The Table Tennis Wellington TTSports Autumn Open (April 21-22) is a TTNZ Rating Tournament – we have Open, Junior, and Senior events with age groups for everyone. You don’t have to be experienced – any affiliated player can enter!
Summer interclub for 2018 wrapped up recently on a night more suitable for winter interclub.
Division One favourites, Waterloo 1 duly finished on top, Sean Hanson and Vance Kelly coming out 4-1 winners. Daniel Rosner won a consolation last singles against Vance but the moment of note was a 28-26 fourth set victory in the doubles match.
A theoretically rusty Gareth Telfer joined Sabine Westenra for a 5-0 win over Empire 4 in the 3v4 match up and the DD team beat Empire 3 5-0 to secure 5th place.
In Division Two, Doom maintained their good team form to beat Empire 6 5-0 to win the grade. Paneeb reversed their loss of the previous week to beat Waterloo 3 3-2 and Empire 5 also reversed their result against Shatner’s Pants with a 3-2 win, both matches dependant on the doubles results.
Division Three saw Ooshkebabs overturn the previous week’s loss by beating Empire 8 4-1. Anna Wilson beating Ram Sitaram in a close encounter helped her team to win the grade. The other two fixtures were affected by unavailabilities, the outcomes being that the Titan Teens and Empire 9 finished 3rd and 5th respectively.
Thanks to the players who entered and thanks also to those players who filled in, sometimes at short notice. So as to ensure that everyone had the chance to play.
Congratulations on behalf of all of us to Hui-Ling Vong who won the 2017 Oceania Youth Olympic Qualification Tournament in Bendigo yesterday, she is headed to the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires next year!
Entries were well spread across three age groups with a number playing in two groups, resulting in plenty of table tennis during the day. A number of players played to a standard above what they normally display and there were plenty of tight, interesting matches with several upsets occurring.
The 2018 Table Tennis Wellington Veterans Open is being held on Saturday March 17 the conditions and form documents are below or use the online form to enter. Please enter by 6pm on Wednesday March 14.
There are over 40/50/60 and 70 age groups (if you turn that age on or before Dec 31, 2018) – singles and doubles. The tournament will be held at the Empire Table Tennis Club Hall, Marine Parade, Petone. Round up your friends and car-pool in! Please pass this information on to anyone else you know who may be interested.
This is also a good lead up for those competing in the NZ Open Vets in Easter (Mar 30 – Apr 2 in Taupo).
The 1967 Wellington Men’s Team won the Kean Shield (Inter Association Men’s A Grade Teams) at the New Zealand Championships held in Wanganui.
1967 Wellington Men’s team to NZ Championships. L/R: Denis Thorner, Murray Borlase (captain), Ivan Houghton (manager), Harrison Waterhouse, Barry Cross.
New Zealand A Grade Men’s Team (Kean Shield).
1st - Wellington Men 4 wins 1 loss
v Canterbury won 9-2
v Hutt Valley won 9-2
v Auckland won 6-5
v Northland lost 4-7
v Otago won 8-3
Wellington narrowly won from Auckland with both teams having a 4 win 1 loss record, Wellington won 36 matches to Auckland’s 35. This was the 9th time Wellington had won the Kean Shield. Previously Wellington had won in 1940,1941,1946,1954,1961-64. Murray Dunn (Trojan Club) has been in the most winning team (5) in 1954 and 1961-64. He was the team captain in all 5 teams. The 1967 team is the last Wellington Men’s Team to win the Kean Shield.
Murray Borlase and Denis Thorner had been in the Wellington Team to the NZ Championships since 1964 which was the previous time the Kean Shield was won. Harrison Waterhouse was selected in 1965 and Barry Cross in 1966.
1961 Murray Borlase and Denis Thorner
Murray Borlase (Onslow Club) was a top Hutt Valley Junior, as was Denis Thorner and Barry Cross. They all started playing at the Upper Hutt Club. They moved to Epuni and then the Silverstream Club and played Hutt Valley interclub for both clubs. They had moved to the stronger Wellington Interclub competition once they had left the juniors. Murray had won the Wellington Under 16 Boys Singles (1959), Wellington Secondary Schools Singles (1960) and Hutt Valley Boys Singles (1961). Also the 1959 NZ Under 16 Boys Doubles and the 1961 NZ Under 18 Boys Doubles with Denis Thorner.
