Eighty-six players competed for twenty-one trophies at this year's York & District Table Tennis Closed Championships, held at the York RI Gymnasium on the 11^th and 12^th March 2017.

Martin Lowe regained the Men's Singles trophy, defeating the defending champion James Rule in a reversal of last year’s final. The two are team-mates for Coneysthorpe A and both are unbeaten in the league so far this season. The final was of the highest quality and went to the wire. James started the stronger, taking an early 5-2 lead in the first game. Lowe came back to within two points at 7-5 before Rule took the game 11-6. Rule also took control in the early stages of second game, leading 7-4. Lowe then took the next four to lead 8-7 and eventually won it 12-10 to level the match. Lowe’s confidence was high and he stormed into an 8-2 lead in the third, before winning it 11-6. Rule halted the slide in the fourth game. At 5-5 he won three points to lead 8-5 and kept his nose ahead to win 11-9. Lowe took an early 4-1 lead in the deciding set, before Rule came back to 4-6. The lead then changed a number of times with Rule winning four points to lead 8-6, Lowe taking the next three to lead 9-8, before Rule took the next two to take championship point at 10-9. Lowe saved that one and another at 10-11, before winning three consecutive points to win the game 13-11, and with it his ninth title. In the semi-finals James defeated third seed Richard Moss (York RI) and Martin beat fourth seed Filip Wojtkowiak (York RI).

Sixteen-year-old German exchange student Clara Bellestedt (Clarence TTC), seeded second, won the Ladies’ Singles, defeating Andrea Potter (Millthorpe) in the final. Andrea won the first game 11-6. The next two were both close, Clara taking them 11-9 and 11-8. She then dominated the fourth game, winning it 11-2 to take the title. In the semi-finals Clara defeated Lydia Brown (University) and Andrea beat top seed Anne Barnard (York RI).

Rule and Lowe teamed up to retain the Men’s Doubles. In the final they dropped the first game against Richard Crowther (York RI) and Jon Wooldridge (Bootham CC), but won the next two. Crowther and Wooldridge had game points in the fourth before Lowe and Rule took it 15-13 to win 3-1.

Top seeds Clara and Anne won the Ladies’ Doubles, defeating Andrea and Marian Broadbent (BT) in straight sets in the final. Marian teamed up with Wooldridge to win the Mixed Doubles. The top seeds beat Clara and Mikey Arnold (York RI) in a close final, taking the deciding set by 11-7.

James Rule retained his Junior (under-18s) Singles title, beating Mikey Arnold in straight sets in a repeat of last year’s final.

John Farmery (Clarence TTC) defeated James Rule, top seed and last year’s winner, in the final of the Hardbat Singles. The Hardbat Doubles was won by Clara and Joe Wright (Bootham CC). They defeated Tom Thorp and Filip Wojtkowiak (both York RI) in the final.

Lowe defeated Wooldridge in the Veterans’ (over-40s) Singles final. They shared the first two games before Lowe won two close games 11-9 and 14-12. Jeff Cohen and Andy Fletcher (both York RI) defeated defending champions Crowther and Wooldridge in straight sets in the Veterans’ Doubles final. John Farmery won the Super Veterans’ (over-55s) Singles, beating Mark Blackburn (York RI) 3-1 in the final.

Arthur Sorley (York RI) won the Cadets (under 15s) Singles, defeating Sam Lowe (Coneysthorpe) in the final that went to a deciding set, which Arthur won 11-3. Arthur and Sam teamed up to win the Junior Doubles final in straight sets against Matthew Lowe (Coneysthorpe) and Adam Stone (Millthorpe). In the Under-11s Singles final Alex Widdup (Millthorpe) beat eight-year-old James Borlase (Millthorpe) by 3-1.

The divisional singles titles were won by James Rule (Div 1), Calum Goodwin (University, Div 2), Steven Temple (Ryedale at RI, Div 3) and 13-year-old Jacob Martindale (York RI, Div 4).

The Men’s Plate was won by Ryan Hood. Mikey Arnold won the Handicap Singles, and Ishan Bairoliya (University) and Mark Blackburn won the Handicap Doubles.

The main sponsor of the tournament was GMBU, and Brach Secretary Jim Shields presented plaques and medals to the winners and runners-up. Jim also presented a cheque to Tim Smith (York TTA Chairman). Sponsors of other events were friends of the Association. Thanks to all the sponsors for their support.

Report in The Press.

Seedings

Eighty-six 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 Gymnasium on the 11^th and 12^th March 2017. In the Men's Singles Martin Lowe, eight-times champion, is the top seed, ahead of his Coneysthorpe team-mate and last year’s winner, James Rule. Both Lowe and Rule have 100 percent records in the league so far this season so something has to give. Richard Moss (York RI), who has won the event six times, is seeded 3, and Filip Wojtkowiak (York RI) is seeded 4. Lowe is also top seed in the Veterans' Singles, with Jon Wooldridge (Bootham CC) seeded second. Lowe and Rule are top seeds in the Men’s Doubles. Anne Barnard (York RI) is seeded 1 in the Ladies’ Singles, with Clara Bellstedt (Clarence TTC) seeded 2. These two are playing in the Ladies’ doubles together and are the top seeds. Wooldridge and Marian Broadbent (BT) are top seeds in the Mixes Doubles. Wooldridge and Richard Crowther (York RI), winners for the last two years, are top seeds in the Veterans’ Doubles. James Rule is top seed in the Junior Singles, with Mikey Arnold (York RI) second.

Preview in The Press.