The York Closed Table Tennis Championships were held on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st January 2010 at the Railway Institute Gymnasium.
Both main singles finals went to the wire at the York Closed Table Tennis Championships, which were held on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st January 2010 at the Railway Institute Gymnasium. In the Men's Singles final Richard Moss (Sessions) and Martin Lowe (Coneysthorpe) met for the sixth successive year, and they produced a match of the highest quality. Lowe took the first two sets comfortably, 11-4 and 11-8, but then Moss found his form to take the next two 11-8 and 11-6, taking the match into a deciding set. Lowe led 5-4 at half way and went 8-6 ahead before Moss took the next three to lead 9-8. Lowe levelled before Moss took the next two points to win 11-9 and retain his title.
Both players had straight-sets wins in their semi-finals, Moss beating Joel Wright (Coneysthorpe) and Lowe beating Jon Wooldridge (Bootham).
Rebecca George (Coneysthorpe) is the new Ladies' champion. In a repeat of last year's final she defeated Jane Cohen (York RI) by three sets to two. Cohen took the first set but George came back strongly to take the next two. Cohen won the next to take level the match. The final set was very close, until at 9-9 George took the next two points and the title.
Jane retained two of the three titles she won last year. She teamed up with club-mate Anne Barnard to take the Ladies’ Doubles in five sets against Rebecca George and Gemma Deeley (Holgate WMC), and with Nathan Horsley (Sessions) to win the Mixed Doubles final against George and Ashley Hodgson (Coneysthorpe) by three sets to one.
Lowe and Hodgson won both the Men’s Doubles and Veterans' Doubles events, defeating Moss and Horsley in the Men's final by three sets to one and John Hughes and Mark Blackburn (both York RI) in the Veterans' final in straight sets. They played against each other in the Veterans' Singles final, with Lowe winning in straight sets.
James Atkins (Shepherds) took the Juniors' Singles title, defeating Luke Blackburn (York RI) by three sets to nil in the final. Jake McCarthy (York RI) retained the Cadets' Singles, defeating Ethan Lowe (Coneysthorpe) in the final. Jake and Nathan Taylor (York RI) teamed up to win the Junior Doubles final against Ethan Lowe (Coneysthorpe) and James Atkins. They were also were joint winners of the Clifford Trophy for their outstanding performances over the two days.
The main sponsors of the tournament were GMB. Sainsburys are supporting table tennis for the 2012 Olympics and they provided refreshments over the two days. Sponsors of other events were Wm Sessions of York and friends of the Association. Thanks to all the sponsors for their support.
Seedings
Sixty-six players will be competing for eighteen trophies at this year's York & District Table Tennis Closed Championships, to be held at the York RI Gym on the 30th and 31st January 2010. In the Men's Singles Richard Moss (1) and Martin Lowe (2) are seeded to meet in the final for the sixth time in a row, Lowe having won four before Moss beat him to take last year's title. In league meetings between the two this season they have won one each. Ashley Hodgson, back playing in the York League after many years out of the game, is seeded 3, with Paul Robertson at 4. Lowe is top seed in the Veterans' Singles with Hodgson seeded second. The two partner each other in the Men's and Veterans' Doubles in which they are top seeds. John Farmery and Graham Hatfield are seeded second in both of these doubles events. Jane Cohen (1) and Rebecca George (2) are the top seeds in the Ladies' Singles, Cohen having deteated George in last year's final. In the Ladies' Doubles Cohen teams up with Anne Barnard (1) to defend the title they won last year, while George teams up with Gemma Deeley as second seeds. Cohen and Nathan Horsley are seeded to retain the Mixed Doubles. James Atkins is the top seed in the Junior's, with last year's finalist Luke Blackburn seeded second.
The main sponsors of the tournament are GMB. Sainsburys are supporting table tennis for the 2012 Olympics and are supporting the tournament again this season by sponsoring the Junior Doubles event and providing refreshments over the two days. Sponsors of other events are Wm Sessions of York and friends of the Association.
Seed 1 is placed into the top half of the draw, and seed 2 is placed into the bottom half.
Seeds 3 and 4 are drawn into the top or bottom half.
Seeds 5, 6, 7 and 8 are drawn into the 4 remaining places.