From the Worcester Evening News, 8th April 2000

Big guns fire way through to semis
AT the annual senior championships at St John's Sports Centre the standard of play in the men's events was the highest for some years due to the participation in the Worcester League of players from Cheltenham and Gloucester.

Judy Birbeck, tournament secretary, did an excellent job getting through the 13 events on seven tables in 11 hours.

The four to win their way to the semi-finals of the men's singles (to be played on finals night) were Dave Harvey (ranked No 1) who will play Lewis Siket (current title holder) and Bill Dawe who will play Mark Fiddian.

There were two close games in the quarter-finals. Mark Fiddian only just beat Pete Childs 22-20 in the third game, and Lewis Siket beat Dave White also 22-20 in the third.

In the ladies singles final, Sarah Stone will play Kate Hughes on ginals night. sarah won her group quite comfortably but Kate had a close game against Sheila Ashby - winning 22-20, 21-19.

In the Men's Doubles, Lewis Siket and Dave Arnold will play Dave Harvey and Dave Wilson.

The veterans singles (straight) will be between dave Harvey and Bill Dawe and the Mixed Doubles between Dave Harvey and Beryl Shammon versus Mark Fiddian and Kate Hughes.

The following events were finalised on the day - Intermediate Singles - Adam Throssell beat Kate Hughes 21-12, 22-20 - reversing last years outcome in this event.

Doug Young Cup - Division 2 Championship - Pete Griffiths beat Adam Throssell 21-16, 21-17 in the final.

Michael Pye Cup - Division 3 - Dave de Souza beat Chris Hughes 21-19, 21-18 in the final.

Veterans Singles (Handicap) - Trevor Davies beat Dave Harvey 28-18, 28-26.

Veterans Doubles (draw for partner) Dave Harvey and Alan Throssell beat Bill Dawe and Chris Farrer 12-21, 21-12, 21-17.

Tyler Cup (Handicap) - With a large entry of 32 - always a popular event - Kate Hughes (+6) beat Chris Hughes (+8) in the final 21-16, 21-17 - Kate playing a total of 5 games to win this event.

Charities Doubles (Draw for Partner) - Pete Childs and Steve Gough beat Adam Throssell and Chris Hughes 21-17, 21-11.

Ladies Doubles - Kate Hughes and Aileen Berry beat Sheila Ashby and Beryl Shammon 21-17, 21-11.

Finals night and presentation of all League Trophies will take place at Christopher Whitehead's School, Bromwich Road on Saturday. May 6, commencing with the men's semi-finals at 7pm. Spectators welcome.

DIVISION ONE

Two wins by YMCA Thunderbirds lifted them off the bottom of division one of the Worcester table Tennis League. YM ended Redditch Roamers B's three match unbeaten run with a 6-4 win. Adrian Tottey won his three singles for YM, and Sarah Stone added two wins with three set successes against Martin Clarke and Roger Oakes. Steve Humphreys gained their other win by beating Oakes.

YM also beat relegation threatened Civil Service Saints 7-3. Tottey again won his three singles for YM as did Stone, and this pair also combined to win the doubles. Saints three wins all came at the expense of James Bewley, who lost all three of his singles in the deciding set.

Civil Service 'A' are now bottom after losing 9-1 to YMCA Pterodactyls. Servants lone win came from Tom Horsnett who beat Alan Salisbury 21-13 in the third.

Redditch Roamers 'A' gained an 8-2 win against Cripplegate Oak. Dave Rogers won his three singles for Redditch, and also partnered Mard Fiddian to a 18-21, 21-18, 21-18 victory against Will Ahern and Mark Stubbs. Oak's two wins came from Ahern who beat Chris Maiden, and Stubbs beat Fiddian 21-18 in the third.

Results: YMCA Thunderbirds 6, Redditch Roamers 'B' 4; Civil Service 'A' 1, YMCA Pterodactyls 9; Civil Service Saints 3, YMCA Thunderbirds 7; Redditch Roamers 'A' 8, Cripplegate Oak 2.

DIVISION THREE

St Martins whitewashed visitors Broadheath 'A' 10-0 but Dave Elton was unlucky not to have won at least one match for the visitors. He lost to Simon Gibson 21-19, 22-20; to Stuart Richardson 18-21, 21-8, 21-17; and to Dave Watton 25-23, 22-20.

In the 'derby' match at Himbleton, the 'C' team picked up 4 valuable points with a convincing 8-2 defeat of the club's 'D' team. Martin Birbeck partnered by Pete Taylor won the doubles for the 'D' team against Pete Rogers and Malcolm Parker and then Martin beat Pete Rogers 21-236, 21-18, 21-15 in the final match of the evening.

Division leaders CMB Rubber played away against Broadheath 'B' and were in tremendous form winning all matches in two for a 10-0 win.

Broadheath 'A' lost for the second time during the week when they went down 2-8 to revitalised WGCC. dave Elton suffered an injury during pre-match practice and took no further part in the match.

Hartlebury BL 'C' were at home to CMB Rubber and unable to take any points in suffering a 0-10 defeat. Chris Farrer played well to take both Dave de Souza and Chris Hughes to three sets and, partnered by Linda Davies, also took Dave and Chris to three sets in the doubles. With this win CMB Rubber eased into the top spot in the division with a game in hand over second placed St Martins.