Winter League results, tables, averages

Division 1 Champions: Topspin York A, Runners-up: York RI A. Relegated: York RI C.

Division 2 Champions (promoted): Clarence B, Runners-up: York RI D. Relegated: Clarence D, Topspin York C.

Division 3 Champions (promoted): Shiyi Ling C, Runners-up (promoted): York RI F. Relegated: BT B, York RI G.

Division 4 Champions (promoted): Shiyi Ling D, Runners-up: Wigginton D.

Div1/Div2 Play-off: York RI D v Bootham A was not played.

Gradings & Nominations

Other competitions

York Closed 2020

Shepherd/Machell Trophies 2019-2020

Summer League 2019

York 1-star Open Tournament

Reports submitted to The Press

Winter League

The season was curtailed by the Coronavirus pandemic with most teams having three matches left to play. It was decided that results of corresponding first half matches should be carried forward for the un-played matches.

Topspin York A (James Atkins, Rob Owen, Jonny Wooldridge) retained the Division 1 championship, ahead of York RI A (Nathan Horsley, Richard Moss, Paul Robertson, Filip Wojtkowiak). Martin Lowe (Coneysthorpe A) topped the averages, losing only two matches.

Division 2 was won by Clarence B (Robert Farmery, Graham Hatfield, Mick Kenyon, Alfie Potter). York RI D (Mark Blackburn, Alberto Nidasio, Dave Quinlan, Mike Robinson) were runners-up and are due to play-off against Bootham A for a place in Division 1. Josh Bramley (York RI E) and Graham Hatfield (Clarence D) came top of the averages.

Shiyi Ling C (Lewis Harrison, Mike Jackson, Chris Sharples, Gary Tranter) topped Division 3. Second-placed York RI F (Mark Antrobus, Adam Stone, Marcin Ziolek) were also promoted. Zac Beene topped the averages, with Gary Tranter a close second.

Division 4 champions were Shiyi Ling D (Adrian Church, John Hughes, Thomas Walsh). Wigginton D (Russ Broadbent, Steve Cameron, Tony Fairburn, Clive Pottage) were runners-up and were also promoted. Adrian Church topped the averages.

York Closed Championships

Martin Lowe (Coneysthorpe) won the Men’s Singles title for the eleventh time, beating Bryan Birkbeck (Shiyi Ling) in the final. The Ladies champion is Moke Warburton (Coneysthorpe) who retained her title by beatingclub-mate Mia Longman in the final. Moke teamed up with Mia to win the Ladies’ Doubles and with Martin to win the Mixed Doubles. Martin won the Men’s Doubles with team-mate Calum Goodwin. Josh Bramley (York RI) won the Junior Singles and the Cadets’ (under-15) title.

Handicap Competitions

The first two stages of the Shepherd and Machell Trophies (team handicap knock-out cup competitions) had been completed before the season had to be curtailed due to the Coronavirus pandemic and were abandoned.

The Summer League (2019) was won by York RI A (Nathan Horsley, Adam Stone, Marcin Ziolek). They beat Wigginton A (Richard Bayliss, Tony Fairburn, Dylan Pottage) 6-4 in the final.

Yorkshire Veterans' League

The final set of matches in each of the three divisions were cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Results, tables and averages can be found on the following website:

Yorkshire Veterans' League 2019-2020

In Division 1 York 1 (Jon Wooldridge (13/18), Paul Robertson (12/18), Martin Lowe (8/9), Martin Hood (0/9)) were 4^th.

In Division 2 York 2 (Graham Hatfield (9/12), John Farmery (9/15), Alfie Potter (9/15), Gary Bunce (5/9), Martin Hood (0/3)) were 4^th.

In Division 3 York 3 (Tim Smith (11/18), Richard McCarthy (9/9), Jeff Cohen (6/6), Mick Kenyon (4/9), Mark Hodgson (3/3), Aidy McClaren (3/3)) finished second and are promoted. York 4 (Andy Kirk (12/17), Dave Quinlan (10/15), Jo Suchecki (7/14), Chris Sharples (1/5)) were 3^rd so just missed out on promotion. York 5 (Gareth Bryning (8/9), Russ Barton (5/12), Mark Antrobus (4/9), Chris Maude (4/9), John McLaughlin (2/6), Paul Halmshaw (2/9)) were fourth.

Deaths

Hugh MacDougall died on 13^th October 2019 aged 77. Hugh was a Sports Sub Editor at the Yorkshire Evening Press at a time when Malcolm Huntington, Chief Sports Writer, was involved with York & DTTA. Along with his general sports duties at the Press, Hugh was assigned to cover Table Tennis and Snooker locally. He also covered the UK Snooker Championships at the Barbican for the Press. He attended York & DTTA meetings, edited our Match Secretary's Reports for the Press, and covered the Closed Championships. He was well known amongst the players.

Click here for a tribute in the York Press.

Sally Russell died on 31^st December 2019 aged 71. Sally started playing at Water Lane Youth Club and joined the Railway Institute Club, where she was Club Secretary for many years. At the York Closed Championships Sally won the Ladies’ Doubles in 1969 (with Sue Grisedale), 1986 (with Wendy Prest) and 1992 (with Jane Cohen), and the Mixed Doubles in 1980 (with Tony Sanderson). She played for York Ladies in the Yorkshire League. Sally was the York Association General Secretary from 1984 to 2002 and Vice Chair from 2006.

John Eastwood died on 6^th January 2020 aged 76. John started playing table tennis at the West Yorkshire Bus Company, where he worked. He then moved to Fulford Road WMC (then Strensall and Holgate WMC) where he played in Division 1 of the York League for many seasons. This was followed by moves to Shepherds and Ryedale@RI. At the York Closed championships John won the Veterans’ Doubles (with Ray Calpin) in 1987, Men’s Plate in 2002 and the Division 2 Singles in 1994. He represented York in the Yorkshire Veterans’ league on more than 150 occasions.

Francis Gregoire died on 16^th June 2020 aged 81. Francis (Frank) was a member of the Hospitals ‘A’ team which won the Division One Championship in 1962-63. In the ten seasons from 1959 to 1969 he won the Men’s Singles at the York Closed on 6 occasions, the Bagshaw Trophy once and the York Closed Men’s Doubles on four occasions (once with Clive Pollard, once with Nitin Shah and twice with Rod Lowery). He represented York in the Yorkshire Men’s league on more than 50 occasions.

Click here for a tribute in the York Press.

Peter Littlechild died on 23^rd June 2020 aged 82. Peter was a founder member of Fulford Road WMC Table Tennis Section in 1963 along with the likes of Bert France and Trevor Percival. This club was the forerunner of Holgate WMC TTC and the present Clarence WMC TTC. Peter was originally Treasurer at Fulford and later Secretary. In 1965, when Bert France became York & District TTA Competitions & Tournaments Secretary, Peter was one of the first to be co-opted to this Committee which was responsible for taking the popular York Closed Championships from Terry’s Recreation Room to the Gymnasium at York RI, its current home. Peter was Entry Collator for the York Closed for a number of years and was awarded a York Badge for exceptional services to the Association.