Murray represented Onslow (1963-68) in Wellington Interclub and the Wellington Team (1964-68). He was the top ranked Wellington Man (1965 & 1967). The 1964 Team ( with Murray Dunn, Ron Foster and Denis Thorner) won the NZ Men’s A Grade Team Competition. He was the Onslow Club Singles Champion (1964,1966-68). In 1969 Murray joined the Empire Club and played in the Hutt Valley A Grade Competition. Murray was in the 1969 Empire team (with Warren Evans and Joan Brown) that won the Hutt Valley A Grade Competition. He won 26 out of 27 interclub matches played. He was the Empire Club Singles Champion (1969-70) and represented the Hutt Valley Men’s Team at the NZ Championships (1969-70). He was ranked 7 times on the NZ Men’s list (1964-70) with a highest ranking of 3rd (1967). He won 19 Open Men’s Singles Titles.
Manawatu (1963,1964,1965,1966,1968), Wellington (1965,1966,1968), Marlborough (1965,1967), North Taranaki (1966,1967), Wairarapa (1969,1971), Bush (1968), Hawkes Bay (1969), Hutt Valley (1966), Kapiti (1970) and Wanganui (1964).
1964 Wellington Men’s Team to NZ Championships. Kean Shield winners. Dick Moffat (Manager), Ron Foster, Murray Borlase, Murray Dunn, Denis Thorner.
Murray won the 1967 North Island Men’s Singles and the 1970 South Island Men’s Doubles with Denis Thorner. He reached the semi finals of the 1967 NZ Men’s Singles losing to Stuart Gibbs (England). He had knocked out the 1966 Singles Champion Bryan Foster (Otago) in the quarter finals. Murray represented NZ against England (1967) in the 5th and final test at Wanganui where he and Alan Tomlinson played the singles, and Murray with Gary Few the doubles. England won 5-0. He was also in the NZ team to the1968 SEAPATT Tournament in Melbourne, Australia. He died at the age of 61 in 2005.
Harrison Waterhouse (Victoria University Club) was a top Bay of Plenty Junior. He started playing at primary school at the Tauranga Table Tennis Club. In 1961 he won the Bay of Plenty Under 16 Boys Singles, and also the Franklin and Rotorua Boys Singles. Harrison won the Waitako Boys Singles (1962) and in 1963 the Bay of Plenty, Hamilton and Northland Under 18 Boys Singles and the North Shore and Thames Valley Boys Singles. Also the 1964 Wanganui Boys Singles. He won the 1961 NZ Under 16 Boy’s Doubles with Peter Salmon and the 1962 & 1963 NZ Under 18 Mixed Doubles with Dawn Wade. Harrison also played cricket and represented Bay of Plenty Colts as a batsman while at high school.
Harrison represented Victoria University (1964-69) in Wellington Interclub and the Wellington Team (1965-69). He was the top ranked Wellington Man (1966,1968,1969). He was ranked 5 times on the NZ Men’s List (1965-69) with a highest ranking of 4th (1968). He was undefeated in 72 matches in Wellington Interclub (1965-67) which was second only to Murray Dunn who won 97 consecutive matches (1962-64). Harrison was NZ University Men’s Singles Champion (1964-66) and Men’s Doubles (1964-65 with Barry Cross and 1966 with Barry Coley). His Victoria University Team (with Barry Cross, Barry Coley, Robert Armstrong, Maeve O’Flynn, Cusha Roberts) won the NZ University Team Title in 1965. He was selected for the 1966 NZ University Team that toured Australia where he won the Australian University’s Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles with Margaret Bridson. He was awarded a Victoria University Sporting Blue for Table Tennis for 3 successive years (1964-66). Harrison was twice awarded a New Zealand University Sporting Blue for Table Tennis (1965 & 1966). He was in the 1967 Victoria University Team (with Barry Cross and Peter Hall) that won the Wellington A Grade Interclub competition. Harrison won the Open Men’s Singles at Wanganui (1967), Marlborough (1968), Hutt Valley (1969) and Wellington (1969).
1966 NZ University Team to Australia. Harrison Waterhouse (VUW), Susan Craw (LC), Peter Salmon (AU), Margaret Bridson (AU), Barry Cross (VUW), Patricia Otway (OU), Doug Stewart (Manager). Front – Barry Coley (VUW).
