The York Closed Table Tennis Championships were held on Saturday 14^th and Sunday 15^th February 2015 at the Railway Institute Gymnasium.

Videos of Men's Singles Final: Game 1 Game 2 Game 3

In the Men's Singles final Martin Lowe (Coneysthorpe) defeated third seed Aidan Ranftler (Clarence Club) to win the title for an eighth time. Ranftler started well, taking a 5-2 lead in the first set, before Lowe came back to level at 6-6 and then pull away to win it 11-8. Ranftler again took an early lead, 4-2, in the second set but Lowe won seven of the next eight points to lead 9-5 before winning it 11-7. The third set was point for point until, from 7-6 down, Ranftler won four in a row to lead 10-7. Lowe then stormed back, taking the next five points to win the set 12-10 and with it the title for the fourth time in a row. In the semi-finals Lowe defeated sixth seed Jon Wooldridge (Bootham Conservatives Club) in straight sets, while Ranftler overcame second seed James Rule (Coneysthorpe), also in straight sets. Lowe also defeated Wooldridge in the Over-40 Singles final.

Simona Stanynaite (Clarence Club) won the Ladies’ Singles, defeating Anne Barnard (York RI) by three sets to two in the final. Anne came back from 0-1 and 1-2 down to take the match to a final set in which Simona was too strong and won by 11-5. Simona and Anne teamed up in the Ladies Doubles but lost in the final to Marian Broadbent (BT) and Rachel Greener (Bootham Conservative Club) in straight sets.

Martin Lowe and James Rule defeated defending champions, John Farmery (Clarence Club) and Ranftler, in the final of the Men’s Doubles in straight sets. Lowe also won the Mixed Doubles with Jane Cohen (York RI), again defeating defending champions, Rachel Greener and Jake McCarthy (York RI), by 3-1 in the final.

James Rule retained his Junior Singles title, defeating Ethan Lowe (Coneysthorpe) by three games to one in the final. Ethan teamed up with Tom Warin to win the Junior Doubles final against Matthew Lowe and James Kilham. Matthew took the Cadets (under 15s) by defeating Jacob Martindale in the final. Jacob also reached the final of the Under 11s competition but lost to Adam Stone.

Aidan Ranftler won the Clifford Trophy, awarded for the outstanding performance over the two days. Aidan won the Division One Singles and was runner-up in the Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles events.

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.

Seedings

Sixty-five players will be competing for twenty-one trophies at this year's York & District Table Tennis Closed Championships, to be held at the York RI Gym on the 14^th and 15^th February 2015. In the Men's Singles Martin Lowe, seven-times champion and last year’s winner, is the top seed. Lowe’s Coneysthorpe team-mate and last year’s beaten finalist, 15-year-old James Rule, is seeded two. Aidan Ranftler (Clarence Club), is the third seed, with Mick Wilcockson (York RI) seeded 4. Nathan Taylor (Bootham Conservatives Club) has had a very successful debut season in division 1 and is rewarded with a number eight seeding. Lowe is also top seed in the Veterans' Singles with Wilcockson seeded second. Rule is top seed in the Junior Singles. Jane Cohen (York RI) is the favourite to take her fifth Ladies’ Singles title. She is also top seed in the Mixed Double and Veterans’ Doubles (both with Lowe). In the Ladies’ Doubles the top seeds are last year’s winners Marian Broadbent (BT) and Rachel Greener (Bootham Conservatives Club). Lowe and Rule are top seeds in the Men’s Doubles, with last year’s winners, John Farmery and Aidan Ranftler (Clarence Club) seeded two.