CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP
IN the end of season East Down Churches Table Tennis League Close Championship, held in Edenderry Primary School Hall, top seed Tiago Souto emerged as the winner for the third year in a row.
There were a few surprises in the group stages – Adrian Brown lost both his matches against Vladimir Brzak and James Cairns. Marek Shotkivitch beat Arnold Morgan 13-11, 11-7 to come top of his group, with Arnold moving into second place.
In the round of 16, Tiago Souto, together with Bobby Cairns, got a bye to the quarter-finals. Marek Shotkivitch edged out Jay McAllister, Vladimir Brzak narrowly beat Emily White and Andrew Gibson beat Victor Edgar. Barry Dickson defeated James Cairns, while Kyle Graham lost the first game against Robert McCrory, but won the final two games to go through to the quarter-final stages. Andrew McCrory beat Arnold Morgan in straight games, 11-6, 11-5.
At the quarter-final stage, all matches changed to best of five set games. Tiago beat Marek 11-5, 11-9, 11-6. Vladimir lost to Andrew Gibson 10-12, 6-11, 9-11. Bobby fell to Andrew Mc Crory 7-11, 4-11, 3-11. Barry Dickson lost the first two games against Kyle Graham, won the third, but narrowly lost in the fourth.
In the semi-finals, Tiago beat Andrew Gibson 9-11, 11-1, 13-11, 11-7, while Kyle lost out to Andrew Mc Crory in a closely contested match, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 10-12. Tiago Souto proved too strong a player for Andrew McCrory in the final, winning 11-5, 11-3, 11-9. This was Tiago’s third consecutive championship win in a row. Well done Tiago.
CONSOLATION COMPETITION
The bottom player from each group of three players gained their place in the Consolation competition knockout stages, entering straight into the quarter-final stage.
Tanya McCrory played a blinder against Tom Garvey, winning the first game 11-9, but was unfortunate to lose the match in the fifth, 7-11, 10-12, 13-11, 9-11. Brian Morrow found Adrian Brown too strong an opponent and lost 6-11, 2-11, 6-11.
Robert Lamont beat Lorraine Smith, 11-2, 11-8, 11-5, in the quarter-final, but lost the first semi-final against Mervyn Cairns, 4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 2-11. Adrian Brown beat Tom Garvey in the second semi-final in straight games, 11-7, 14-12, 11-8.
In the Consolation Final, Mervyn Cairns fought hard against the more experienced player Adrian Brown, but ultimately lost in four games, 12-14, 12-10, 10-12, 4-11. Well played Adrian. In the third-place play-off, Tom Garvey beat Robert Lamont in straight games, 11-8, 11-7, 10-12.
SENIOR DIVISION
ANAHILT B 3 Bright 7
In one of the last remaining league matches in the Senior Division of the East Down Churches Table Tennis League, Anahit B took on Bright, and suffered a 7-3 defeat.
In the singles, Roy Coard narrowly lost to Adrian Brown but convincingly defeated Jay McCallister, while Freddie Brown recorded a solid 3-1 victory over Jay McAllister before losing out to Adrian Brown and Victor Edgar. Geoffrey Beattie lost all his games (3-1) against Jay McAllister, Adrian Brown and Victor Edgar.
The doubles match saw Geoffrey and Freddie overcome Adrian and Jay 3-1.
- The 75th Anniversary East Down Churches Table Tennis League Presentation Dinner is on Saturday (18th April) in Frenchie’s Bistro and Restaurant, Clough. Meals have to be pre-booked, so text or WhatsApp with any orders required on 077 5385 6766. Let’s make this a night to remember.