Harrison defeated Alan Tomlinson 3-1 in the 1966 NZ Men’s Singles quarter finals and lost to the winner Bryan Foster in the semi finals 21-7 21-10 4-21 10-21 21-15. He was runner up in the NZ Men’s Doubles with Barry Cross to Gary Few and Murray Dunn 3-1. He represented NZ at the 1967 World Championships in Stockholm (Sweden). He lost in the 2nd round of the Men’s Singles to Istvan Jonyer (Hungary) 18-21 22-24 22-24. Istvan would win the World Championship Men’s Singles in 1975. With Murray Dunn they lost in the 3rd Round of the Men’s Doubles to Antun Stipancic/Dragutin Surbek (Yugoslavia) 21-14 21-16 21-8. Their opponents would win the World Championship Men’s Doubles in1979. Harrison retired from table tennis after 1969 due to work commitments.
Barry Cross (Victoria University Club) was the only defensive player in the team. He won the 1961 Manawatu Boys Singles, Wellington Under 16 and 18 Boys Singles and the Wellington Secondary Schools Boys Singles. He won the Hutt Valley Boys Singles (1962 & 1964) and Wellington Under 18 Boys Singles (1962). Barry won the 1961 NZ Under 16 Boy’s Singles and the 1962 & 1963 NZ Under 18 Boy’s Doubles with Gary Stewart (Wanganui).
Barry represented Victoria University (1963-67) and the Technical Club Team (1971) in Wellington Interclub. He was in the Wellington Team (1966-67, 1971) and ranked 5 times on the Wellington Men’s list with a highest ranking of 3rd (1967 & 1971). He was ranked 3 times on the NZ Men’s List with a highest ranking of 6th (1972). His Victoria University Team won the NZ University Teams Title (1965). He won the NZ University Men’s Doubles with Harrison Waterhouse (1964-65) and Mixed Doubles with Maeve O’Flynn (1965). He was twice awarded a Victoria University Sporting Blue for Table Tennis in 1964 and 1965. Barry was selected for the 1966 NZ University Team that toured Australia. He returned to the Hutt Valley interclub in 1968 and played for Petone Catholic. In 1971 he played for Technical in Wellington Interclub. Barry won the 1967 Wellington Open Men’s Singles. Also the 1968 Hutt Valley Open Men’s Singles where he beat Harrison Waterhouse in the Semi-finals 21-19 21-19 21-13 and Murray Borlase in the Final 21-18 12-21 21-18 23-21. Barry with Harrison Waterhouse won 8 Provincial Open Doubles Titles, including Hutt Valley (1967 & 1968) and Wellington (1967 &1969).
While at Teachers College in Christchurch (1972) Barry played for the Avonside team (with Maurice Burrowes and Graham Rhind). He won 33 out of 36 singles in Canterbury interclub which was only equalled by John Armstrong. He won the South Island Men’s Singles in Dunedin that year, beating Ling Nan Ming 3-2. Barry captained the 1972 South Island Men’s Team in the match against the North Island. Barry with (Ling Nan Ming, Loke Sim Wong, John Armstrong and Neville Brightwell) was in the 1972 Canterbury Men’s Team that won the Kean Shield (NZ Men’s A Grade Teams) for the first time. He moved to Levin in 1973 and stopped playing table tennis as there was no interclub there.
Barry ran the Rotorua Marathon 4 times (1985-8). Barry, at age 40, started playing outdoor bowls at the Central Levin Club and later moved to the Levin Club. He won the Centre Levin Club Singles (1999), Pairs (1992, 1995-96, 1998-99), Triples (1993) and Fours (1992,1995-99). He won the Levin Club Men’s Singles (2012), Men’s Pairs (2011 & 2013), Men’s Triple (2003) and Men’s Fours (2002). Barry was a Kapiti Coast Bowling Centre Representative. He won the Kapiti Coast Singles (1996), Pairs (1993 & 1995), Triples (1996 & 1999), Champion of Champions Pairs (1993 & 1995) and Triples (1993). He was awarded the Kapiti Coast Bowling Centre Gold Star (1996) for winning 5 Centre Titles.
