute. Tom Colvin is also playing some fabulous stuff and has one of the most consistent topspin F/Hs in Irish Table Tennis.
UNDER 18 GIRLS
RUNNER UP: RACHEL TAYLOR
WINNER : LUCY MCIVOR
SUMMARY
Lucy did the business as expected but Rachel tries every point and can be proud that she pushed Lucy in all 3 sets.
UNDER 15 BOYS
SEMI FINALISTS: ALEX LO & BEN WATSON
RUNNER UP: ADAM FAULKNER
WINNER: JOEL SMITH
CONSOLATION WINNER: PAEDAR SHERIDAN
SUMMARY
Joel, like Max, continued his impressive play from Saturday and can be proud of his fighting spirit as Adam looked the likely winner in the early stages of the match. Both players have improved their level over the last month and if they commit to the game as much as possible they have a bright future.
UNDER 15 GIRLS
SEMI FINALISTS: RACHEL TAYLOR & ERIN CABELLERO
RUNNER UP: ANJALI SINGH
WINNER: LUCY MCIVOR
CONSOLATION WINNER: GRACE LOONEY
SUMMARY
Lucy, again, took care of business, but both Rachel and Anjali gave her some problems, Rachel actually won the only set of the Tournament against Lucy. It’s not easy when you are the big favourite but Lucy is a real pro and takes it all in her stride. She is one of the few players who, when you look at her body language you wouldn’t know if she was 10-5 up or 10-5 down, some of the other players could learn from her! Serious maturity!
UNDER 13 BOYS
SEMI FINALISTS: BEN DICKSON & AADITYA SINGH
RUNNER UP: JOSH HICKMAN
WINNER: SENAN SHERIDAN
5TH: PEADAR SHERIDAN
SUMMARY
Young Senan is a breath of fresh air and has a real flair for the game. He has fine tuned his game over the last month or so and his overall play has become more consistent, he also has that little bit of a swagger about him so he plays with confidence. If he continues to work hard at the game, along with his undoubted talent then he is one for the future no doubt! There are some super young players in this category so keep working hard lads!
UNDER 13 GIRLS
SEMI FINALISTS: ALICE LOONEY & NIAMH MASON
RUNNER UP: ERIN CABELLERO
WINNER: ANJALI SINGH
5TH: GRACE LOONEY
SUMMARY
Anjali is one of my favourite young players at the minute as she has such a positive attitude and just works really hard at her game. She works on all aspects of Table Tennis because she wants to be better and anyone who knows sport want people like that to succeed. Erin gave Anjali a real fright in the final and she is another outstanding prospect. Well done to all the girls in what is one of the most exciting categories in Ulster Junior Table Tennis!
JUNIOR DOUBLES
RUNNERS UP: TOM COLVIN & JOE SHEARD
WINNERS: JAMES SKELTON & DAVID TAYLOR
Apologies to all the young players who left David Lloyds in tears when Gervis (The Dreamwrecker) told them their day was finished when in fact they were still in the Doubles event. Gervis will offer a FREE 1-1 to all those affected!
Seriously, thanks to all the parents, competitors, sponsors, umpires etc and we will see you all next year in hopefully what will be a bigger and better Tournament and I’ll finish with my favourite quote for the players:
‘Act like the player you want to become!’
By Allen Robson (Tournament Organiser)