SUPER STEVE WINS FOUR TITLES IN TOURNAMENT DOMINATION
Ibis maestro Steve Dixon won an impressive four titles at the Kendal and District Table Tennis League Annual Tournament finals night held at the Ibis Sports and Social Club on Tuesday.
Dixon’s most coveted title was his win in the showpiece Band One Singles event which he qualified for after defeating Burton’s Stephen Baxendale 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 in a routine semi-final. Dixon’s opponent in the final was Natland’s in-form Roger Pimblett, who swept aside Burton’s Chris Knowles 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 after a stuttering start in the opening set. The showpiece Band One final, which was played in front of a large appreciative audience, demonstrated both Dixon and Pimblett’s overwhelming attacking flair. In the opening set Pimblett set off explosively, attacking Dixon with an assured style which saw him race to a remarkable 6-1 lead. With Dixon seemingly heading for an opening set defeat and Pimblett playing so well, the Ibis player slowly worked his way back into the set at 10-8 down. Pimblett though could not win the point he desperately needed to win the set and eventually lost it 14-12. From this point onwards Pimblett lost momentum, while Dixon full of confidence, ploughed ahead to win the second set 11-6. Dixon’s attacking flair was once again superior moving into the third set, as Pimblett valiantly tried to salvage something from the match. All hope of a comeback for Pimblett was finally distinguished when Dixon snatched the third set 11-7 and with it the Band One Singles crown.
Dixon’s second title of the evening came in a highly entertaining Veterans Singles event following a five set success against Glaxo’s Keith Dymond. Dixon looked to be running away with the title after sweeping to a 2-0 sets lead after 11-8 and 11-4 triumphs. Gritty Dymond fought back to win the next two sets 11-9, 11-8 and set up a thrilling fifth set which Dixon won with relative ease 11-3.
The next two of Dixon’s titles came in doubles events, as he and James McGrath won the Open Doubles 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10 against Trevor Nicholson and Roger Pimblett. Dixon then teamed up with Louisa Bevan to snatch glory in the Mixed Doubles against John Fearon and Anna Parkinson.
In the Ladies Singles event, Natland’s Louisa Bevan retained her title to beat Burton’s Shelley Rhodes, while Stephen Baxendale won the Junior Singles with ease 11-4, 11-9, 11-2 against Thomas Parkinson. Parkinson then doubled up with George Pickering to win the Junior Doubles against George Pickthall and James Burton.
In the Handicap Singles, Burton’s Peter Baxendale demonstrated an ice cool consistency to beat Natland’s up and coming star Rinaldo Colombi. Baxendale was giving Colombi a massive nine point advantage, although the Burton player’s steady counter attacking style saw him quickly eat up the handicap difference and win the encounter 11-14, 14-13, 14-10, 13-14, 14-12 in a five set thriller.
The final two events to be decided were the Band Two and Band Three Singles titles. It was an all Burton affair in the Band Two event, as George Pickering brushed aside club-mate Tony March 11-4, 11-8, 13-15, 11-7, while Natland’s Rinaldo Colombi won the Band Three Singles, defeating club-mate George Pickthall.