Denis Thorner (Colonial Mutual Life Club) won the 1959 NZ Under 16 Boy’s Doubles with Murray Borlase. Also the 1961 NZ Under 18 Boy’s Singles, Boy’s Doubles (with Murray Borlase) and Mixed Doubles (with Neti Davis). Unseeded he beat Murray Borlase in the semi finals and Harrison Waterhouse in the final to win the 1961 NZ Under 18 Boys Singles held at Lower Hutt. Denis was the 1963 Onslow Club Singles Champion. He was in the 1965 Johnsonville Team (with Ron Foster and Ken Howe) and the 1966 & 1968 Colonial Mutual Life Team (with Ron Foster, Alan Harrington and Ray Foster) that won the Wellington A Grade interclub competition. He was ranked 5 times on the Wellington Men’s list and had a NZ Men’s ranking of 9th (1969). He represented Onslow (1963), Philips (1964), Johnsonville (1965), Colonial Mutual Life Club (1966-68) in Wellington Interclub and Wellington (1964-68). In 1969 he returned to the Silverstream Club and played in the Hutt Valley Interclub Competition and was a Hutt Valley Men’s Representative (1969-70).
Denis won the Open Men’s Singles at Wanganui (1962), Bush (1964), Wairarapa (1970), Kapiti (1971) and Northern Hawkes Bay (1971). Denis with Murray Borlase won 18 Provincial Open Men’s Doubles Titles, which included Wellington (1964) and Hutt Valley (1965 &1966). Denis later ran for Trentham United Harrier (1978-83) until an archilles injury ended his running. He ran 10 marathons, winning Mangaroa (1979) and Hastings (1982). Denis had a best time of 2 hours 29 minutes at Rotorua (1983).
Ivan Houghton (Manager) was a former Wellington Men’s Representative to the NZ Championships (1954 &1955). The 1954 Team (with Murray Dunn, John Crossley, John Sigley, Colin Shewan and Tony Darroch) won the Kean Shield. He was a defensive player and was playing A Grade for the Onslow Club in 1967 (8th on the Wellington Men’s Ranking List). He played A Grade until 1979. Ivan played for the Onslow Club (1947-56, 1962-75). He was in Hamilton (1957-60) and the Wairarapa (1960-61). Ivan played for the Titan Club (1976-1985). He was in the 1975 Onslow A Team (with Frank Beasley, Dick Moffat and Lloyd Richards) that won the Wellington A Grade Interclub Competition. He won the Onslow Club Championship Singles 6 times (1951,1952,1956,1962,1965,1971).
Ivan was one of the main workers for Wellington acquiring its own stadium in Newtown (1972) and was instrumental in setting up the Titan Club to increase the stadium’s use. Ivan became a Provincial Table Tennis Umpire (1955) and a International Table Tennis Umpire (1980). He was on the NZ Table Tennis Executive Committee (1964), Wellington Association Committee (1956, 1962-1973, 1977-81, 1983,1994-96) and Onslow Club Committee (1952-56, 1962-77). Ivan was the Wellington Table Tennis Association President and Chairperson (1964-69, 1977-81, 1983) and Treasurer (1994-96). He was Onslow Club President (1974-1999). Ivan was made a Life Member of the Wellington Table Tennis Association (1973) and the Onslow Table Tennis Club (1983). He was also involved in tennis and was a long time committee member of the Khandallah Club, Wellington Association and NZ Tennis. He was a Life Member of the Khandallah Tennis Club, Wellington Junior Tennis Association and the NZ Tennis Umpires Association. Ivan died in at the age of 67 in November 1999.
Information in this report was provided by Robert Armstrong, Susan Barlow, Barry Cross, Robin Radford, Denis Thorner, Harrison Waterhouse, Empire Table Tennis Club, England Table Tennis News, Kapiti Coast Bowling Centre, Levin Bowling Club, NZ University Sports, Onslow Table Tennis Club, The Alexander Turnbull Library, The Salient (Victoria University Student Newspaper), TTNZ Annual Reports, TTNZ Website and Wellington Table Tennis Association Annual Reports.
1967 NZ Team in England – Harrison Waterhouse is third from leftNZ Mixed Team to South East Asia Pacific Area Table Tennis Championships Melbourne Australia L/R back: Dawn Wade, Murray Borlase, Cathy Tadema front: Alan Tomlinson (captain), Alan McCallum (manager)Denis Thorner, Murray Borlase, Warren Evans, Hone RidleyDenis Thorner running in the 1980 Auckland marathon
Blast from the past 20 years ago 1997 Wellington Autumn A Grade remembered
by Malcolm Wong
1997 Te Rama Team Members Martin Young, Malcolm Wong and Matthew Hobbs reunite at the Wellington Interclub Finals Night, Series 2 (Tuesday 19 September).
