The York Closed Table Tennis Championships were held on Saturday 15^th and Sunday 16^th January 2014 at the Railway Institute Gymnasium.

In the Men's Singles final Martin Lowe (Coneysthorpe) defeated second seed James Rule (also Coneysthorpe) to win the title for a seventh time. Lowe stormed into a 7-3 lead in the first set before 14-year-old Rule won the next two points to threaten a comeback. Lowe then lost just two more points to win 11-7. The second set was much closer. Rule lead 9-7 before Lowe won five of the next six points to take the set by 12-10. Lowe took a commanding 9-4 lead in the third set before Rule took the next three. Lowe then won the next two to win the set 11-7, and with it the title for the third time in a row. In the semi-finals Lowe defeated third seed Aidan Ranftler (Holgate WMC) in straight sets, while Rule overcame fifth seed Mick Wilcockson (York RI), also in straight sets. Lowe also won the Over-40 Singles, defeating Wilcockson in the final.

Jane Cohen (York RI) won the Ladies’ Singles for the fourth time, defeating Rachel Greener (Bootham Conservative Club) by three sets to one in the final. Jane won the first set comfortably, 11-6, before Rachel fought back, just losing the second set 9-11 and winning the third set 12-10. Jane then went into a commanding lead in the fourth set and won it by 11-7. Rachel had earlier teamed up with Marian Broadbent (BT) to win the Ladies’ Doubles final against Cohen and Anne Barnard (York RI), and the Mixed Doubles final with Jake McCarthy (York RI) against Cohen and Wilcockson.

John Farmery and Aidan Ranftler (both Holgate WMC) won the Men’s Doubles final after a very close match. They took a two-set lead against Richard Crowther (York RI) and Jon Wooldridge (Bootham Conservative Club), who then fought back to level the match at two sets all, before the Holgate pair went on to win the deciding set by 11-9. Crowther and Wooldridge also lost out in the final of the Over-40s Doubles, losing to Andy Kirk (Shepherds) and Wilcockson.

James Rule won the Cadets and Juniors titles, defeating Jake McCarthy and Mikey Arnold (York RI) in the respective finals. He also teamed up with Tom Warin to win the Junior Doubles competition.

Mikey Arnold won the Clifford Trophy, awarded for the outstanding performance over the two days. 13-year-old Mikey won the Division Four Singles title, was runner-up in the Cadets Singles, and performed very well against more experienced players.

The main sponsors of the tournament were GMB. Sponsors of other events were friends of the Association. Thanks to all the sponsors for their support.

Reports in The Press

Results and report

Preview in the York Press

Report in the York Press

Seedings

Sixty-five 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 15^th and 16^th February 2014. In the Men's Singles Martin Lowe, six-times champion and last year’s winner, is the top seed, with 14-year-old James Rule, also Coneysthorpe, seeded two. Rule inflicted Lowe’s only defeat in the league this season. Last year’s finalist, Filip Wojtkowiak (York RI), is seeded 3 and Aidan Ranftler (Holgate WMC) is seeded four. Lowe is also top seed in the Veterans' Singles with Mick Wilcockson (York RI) seeded second. Rule is top seed in both the Cadet and Junior events. Jane Cohen (York RI) is the favourite to retain three titles, aiming to take her fourth Ladies’ Singles title, and she teams up with Anne Barnard in the Ladies’ Doubles, and with Mick Wilcockson in the Mixed Doubles.