Rum provides the killer punch
8th February 2010by Geoff Ware
The listing was posted by English Table Tennis Association
Scotland’s Gavin Rumgay gave a thoroughbred performance getting back to winning ways in the final of the Men’s Open against Damien Nicholls at the Bribar Salisbury Grand Prix on Sunday the 7th of February.
Following his disappointment at the previous Grand Prix held in London where he went out in the quarters, this time Gavin made no mistake and always held all the aces in the final with Damien taking the title and the winner’s cheque for £300.
The flying Scotsman dropped just the one set during the knockout rounds and that in the semi final with fellow countryman and 4th seed Niall Cameron. Gavin terminated his challengers one by one that included Sherwin Remata, Emran Hussein and quarter finalist Darren Reed to come through to muscle it out with Cameron and then finalist Nicholls.
Damien’s route to the final was tough to say the least and he really had to pull out all the Nicholls magic and escapology against semi finalist Matt Ware. Coming back after trailing 0-2 in sets, and then after levelling at 2-2, conjuring up another miracle return after being 0-5 down in points at the turn of the final set. This match was simply fantabulous and worthy of any final with drama, intense long range rallies, and full of spirit by both players not giving a quarter. It takes ability to get you to the top, but only sheer courage and character will keep you there and Damien certainly possesses these qualities, to dig deep within and pull this match out of the hat 13-11 in the fifth end. That match must have taken its toll on Damien as in the final with Gavin he was always playing second fiddle. Damien recorded victories against Steve Joslin, Richard Marshall and quarter finalist Patrick Thomas to set up his showdown with Ware, and then onto the final with the eventual Champion Gavin Rumgay.
Losing semi finalists Niall Cameron and Matt Ware contributed to a brilliant event.
With only five players contesting the Women’s Open singles, the title and cheque went over the Severn Bridge to Wales in the hands of top seed Charlotte Carey. She was in brilliant form throughout this round robin competition dropping just the one set to the title and that to runner up Haylee Potts who won her other three remaining matches. Sue West finished with the bronze position winning two of her four played, with Naomi Jackson beating Christine Cowell to take 4th position.
Umair Mathoor justified his seeding to win the Restricted Singles event and his class shone through. He was always in command and orchestrated performances over Phil Marshall and semi finalist Joe Higgs to set up his final with Billy Pegg and took the winners prize with a 3-1 victory. Billy was playing great table tennis to dispose of Rob Lemon (yesterday’s Band 2 winner) and semi finalist Stephen Joslin to reach the final with Mauthoor and was always in contention in the last match taking the second set to level at 1-1, but then Umair got into overdrive to take the next two sets and the title.
The Women’s under 21 round robin was next to finish and with just a poor entry of a trio of players; once again Charlotte Carey took the title, but only just. Haylee Potts was in the zone and this deciding match in the group went right to the wire after Haylee fought back so well to level at 2-2 after losing the first two sets! In a typical girl’s hard hitting game that had brilliance and lightning reactions at almost every point, Charlotte was just the steadier at the last points to come through 11-8 in the fifth end. Naomi Jackson will take some comfort out of her two matches and will surely benefit from her experience playing against two top players.
Next up the slightly older gentlemen battled it out for that coveted prize of being crowned the Bribar Salisbury Grand Prix Veterans Champion. David Butler was the main man in the top half of the draw and just was simply on fire throughout as none of his opponents could extinguish his burning desire to win through. He came through his first match against Ken Parradine then had a real top tussle on his hands eventually getting past the ultra tough defender Julien Gittens (who had earlier beaten top seeded Diccon Gray) in five long sets which put him into the final. Meanwhile in the lower half of the draw Paul (never a dull moment) Beck was on the crest of a wave just like a young surfer strutting his stuff! Paul enjoyed a workmanlike win over top chopper and 2nd seed Dave Randall in four sets, and then faced Brian Allison (who had just recorded a superb and gritty win over Jojo Senorin) in the semi final. This turned out to be a very vocal match with Mr Beck punching the air with sheer enthusiasm at most points won against the placid and calm Brian Allison, with Paul coming through to the final with a 3-1 win. The final that ensued was a real classic between Paul Beck and David Butler with the whole audience in amusement and entertained with the antics of sheer exuberance from the charming Mr Beck. In a super five set final that had it all the steadier David Butler gained the upper hand in a most entertaining five set final.
The Men’s under 21 final was played out by the two top seeds, Damien Nicholls (S1) and Matt Ware (S2), which was the very last match to finish, and boy oh boy what a great advertisement for the sport it was. Both these Grantham Academy players know each others game so well it was always in the balance and almost a carbon copy of their earlier semi final confrontation in the Men’s Open. None of the thirty or so spectators left watching wanted it to end; it was just a sensational match with at times utter brilliance from both these young men. Played in a friendly yet ultra competitive spirit with exhibition style of play at most points with those crowd pleasing back from the table long rallies at every point. Damien looked to be registering yet another victory over his house-mate Ware going 2-1 up in sets. But as we all know in this game its not over till its over and would you believe Matt clawed his way back into this match (as Damien did earlier against Matt) to ride the storm and come through to take the title in five glorious sets.
Matt made his way to the title after outpointing Lewis Gray, John McBeath, and last four opponent Richard Marshall to enjoy his epic final. Whilst Damien was always in the driving seat over Aaron McKibbin, Emran Hussein and semi finalist Luca Mariano but the double that was on the cards with Ware never materialised.
The Bribar Player of the Tournament award and a £50 voucher was presented to Kieran Smith of Buckinghamshire for his great performances over the weekend.
The event was a huge success due mainly to the hard work of the organisers and officials on the top table that included Referee Eileen Allison, deputy Mick Strode and Dianne Kirkwood together with Rachel Greener, Emily Turner and the tireless Matt Morris. The blue coats on duty did their usual magnificent job in controlling proceedings on the playing tables.
Results from day 2 at Salisbury.
Men’s Open.
Gavin Rumgay (SCO) beat Damien Nicholls (Sp)
11-5, 12-10, 11-6.
Women’s Open – round robin event.
Charlotte Carey (WAL) winner and runner up Haylee Potts (He)
Under 21 Men’s
Matt Ware (Ha) beat Damien Nicholls (Sp)
11-3, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8
Under 21 Women’s- round robin event.
Charlotte Carey (WAL) winner and runner up Haylee Potts (He)
Restricted Singles
Umair Mauthoor (E) beat Billy Pegg (Sp)
11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9.
Veterans Singles
David Butler (Sx) beat Paul Beck (E)
7-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6.
Below - Kieran Smith (Bu) player of the tournament with Matt Porter, ETTA National Events Officer.
Photos - Top - Gavin Rumgay (Sco) winner of Men’s Open pictured receiving his cheque from Referee Eileen Allison