In 1997 there were 8 Teams in the February-April competition. A round robin was followed by 3 knockout rounds to determine the winner. Onslow A (Greg Smith, Stuart Cordue, John Cordue) were top after the round robin and they made the final. Te Rama, 4th after the round robin, hit form to beat Titan A 9-2 and Titan B 11-0 to make the final. A close final was expected. However Te Rama (Malcolm Wong. Bob Bell, Matthew Hobbs) beat Onslow A 9-2. Malcolm Wong won all his 3 singles for Te Rama, continuing his good recent form where he had won his last 12 singles. Greg Smith won 2 singles for Onslow A
Malcolm Wong has been in 4 Te Rama winning interclub teams. 1986 C Grade (with Brian Hearfield, Jeff Larsen, Olaf Leijon), 1989 B Grade (with Brian Hearfield, Henry Anastasi), 1991 A Reserve Grade (with Martin Young, David Robinson) and 1993 A Reserve Grade (with Martin Young, Brian Neale). Martin Young was in the following Ling Tse winning Teams. 1986 C2 Grade (With Lewis Young, Kee Yee) and 1988 C Grade, Division 1 (with Martin Gee, Chuah, Glen Douglas). Bob Bell had been the following winning Newlands A Reserve Grade Teams. 1986 (with Brian Neale, Kaz Witko, Chas Wong), 1989 (with Adrian Sutton, Pam Sutton, Brian Neale) and 1992 (with Ray Hardy, Brian Neale, Kerry Duggan, Ross Fisher). Matthew Hobbs was in the winning 1992 C Grade Titan B Team (with Mike Winsborough, Geoffry Hobbs). Malcolm Wong (12) and Martin Young (18) were Te Rama Club Singles Champion. Malcolm had also won the 1995 Titan Club Singles. Bob Bell was the Newlands Club Singles Champion (1995). Bob (2011) and Matthew Hobbs (2012) would win the Onslow Club Singles.
Onslow A’s top player was Greg Smith, who was in the NZ Under 17 Boy’s Team to Australia (1995 &1996). His Wanganui City College Team won the NZ Secondary
Schools Open Teams Championship in 1995 (with Ben Chapman and James Chapman) &
1996 (with James Chapman and Michael Purvis). In 1996 his Gonville 2 Team (with Jonathan Spring and Larn Sweeney) finished 2nd in the Wanganui A Grade (2 person teams) Interclub behind Wanganui East 1 (Lee Mummery, Jared Smith, Nelson Tizard). He was the top ranked Wanganui Junior Boy and 3rd on the Men’s list, behind Shane Wilson and his brother Jared (Top ranked Man). Stuart Cordue was a former ranked Wellington Junior Boy (4th in 1974) and the father of John. He was in the winning 1974 A Reserve Grade team with Onslow B (with Lloyd Richards, Murray Bordignon, Ruth Futter). John Cordue (1996 NZ Under 14 Boys Rep) would be the Onslow Club Singles Champion in 1999 and 2000. He won the 2009 South Island Men’s Singles. John would become a future NZ Men’s Representative, playing in the World Championships (2005, 2009-2014) and the 2014 Commonwealth Games. At this years World Masters Games Table Tennis, John won the Over 30 Men’s Singles and was in the winning Over 30 Men’s Team with Simon Wallace. He was also runner up in the Over 30 Men’s Doubles with Chen Rong.
New players to Wellington were Kel and Marilyn Smith, the parents of Greg, who had moved from Wanganui. Aroha Tam ( 1993 NZ U14 Girls, 1994 NZ U15 Girls and 1996 NZ U2 Women) had moved from Dunedin. Liam Orange travelled from the Wairarapa with his grandparents Des and Rose Orange.
7 players (Martin Young, Matthew Hobbs, David Buckrell, Bryan McConnochie, Phillip McConnochie, Win Nguyen, Andrew Budden) were still playing Wellington interclub in 2017.
