Ipswich players were amongst the competitors in two recent Colchester Top 12 events where they met with mixed success.

In the Senior Top 12 held at the Rowhedge Table Tennis Club on 24th.June 2005, Fred Dove, Ken Lewis, Gary Young and Andy Holmes all competed along with Colchester’s Rik James, Dave Cole, Alan Burgess, Michael Andrews, Martyn and Gregg Green, Braintree’s Ian Whiteside, and Chelmsford’s Trevor Carter.

Fred easily won his group beating both Colchester youngsters, Michael Andrews and Gregg Green, and Ken and Gary both finished second in their respective groups with Ken’s game against Rik James producing some great rallies.

However, Andy Holmes, seeded 4, struggled and surprisingly failed to record a win in his group.

It didn't get any better for Andy as he then lost to an inspired Colchester’s Martyn Green in the K.O. stage. Greg Green had a titanic battle with Chelmsford’s Trevor Carter, Trevor prevailing in five sets 11-5 in the fifth, an Ipswich’s Gary Young eventually beat Braintree’s Ian Whiteside in another close match which also took the full five games to decide a winner. Ken Lewis should have beaten Colchester’s Michael Andrews having lead 2 games to 1 and 10-8 in the forth, but a lapse in concentration allowed Andrews back in and with the aid of a number of nets and edges Andrews took the final game 11-9. This effectively resulted in Andrews finishing in fifth spot with Ken in seventh despite his later surprise 3 straight demolition of Ian Whiteside, the pair being split by Gary in sixth. Andy Holmes left it until his last match to record a win to save him the embarrassment of finishing in last position overall.

Tightest match of the tournament was the battle for 9th/10th spot involving Chelmsford’s Trevor Carter and Colchester’s Martyn Green, a hugely entertaining match that Trevor won from two sets down in five 10-12, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10.

In the first semi final, Alan Burgess came up against RTTC club mate and number 1 seed Dave Cole with Dave winning in four sets to see him to the final. The other semi was between Colchester’s Rik James the number 2 seed Ipswich veteran Fred Dove seeded 3, and it was a magnificently fought game played in the very best spirit, Rik winning in five tight sets 6-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9.

The final was an all Colchester affair with Rik James the current Colchester Mens Singles Champion taking on his Colchester colleague Dave Cole, Rik triumphing in four fascinating sets 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6.

There was some excellent table tennis played in the overbearing heat which seemed to suit Colchester’s Alan Burgess who finished the night in creditable if a little surprising forth position having beaten the Ipswich duo, Andy Holmes and Gary Young on route.

Final placings :

1] Rik James, 2] David Cole, 3] Fred Dove, 4] Alan Burgess, 5] Michael Andrews, 6] Gary Young, 7] Ken Lewis, 8] Ian Whiteside, 9] Trevor Carter, 10] Martyn Green, 11] Andy Holmes, 12] Gregg Green.

Colchester Veterans Top 12.

After the massive success of the inaugural Open Top 12 event, RTTC was proud to be the hosts of a Veteran Top 12 event which took place on 8th.July 2005.

The standard was to the very highest level with Braintree’s Peter Hayden and Steve Kerns and Ipswich's Andy Warner and Fred Dove the four seeded players.

With Steve Edmonds unable to play at the last moment, Group A was a two man group with Number 1 seed Andy Warner beating Graham Farmer, seeded Steve Kerns cruised through Group C, Peter Hayden likewise in Group B and finally Fred Dove through Group D without a hitch.

The knockout stages began with a magnificent game as Chelmsford’s Trevor Carter came back from 2 games down to beat Colchester’s Martyn Green 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6.

Ken Lewis had a titanic battle with Colchester’s Alan Burgess with Ken also fighting back from two games down to win 11-9 in the fifth.

Another classic followed between Braintree colleagues Graham Farmer and Steve Pennell, Farmer just shading it 11-9 in the fifth.

Ipswich’s Andy Holmes found himself in the same position as in the previous senior event by being unable to win a game in his group, but once again saved himself from major embarrassment by beating Chelmsford’s Trevor Carter in the play off for 9th/10th spot.

The first semi final saw number 1 seed, Ipswich’s Andy Warner, play number 4 seed, Braintree’s Peter Hayden and a tremendous game unfolded between the big hitting Warner and the sublime touch of Hayden, a skill he has not lost in his sorely missed 6 year absence from the game. Andy found himself 2 games to 1 up and leading 10-3 in the forth, but an extraordinary lapse of concentration let Peter back in and incredibly Andy lost the game at deuce. Hayden eventually won a huge battle 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 15-13, 12-10 in what was the game of the event.

The other semi was another battle as number three seed, Braintree’s Steve Kerns eventually triumphed over number two seed, Ipswich’s Fred Dove 5-11, 11-7, 11-4, 4-11, 11-9.

The final saw Hayden away quickly into a two set lead 11-6, 13-11, Kerns game rose and he won the third amazingly 11-1 but it was not to be as Hayden again tightened his tactics and therefore control to win the fourth 11-7 with Kerns having to settle for the runner up spot.

This was undoubtedly a superb event played in exactly the right spirit and was a credit to table tennis, the players involved, and hosts RTTC.

Final placings :

1] Peter Hayden, 2] Steve Kerns, 3] Andy Warner, 4] Fred Dove, 5] Ken Lewis, 6] Graham Farmer, 7] Steve Pennell, 8] Alan Burgess, 9] Andy Holmes, 10] Trevor Chapman, 11] Martin Green, 12] Steve Edmonds (scratched).