Local Stars Shine in Games
The experience of a lifetime awaited three local youngsters taking
part in the UK School Games games held in South Wales recently. Scott Crawford, Tom
Smith and Emily Standing all competed for the North-West of England.
The contingent from the area watched a spectacular, if rain-affected,
opening ceremony which saw speeches from various dignitaries, a
fire-work display, a break-dancing performance, a stunning youth
choir and a dramatic laser show.
Following the team parade, the boys from the North-West- two
from the Barrow area- and others including Joshua Boult, Stephen Nickols
and David Mcbeath, played
their first match. This was against the South-West of England.
Former Dowdales pupil Scott defeated John Evans 3-0, and fellow ex-Dowdalian
Tom played Richard Andrews, losing out 3-0.
The team played Scotland in the afternoon. Tom was in action again,
playing well but just going down to Scott Barton 3-1. Scott was on
great form to beat Sean Doherty 3-0.
The following day, the boys were in action again. The morning
session saw them take on the cream of South East England. Both Scott
and Tom lost their matches despite playing well. The afternoon saw
the North-West take on the North-East. Tom sat out this match, but
Scott managed to win both of his games 3-1.
Playing for fifth place in the play-off against Scotland, a tense
set of matches ensued, with the North-West just losing out to the
team north of the border.
The final day saw the Individual competition take place. Although
Tom played very well against some of the best players in the
country, he was knocked out in the first round. Scott did extremely
well to progress through the first round, eventually getting knocked
out in Round Two by a top player.
Emily's performance will be detailed here shortly.
Following the medal ceremony and disco, the competition closed, but
for the three Furness youngsters, the memories will live on for quite some
time. Congratulations to them all.
Standing Rises to the Occasion
Table-Tennis hot-shot Emily Standing recently
won the Hereford Open Women’s Band Three Tournament. The former
Dowdales pupil clinched the title after an epic five-end encounter
which saw her edge out her opponent Charlotte Airey deuce in the
fifth to win the competition.
Emily had recovered well from an earlier loss
to Norwegian Anja Esketveit, and went on to defeat Laura Price in
her group. In the Semi-Final, Emily found herself two games to one
down against Charlotte Spencer, but the resilient sixteen year-old
from Askam, fought back to win in five to book her place in the
final.
Emily has been causing quite a stir recently
on the tournament circuit, and this win caps an impressive season
for her, having been crowned Barrow Junior Town Tournament winner
earlier in the year. Emily has also experienced success in the
Kendal League, winning both the Handicap and Mixed-Doubles titles.
Barrow and District
Table-Tennis League Annual Town Tournament 2009
Tom Smith is the new ‘Town
Champion’ following the annual Barrow and District Table-Tennis league
Town Tournament.
The youngster, a pupil at
Dowdales School, and who plays for Furness Cricket Club, comfortably won
his group beating Jonathon Miles and Stephen Murray on the way, and
defeating Gareth Brunton three-straight in the quarter-final. Tom’s
excellent run continued with a comprehensive win over Jonathon in the
Semi-Final, whom he met for a second time.
The final itself had the makings
of a classic, but ultimately failed to live up to its billing as Tom was
unstoppable. He defeated Millom’s Neil Smith- a former town champion on
a number of occasions- 11-8, 11-5, 11-8.
Tom, from Askam, impressed with
his brilliant reactions and ability to return smashes and then
counter-hit.
Neil Smith had earlier won his
group, winning his games against Dave Coulter and Ray Schwer 3-0.
Stephen Cairns won Group 3, defeating Gareth Brunton, Keith Mallinson
and the rapidly improving Oliver Shipley all three-straight. Gareth,
with two wins, progressed as runner-up.
Steve Bushell was a man on fire
in Group 4, defeating Stefan Wetherburn, Emily Standing and Tony
Whitehouse. Steve was, however, made to work very hard for his wins,
eventually extinguishing the threat of Emily 11-9 in the fifth, and Tony
11-7 in the fifth. Tony went through as group runner-up.
In the other quarter-finals,
Neil Smith beat Tony Whitehouse in four, Jonathon Miles edged out
Stephen Cairns 11-9 in the fifth, and Steve Bushell knocked-out Dave
Coulter.
In the second semi-final, Neil
Smith defeated Steve Bushell 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9 to meat Tom in the
final, but the night belonged to the talented sixteen year-old
youngster.