1997 Autumn A Grade
Place Team
1 Te Rama (Malcolm Wong, Martin Young, Bob Bell, Matthew Hobbs)
2 Onslow A (Greg Smith, Stuart Cordue, John Cordue)
3 Titan B (Jake Yang, David Buckrell, Alvin Wong)
4 Onslow E (Kel Smith, Marilyn Smith, Aroha Tam)
5 Onslow B (Bryan McConnochie, Phillip McConnochie, Blair Duckett)
6 Titan A (Win Nguyen, Geoff Fletcher, Alan Cliffin)
7 Onslow C (Paul Escott, Liam Orange, Steve Dunn)
8 Onslow D (Mark Freeman, Andrew Budden, Cameron Gordon)
Interclub Averages
Place Wins Games %
1 Jake Yang 17 18 94
2 Greg Smith 27 29 93
3 Win Nguyen 25 29 86
4 Bryan McConnochie 20 27 74
5 Martin Young 18 25 72
Hi all, thanks to all those participating and volunteering at association & club events during the year. All clubs & the associations could use an extra set of hands or few to help out with events, repairs, or decision making. All those involved are volunteers so next time you see one shake their hand, or shake your own hand if you are one!
Other wrap-up news – thanks to Malcolm Wong:
Wrap-up for Titan – Club Champs
The Titan Club Champs Championships were held on four consecutive Sundays (November 12, 19, 26 and December 3) at Newtown Stadium.
The Club Singles (12 November) was won by Ben Collins who defeated the titleholder
Lindsay Ward in the Final 4-0 (12-10 11-6 11-8 11-6). Lindsay lead 10-8 in the first
game before Ben won the next 4 points to win the game and he was in command for the
rest of the match. This was Ben’s 3rd Club Singles title after previously winning in 2013
and 2015. This brings Ben level with Nha Nguyen (1994, 1996-97) and Win Nguyen
(1998-2000), but well behind Lindsay Ward who has won 10 Club Singles (2001-02,
2004-2006, 2009-10, 2012, 2014, 2016). In the semi-finals Ben beat Yang Low in a close
struggle 4-1 (11-9 11-9 7-11 11-5 15-13) and Lindsay beat Paul Brown 4-0 (11-5 13-11
11-2 11-8). In the Quarter Finals – Ben Collins 3 v Zhidong Yu 0, Lindsay Ward 3 v C
Talbot 0, Yang Low 3 v Depak Patel 0, Paul Brown 3 v Ian Talbot 1. Yang Low showed
good form in beating Depak Patel 11-5 11-8 11-7. Depak Patel was to win the Empire
Club Singles and Doubles (with Paul Brown) the following Saturday. In the Singles Plate
Final Martyn Barry beat Mei Mun Teh 3-0 (11-5 11-2 11-4).
The Club Doubles (19 November) was won by Chris and Ian Talbot who beat Lindsay
Ward and Bryan McConnochie in the final 3-0 (11-9 11-7 11-7). This was their 4th title
together after previously winning in 2003, 2006 and 2007. Ian had also won with Bryan
McConnochie (2004). Ian is now one behind Depak Patel who holds the record with 6
Titles (2009 with Raewyn Young, 2011 with Elias Villanevua, 2012 with Raewyn
Young, 2013-14 and 2016 with Paul Brown). In the semi finals Talbot/Talbot beat
Zhidong Yu/Tony Tziakis 3-1 (11-9 4-11 11-3 11-3) and Ward/McConnochie beat Depak
Patel/Simon Jung 3-1 (11-4 11-4 7-11 11-7). Due to Paul Brown being unavailable,
Depak Patel/Paul Brown could not defend their Titan Doubles Title.
The Over 40 Singles (26 November) was won by Lindsay Ward who defeated Paul
Brown in a close match 4-2 ( 11-8 9-11 6-11 11-9 12-10 11-7 ). This was Lindsay 10th
Over 40 Singles titles (2003, 2005, 2007-11, 2013-2014, 2017) and 25 overall ( Also10
Club Singles, 2 Club Doubles with Nha Nguyen (2008, 2010) and 3 Club Over 40
Doubles with Ian Talbot (2015-17)). In the semi finals Lindsay beat Chris Talbot 4-2 (9-
11 11-4 8-11 12-10 11-5 11-9) and Paul Brown beat Depak Patel 4-3 (11-7 8-11 11-6 8-
11 11-6 9-11 11-4). In the Quarter finals – Lindsay Ward 3 v Zhidong Yu 0, Chris Talbot
3 v Harry Chen 0, Depak Patel 3 v Bryan McConnochie 0, Paul Brown 3 v Ian Talbot 0.
