The Southend & District Table Tennis League’s

Annual “Bill Smith” Hard Bat Championships

Held at the Hullbridge Sports Association’s Table Tennis Club

On Sunday 13^th November 2011

The Annual Bill Smith Hard Bat Championships was once again organized, almost single handed by Bill Smith at the Hullbridge Table Tennis Club and what a great day it turned out to be.

Bill was at the club at 6.30 in the morning removing floor tiles so that the event could go ahead. That was after emailing all likely candidates and chasing them up; producing the Results sheets, the P. A. System, the bats, balls: you name it, Bill did it. On the day he also had help from Glenn and Jayne Johnson.

There were 20 entrants and these were divided into two groups. Everyone playing everybody in their Group: 9 games in all, for all of us. The points system involved playing 2 games only: with points counting, not games won, so, as Bill said, every point counts: even when well down, you still tried. In the event of a deuce, it was the normal 2 points clear to win, but then the scores always counted as 11-10.

The key players were in Group A, Stuart Gibbs and in Group B, Glenn Johnson. Both won all their nine games and just when it looked like a very interesting Final, Stuart had to withdraw due to an urgent plumbing problem that had occurred at home. This left Glenn as the clear favorite.

The Tournament continued with the top 4 from each Group progressing into the Open and the others into the Plate.

In the Open, the first game of the Quarter Finals, saw Glenn beat Charlie Bates in a very close match; former Champion Paul Churn lose a tight 3 setter to Babul McLeod; Bill Smith win fairly comfortably against Ian Tuckey and Sue Body beating Tony Millward in two deuce games. The Semi Finals saw Sue beat Bill and Glenn beat Babul, both comfortably. The Final saw favorite Glenn demonstrate his skills with the wooden bat and he proved too strong for Sue, who nevertheless did very well to reach the Final. Winner Glenn Johnson, Runner up Sue Body

The Plate, was very open with Phil Digby beating Lee McHugh in the Final, 11-7 and 11-9. Both are new to this Competition and both clearly enjoyed the Championships. Winner Phil Digby, Runner up Lee McHugh.

Finally, the Doubles, which is drawn by those with the highest points in the Groups pairing up with those with the least and always provides an entertaining event. In the Final were Sue Body and Lee McHugh against Paul Churn and Adam Morrison. This was another very close game with Paul and Adam having 5 match points before they clinched it 11-8, 13-11. Winners Paul Churn & Adam Morrison, Runners up Sue Body and Lee McHugh.

All in all, another excellent tournament run by Bill Smith, who does a vast amount of work every year in running it: this year being no exception. We thank Bill Smith and the Hullbridge Sports Association’s Table Tennis Section for hosting it: also to Glenn and Jayne Johnson for assisting Bill.

Ken Field, 13Nov2011

The Sdttl “Bill Smith” Hard Bat Championships 2011 Finalists with Bill Smith

Adam Morrison, Paul Churn, Lee McHugh, Glenn Johnson, Phil Digby & Sue Body