From the Worcester Evening News, 1st May 2002

Champion Harvey hangs on to his title

Siket takes men's singles final into nail-biting fifth and final set

DAVE Harvey retained his Worcester Table Tennis League men's singles title after a tremendous battle against Lewis Siket in the final at Christopher Whitehead High School.

At the end of the first season with the new scoring system, Harvey got off to a good start winning the first two games 11-7, 11-2 and looked set for an easy victory.

But Siket adapted to the pace of Harvey's fast and angled blocking and took the next two games eight and ten.

In the fifth game there was never more than two points difference between the scores.

Siket had the advantage several times, after 10-all and then 11-all, but Harvey got the next two points to win the game 13-11 and the title.

In the semi-finals Harvey had beaten Nick Mytton 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 and Siket had beaten Bill Dawe in five sets 11-7, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7 and 11-8.

Successive

The women's singles championship saw Sarah Thatcher retain her title for the fifth successive year when she beat Helen Pogmore in fine style in three straight sets.

Dave Harvey also won the veteran singles title beating Bill Dawe 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10.

Dave White and Alan Salisbury were impressive in the men's doubles, both attacking brilliantly, beating Chris Maiden and Mark Fiddian 11-7, 11-2, 11-9.

The mixed doubles final saw Dave Harvey and Beryl Shammon retain their championship with a three-straight win over James Bewley and Sarah Thatcher 11-6, 11-8, 11-4.

Graham Collier, President of the Malvern Table Tennis League, presented the trophies, including one awarded posthumously to Jim Foley, for his devotion to junior table tennis coaching over many years.

Jim was still coaching until his death a few weeks ago, at the age of 86. The trophy, the Frank Southam Cup, was collected by Jim's daughters Sheila and Irene.