The Over 40 Doubles (3 December) was won by the defending champions Ian Talbot and
Lindsay Ward who beat Depak Patel and Bryan McConnochie in the final 3-2 (11-5 11-5
8-11 1-11 11-9) for their 3rd consecutive win. In the semi finals Talbot/Ward beat Paul
Brown/Ilkka Havakkala 3-0 (11-7 11-3 11-4) () and Patel/McConnonchie beat Tony
Tziakis/Simon Jung 3-0 (11-6 11-6 11-7). This is Ian Talbot’s 4 th Over 40 Doubles title
which gives him the outright record from Malcolm Wong, William Yang and Lindsay
Ward (3).
The trophies were presented at the Titan breakup on Sunday, 17 December. Rendall
Conwell was awarded the Presidents Cup for services to the Titan Club. Thanks to Tony
Tziakis (Club President) for organising the food and drinks.
2017 Titan Break up. Ian Talbot, Lindsay Ward, Rendall Conwell and Tony Tziakis.2017 Titan Over 40 Singles: Bryan McConnonchie, Chris Talbot, Simon Jung, Lindsay Ward, Tony Tziakis, Depak Patel, Paul Brown, Zhidong Yu, Harry Chen, Ian Talbot.
Wrap-up for Onslow – Club Champs
The Club Championships were held at the Ngaio Town Hall at the end of their season.
The deciding match in the Men’s Singles had John Gan retaining his title by defeating Win Nguyen 4-3 (5-11 11-5 11-3 8-11 11-2 10-12 11-9). Earlier John Gan beat Malcolm Wong 4-0 (11-8 11-6 11-3 11-7) and Win Nguyen beat Malcolm Wong 4-1 (11-8 11-5 9-11 11-3 11-6).
The Men’s Doubles (28/9/2017) was won by John Gan and Win Nguyen 3-0 against Matthew Hobbs and Malcolm Wong.
The Over 40 Singles (21/9/2017) had 2 round robin groups of 3 with the group winners playing off for the title. Win Nguyen beat Matthew Hobbs 3-0 (11-9 11-9 11-0) to win the Singles. Malcolm Wong beat Quac Dinh 3-0 to take third place.
The Women Singles and Mixed Doubles were not held this year.
Thanks to Virgil Kan for running the senior club and and he and his daughters Michelle and Kimberly, who have been running the Junior Club (all on Thursday nights).
This was held on November 28 at the Empire Club (Petone). There were 10 players from Manawatu (4), Counties (2) and Tamaki (4), who played singles and doubles. Chris Talbot, Neville Watkin, Roger Watkin and Malcolm Wong were the umpires. Andrew Maguire was the Competition Manager. There were also other Special Olympics Volunteers including Datacom staff who were the GMS System Operators. Results below.
Division 1 Singles
1st Tazz Kane (Manawatu)
2nd Stephen Biezeman (Counties)
3rd Jonathan Jenkind (Manawatu)
4th Conrad Ryan (Manawatu)
5th Scott Bowers (Tamaki)
Divison 2 Singles
1st Shanae Dean (Counties)
2nd Andrew Ireland (Manawatu)
3rd Richard Bisley (Tamaki)
4th Erin Peaufa-Kilgour (Tamaki)
5th Susan Godsall (Tamaki)
Doubles
1st Stephen Biezeman & Shanae Dean (Counties)
2nd Conrad Ryan & Tazz Kane (Manawatu)
3rd Jonathan Jenkins & Andrew Ireland (Manawatu)
4th Scott Bowers & Erin Peaufa-Kilgour (Tamaki)
5th Richard Bisley & Susan Godsall (Tamaki)
-Malcolm Wong
Thanks to all the volunteers who made this happen!
Congratulations to Bryan McConnochie for topping the table!
The points system was more fun oriented and should be taken with a grain of salt or two (especially regarding those who do the draws and yet end up near the top!) but notable stars in the table who battled well vs. higher grade players include: Martyn Barry, Darrell Brown, Leigh Grinlinton, Mei Mun Teh, & Ilkka Havukkala. Also the up and coming juniors gave many of us a scare or few and we’ll sure be seeing more of them in the years to come (in addition to Mei Mun we had Tom Christie, Aaron Lan, Anna Wilson, Erin Huang, & Ryan Pigou).
A special thanks to all players who came along. I think the experiment worked well and we might try similar again in future (if you have any competition structure/format ideas to try let us know).
The next competition will be the summer interclub which is typically around six weeks at the end of summer, in recent years that has a been a 2-person team format playing best-of-7 matches. See you then.
