BERKSHIRE CLOSED CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009 - 2010
Hari wins hat-trick of Berkshire Titles
Indian ace Hari Gehlot continued his excellent recent form to take both the Men's Singles and Veteran's Singles titles and with brother Ramesh, the Men's Doubles title at the 2009/10 Berkshire Closed Championships, held at the Kingfisher Table Tennis Club over the weekend of 14-15 November.
It was however Berkshire's emerging young stars that stole the show with no fewer than five of the current county junior squad finishing as champions or runners-up.
Fifteen year old Daniel Moses made it to three finals, winning the Under 21 title against 13 year old Our Lady of Peace TTC team mate Liam McTiernan. He also pushed Hari all the way in the Men's Singles final and with Liam finished runners-up in the Men's Doubles.
In the Ladies Doubles it was Kingfisher's dynamic young duo, Megan Knowles (13) and Maria Tsaptsinos (12) who shocked several experienced pairings to take the title in some style.
Wendy Porter beat her doubles partner Lisa Bosley in a tense Ladies Singles final, thus fulfilling a lifetime ambition.
In the Mixed Doubles final Kingfisher's Mark Banks and Cippenham's Emma Human outplayed OLOP pair Wendy Porter and Mike Childs.
Finally the weekend's youngest competitor, ten year old Daniel McTiernan, came very close to winning the Graded Singles title, just losing out to the experienced Niall McGrane in what was probably the most entertaining final of all.
This season saw a significant increase in the level of entries and some terrific matches throughout giving an appreciative audience, which included the newly appointed ETTA Southern Regional Coach, Alison Broe, a lot to admire.
Much credit for this exceptionally well run and highly successful tournament must go to organisers, Sylvia and Allan Bruton. A special thank you also to Berkshire ETTA President, John Freeman, who came to watch the finals and present the trophies on Sunday evening.
Berkshire Closed Results
Men's Singles
Semi Finals: Daniel Moses beat Paul Beck 3-1, Hari Gehlot beat Graham Outrim 3-0
Final: Hari Gehlot beat Daniel Moses 3-1
Ladies Singles
Semi Finals: Wendy Porter beat Emma Human 3-2, Lisa Bosley beat Sue Hayes 3-0
Final: Wendy Porter beat Lisa Bosley 3-2
Ladies Singles Champion Wendy Porter with President John Freeman. Click on Image to Enlarge.
Veteran's Singles
Semi Finals: Hari Gehlot beat Mike Childs 3-1, Ramesh Gehlot beat Paul Beck 3-1
Final: Hari Gehlot beat Ramesh Gehlot 3-0
Under 21 Singles
Semi Finals: Liam McTiernan beat Jarred Knowles 3-0, Daniel Moses beat Megan Knowles 3-0
Final: Daniel Moses beat Liam McTiernan 3-1
Under 21 Singles Winner Daniel Moses. Click on Image to Enlarge.
Graded Singles
Semi Finals: Daniel McTiernan beat Maria Tsaptsinos 3-1, Niall McGrane beat Pu Zhang 3-0
Final: Niall McGrane beat Daniel McTiernan 3-2
Graded Singles Finalists Niall McGrane and Daniel McTiernan. Click on Image to Enlarge.
Men's Doubles
Semi Final: Hari & Ramesh Gehlot beat Paul Beck and David Hilbeck 3-1, Daniel Moses and Liam McTiernan beat Mark Banks and Mike Childs 3-2
Final: Hari & Ramesh Gehlot beat Daniel Moses and Liam McTiernan 3-0
Men's Doubles Final. Click on Image to Enlarge.
Ladies Doubles
Round robin:
Winners: Megan Knowles and Maria Tsaptsinos, Runners-up: Sharon Mitchell and Sue Hayes
Mixed Doubles
Semi Final: Mark Banks and Emma Human beat Graham Outrim and Sharon Mitchell 3-2, Mike Childs and Wendy Porter beat Ramesh Gehlot and Sue Hayes 3-2
Final: Mark Banks and Emma Human beat Mike Childs and Wendy Porter 3-0
Mixed Doubles Final. Click on Image to Enlarge.