Emily Standing became ‘Junior
Town Champion’ for the first time after a sensational display in the
final. She had earlier beaten Oliver, and had been made to work hard by
the very talented Stefan Wetherburn who nearly caused an upset. However,
the St. Columba player rose to the occasion, winning 11-7 in the fifth
after a fierce contest.
Tom Smith, unsurprisingly, was
the other finalist, and he had comfortably won his matches.
Having just become town champion
in the open singles with a thrilling display, Tom was clear favourite to
take the junior title as well. However, Emily was a girl on form and her
hitting was unstoppable.
Emily, also from Dowdales, and a
former pupil of Askam Village School, played some of the best
table-tennis of her life to take the title 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4.
This was a classic final that
fully lived up to its billing and was enjoyed by the appreciative
audience. The quality of the table-tennis on show was of a very high
standard from both players.
If Neil Smith was disappointed
to lose the ‘Open Singles’ final, he could take consolation from winning
the ‘Veterans’ title in fine style. The Millom player won all his group
games, defeating Derek Harker, John Harrison and Keith Mallinson. The
game against Keith was extremely close, with Neil just pulling through
15-13 in the deciding end. Neil met St. Columba player Matt O’Flynn in
the semi-final, winning three straight.
Dave Coulter won Group 2, with
wins over Steve Bushell, Stephen Murray and Paul Acyred.
Tony Whitehouse won Group 3,
with a win over Ray Schwer and narrow five-end victories over Les Shaw
and Matt O‘Flynn, both playing particularly well.
Dave overcame Tony in the
Semi-final to book his place in the showdown with Neil in the final.
In the event, the
highly-talented Millom player ran out as 11-7, 12-10, 11-2 winner
against Dave.
Paul Ackred was the deserving
recipient of the ‘Handicap’ title in an event which attracted eighteen
entries.
Tom Smith had won group one,
with wins over Stephen Cairns and Jonathon Miles. Les Shaw (+8) proved
too resilient for Tom. It was, however, Jonathon who went through as
runner-up, with wins over both Les and Stephen. Stephen beat Les 21-20
in a sudden-death point.
Stefan Wetherburn, a pupil at
St. Bernards School, and a player for The Table-Tennis Centre, embarked
on what was to prove a very successful night, with victory in his group,
following wins over Keith Mallinson, Steve Bushell and Derek Harker.
These were impressive wins as, although he was getting a start, his
opponents were all seasoned campaigners, and the handicap was not large.
Against Keith, Stefan received eight, against Steve he had an eleven
start, and against Derek, a five start. Derek progressed as group
runner-up, with wins over Steve and Keith.
Tony Whitehouse went through as
winner of Group 3, with wins over Oliver Shipley, John Harrison, Emily
Standing and the ever-improving Luke Walker. Oliver progressed as group
runner-up, with wins over Emily and John.
In the final group, Paul Ackred
topped the table following wins over Stephen Murray, Neil Smith, Matt
O’Flynn and Ray Schwer. Stephen Murray progressed as runner-up, with
victories against Ray and Neil.
In the first quarter final, Tom
Smith defeated St. Bernards pupil Oliver Shipley- who plays for the
Table-Tennis Centre- 21-15, 21-14.
Derek Harker (Hawcoat Park) beat
fellow club-member Stephen Murray 21-19, 21-18.
Paul Ackred defeated Tony
Whitehouse 21-13, 21-12.
Stefan defeated Jonathon Miles
in the last quarter-final 21-18, 21-7. He continued his good form in his
semi-final against Derek, winning 21-16, 21-12.
In the other semi-final, the
game between Tom Smith and Paul Ackred was something of a classic, going
to the deciding point in two of the three ends. Paul won the first
21-20, Tom responded by taking the second 21-18, and in the final end,
Paul sneaked victory in a sudden-death point at 20-20 to progress to the
final.
The final itself pitched Stefan,
who learnt his trade at St. Columba School, against St. Columba team
player Paul. This was a highly entertaining final, and both players
deserve great credit for their performances.
Paul won the first game 21-19,
but Stefan responded well with a 21-14 win to level proceedings. In the
deciding end, Paul got off to a great start, quickly clawing back
Stefan’s handicap points (+7), but the Table-Tennis Centre player was
not to be outdone, and continued to threaten. Some brilliant points
ensued, all played at break-neck speed, and Paul eventually came through
to take the match and the ‘Handicap’ title 21-18 in the deciding end.
