2004/2005 Season Summary

Including Britannia Ipswich Player of the Weekend and Player of the Season

The full Britannia team squad comprised Ken Lewis (team captain) together with Ian Brown providing the ‘main stays’, and ‘regulars’ Aimee Sparkes, Clair Emmerson and Mark Lewis along with ‘new boy’ Paul Broxton having his first experience of British League table tennis.

Unfortunately the absence of Ian Brown at the start of the season due to injury meant him not being available for the first weekend matches played at London Progress, and his vast experience was missed.

However, ‘new boy’ Paul Broxton rose to the challenge by achieving a good win in only his second match at this level, which together with a superb ‘double’ win by Mark Lewis resulted in the team gaining 2 valuable points from a very tough weekend.

Britannia Ipswich’s ‘player of the weekend’ 4-5 September 2004 – Mark Lewis, for his ‘double’ wins against Guiness Polska.

The second weekend played at Cippenham proved to be a little disappointing, and also proved the ‘main stay’ descriptions of Ian Brown and Ken Lewis to be just that with them winning 5 and 3 respectively.

Aimee Sparkes and Paul Broxton also recorded a win each, but suffice it to say Clair Emmerson and Mark Lewis were unable to give their opponents much trouble.

Britannia Ipswich’s ‘player of the weekend’ 11-12 December 2004 – Ian Brown, for ‘double’ wins against both East London Progress and home club Cippenham.

The team of Ken Lewis, Ian Brown, Aimee Sparkes and Mark Lewis returned elated from the third weekend which was held at Wolverhampton, having won both matches played.

The ‘main stays’, Ken Lewis and Ian Brown once again proved worthy of their ‘descriptions’ with neither of them dropping a game.

Mark Lewis winning two and Aimee Sparkes winning one ensured a maximum team points haul from the weekend.

Britannia Ipswich’s ‘player of the weekend’ 16 January 2005 – Mark Lewis, for his tremendous win in the fifth end to secure both points against Progress.

Unfortunately the success of the third weekend did not carry through to the final weekend at Progress.

Although all the squad was involved, only Ian Brown played to form recording five wins from eight played. Ken Lewis, surprisingly, though it has to be said he was also the chauffer both days, only secured one win, though he did come very close in five of the other seven played, narrowly loosing all five in the fifth ends.

Mark Lewis and Paul Broxton disappointingly each also managed only one win, and both Clair Emmerson and Aimee Sparkes were well below par and struggled against the tough opposition.

Britannia Ipswich’s ‘player of the weekend’ 5-6 February 2005 – Ian, for winning five out of eight.

Overall, the team won 4 of the 14 matches played and finished in 7th position in the league, a creditable 7 points clear of bottom of the table.
Mark Lewis - Britannia Ipswich’s Player of the Season 2004/05

The ethos of the Britannia Ipswich team is “to enable up and coming players to have the opportunity to play at the highest possible level of league table tennis, playing along side more experienced players, thus gaining valuable experience which is of considerable benefit in helping achieve an overall improvement of the general playing standard of those involved”.

Such overall improvement, coupled with winning a ‘double’ and also securing both points for the team against Progress, therefore results in the 2004/05 Britannia Ipswich’s ‘player of the season’ being Mark Lewis.

The Britannia Ipswich team are extremely grateful to our sponsor "SEH Doors and Windows Ltd", Ipswich for their generous support without which running a team at this level would not be possible.

The article courtesy of Ken Lewis
ken.lewis@britanniatabletennisclub.com