Gloucestershire Schools Individual TT Championships

Saturday 27th January 2018 - Marling School, Stroud

The 2018 Gloucestershire Schools Individual TT Championships was well attended with over fifty players from 23 schools competing in five events – Boys u11, u13, u16, u19 and Girls u16. In some areas, particularly the Boys u13s and u16s, the matches proved particularly competitive and it appeared that the overall standard of play was improved over last year. Our county’s youth continue to take their competitions seriously and their improvement is evident.

The Girls u16 event was a round robin event with the winner, Abi Ingles (Chipping Camden), playing more consistently and more aggressively than the rest of the group. The runner up, Charlotte Sparrow (Chosen Hill), did well to challenge Abi but ended 3-1 down (11-6. 8-11, 13-11, 11-3).

The Boys u11 event was played in a single group of four players, with the Davidson brothers coming out on top. Charlie Davidson (Parton Manor) took the title after winning each of his matches in three games straight. His promising younger brother, Jake Davidson (Parton Manor), followed his older brother’s footsteps almost perfectly, just losing to his older sibling.

The Boys u13 event was played by 16 boys, of whom 10 were newcomers to the championships. In the most part the groups finished according to seeding and the first upset came when Ryan Hunt (Severn Vale) beat newcomer Danny Townsend (Marling) in very evenly balanced 5 gamer in the quarter finals (9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-0, 13-11). Eventually the top two seeds emerged winners of their respective semis. The long-awaited final between Benjamin Greve (home schooled) and Tom Powlesland (Marling) was well fought, with Benjamin overcoming Tom in a solid 3 game win despite Tom’s great fight back in the final game (11-3, 11-5, 11-9).

The Boys u16 event was the most popular event, with 23 boys trying to make their mark. Three of the top 4 seeds journeyed through to the semis where they were joined by Irek Nawiesniak (Cleeve) who had to work hard to join them by winning a mighty 4 game match against the fourth seed Tirian Jakes (Sir William Romney). The anticipated final between the top seeds Marcus Holba (Marling) and Sam McIvor (home schooled) was initially a light-hearted event. However, having reached a 1-1 stalemate, both players stepped up their gears and Marcus pulled ahead to win 3-1 with a competent win (11-1, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4).

The Boys u19 event was better attended than in recent years and the semis went to the top seeds. Top seed Tom Cutler (Cirencester College) then defeated Jamie Chinn-Brown (Chipping Campden) comfortably in 3 straight (11-9, 11-3, 11-3).

Gloucestershire will now be sending the following players to compete in the national final in Wolverhampton in April:-

Girls u16 – Abi Ingles

Boys u11 – Charlie Davidson

Boys u13 – Benjamin Greve

Boys u16 – Marcus Holba

Boys u19 – Tom Cutler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Greg Holba, GTTA Development Officer
Author: via Gloucestershire County Table Tennis Association
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