Winter Interclub Series 2 for 2017 finished with a couple of absorbing finals and a full hall as other finishing positions were determined over the three grades.
The premier final between Waterloo Wasps and Empire Entertainers was 2-2 after the first doubles but the second batch of singles saw the Entertainers edge ahead and continue the momentum to run out 6-3 winners, with Bruno Omizu being the rock with 3 singles and 2 doubles wins.
The Division Two final between Waterloo Wolves and Empire Enforcers was a cliff hanger all the way, matches going each way until the Enforcers took a 5-3 lead only for the Wolves to even up the score. This left Craig Gear (Wolves) and Ryan Cronin (Enforcers) to battle for the title with Ryan giving the Enforcers the victory. Ryan had earlier won a match 12-10 in the fifth set, a result which had a major impact on the final outcome.
Empire completed a sweep of the finals with the Egrets closing out their Division Two final with Waterloo Wapitis 6-3.
The annual Primary/Intermediate teams tournament was held on 1 September with 29 boys and 11 girls teams entered by 5 schools.
Most grades experienced some good competition and the standard throughout the divisions was impressive. Thanks to all the players that turned up, plus thanks to school staff who were involved in organising teams before the event and managing them during the day.
There were 88 competitors (66 males and 22 females) at the Saxton Stadium (Stoke) in Nelson. There were players from Auckland, Canterbury, Manawatu, Marlborough, Nelson, Otago, Southland, Waitako and Wellington. 5 players came from Wellington. Yau Yang Low, Andrew Maguire, Depak Patel, Paul Solt and Malcolm Wong. There were 12 tables. Results are on the TTNZ site.
Table Tennis Wellington President, Malcolm Wong, had Wellington’s sole success when he and Mark Nalder (N) won the Over 60 Men’s Doubles (Round Robin). They beat Alastair Naysmith/Stanislav Petrovic (N) 3-0 (11-8 11-9 11-6) and Kevin Neumann (N)/ Mark Wilson (C) 3-1 (9-11 11-7 14-12 11-9). It was their 20th title together. Depak Patel was runner up in 3 events. He lost to Daniel Astle (N) in the Over 40 Men’s Singles 0-3 (9-11 10-12 6-11) and the Over 40 Men’s Doubles with Julian Main (C) to Daniel Astle/ Paul Op den Buysch (N) 1-3 (9-11 8-11 12-10 7-11). Also the Over 50 Men’s Singles to Stuart Armstrong (C) 0-3 (5-11 5-11 7-11).
Over 60 Men’s Doubles Champion Malcolm Wong
No Wellington players qualified from their Open Men’s Singles Group. The closest was Paul Solt who was in a 3 way tie for 2nd in his Men’s Singles Group. He beat Rajitha Samaraweera (MN), a former Sri Lankan Junior Representative, 3-1 (11-9 8-11 11-8 11-7) and lost to Grant Wilson (C) 1-3 (5-11 13-11 6-11 6-11). Rajitha beat Grant Wilson 3-0 (11-6 11-7 11-4) and qualified with the best win/loss ratio (4/3) from Paul Solt (4/4) and Grant Wilson (3/4). Yau Yang Low beat this years Marlborough Open Men’s Singles winner, Alex Wilson (C) in his Men’s Singles Group 3-1 (10-12 11-7 11-8 11-7).
Depak Patel/Yau Yang Low lost in the Men’s B Grade Doubles semi finals to Rajitha Samaraweera/Nathan Watson (MN) 0-3 (9-11 11-13 13-15). Paul Solt was a semi finalist in the Over 40 Singles, losing to Depak Patel 0-3 (2-11 8-11 7-11). Depak Patel/Paul Solt lost in the semi finals of the Over 50 Men’s Doubles to Grant Wilson/Mark Wilson (C) 2-3 (11-8 7-11 7-11 11-9 6-11) as did Malcolm Wong/Mark Nalder to Stanislav Petrovic (N)/Paul Whitehead (WK) 1-3 (9-11 9-11 11-4 9-11).
Thanks to the Tournament Referees, Hamish Rennie and Ron Garrett, and the Tournament Director, Paul Op den Buysch. Also all the Nelson people involved in helping to run the tournament.
– Malcolm Wong
Over 40 Men’s Doubles Finalists: Simon Hoey-Burns (Umpire), Depak Patel, Julian Main (Runner up), Daniel Astle, Paul Op den Buysch (Winners).
