Table Tennis Wellington

Malcolm Wong wins 4 Doubles Events and reaches 100 Tournament Titles

The tournament was held at Saxton Stadium in Stoke, Nelson. There were 30 Males
(1 junior) and 7 Females (no juniors) playing on the Saturday. On the Sunday there were 13 juniors, including 1 girl. Malcolm Wong, Paul Solt and Andrew Maguire were the Wellington players in this event.

Malcolm with Mark Nalder (N) won the Over 50 Men’s Doubles against Alister Morice (C)/ Phil Osborne (N) 3-1 (-3 11 9 6) and the Over 60 Men’s Doubles final against Graeme Mathieson/Gary Basher (N) 3-0 (9 8 4). Malcolm with Glenda Ferguson (N) were runner up in the Over 40 Mixed Doubles to Daniel Astle(N)/Mimi Walle (C) 0-3 and they won the Over 60 Mixed Doubles against Peter Welsh (ML)/Melody Nicholls (N) 3-0 (7 6 -4 4). Malcolm, with Melody Nicholls (N) won the Over 50 Mixed Double against David Watson/Debbie Watson (N) 3-0 (6 8 9). He was also semi finalist in the Over 40 Men’s Doubles, Over 50 and Over 60 Men’s Singles. In winning the 4 doubles titles Malcolm has reached 100 Tournament Titles. It takes his Nelson Titles to 30 and it was also his 10th Nelson Over 50 Men’s Doubles Title. Malcolm’s first title was the 1995 Wellington Regional Men’s Over 40 Men’s Doubles with the late John Lelliott where they defeated Adrian Lust/Nha Nguyen.

Paul Solt won the Second Grade Singles defeating Phil Osborne (N) 3-0 (11 9 9).
These two were in the Wellington College Table Tennis Team in the late 1970s. Paul was also a semi finalist in the Men’s Singles losing to the winner Jessie Wilson 0-4. He defeated this year’s Marlborough Open Men’s Singles winner, Nathan Watson, in group play 3-0 (11 7 7).

Paul with Andrew Maguire were runner up in the Second Grade Men’s Doubles to Phil Osborne/Alan Vigar (N) who won 3-1 (8 -3 7 7) and in the Over 40 Men’s Double to Daniel Astle/Paul Op den Buysch (N) who won 3-2 (-7 -6 6 5 9).

Andrew Maguire was unfortunate to play Paul Solt 3 times in the singles (once in MS Group and in knockout in the 2nd Grade (SF) and O40 MS (QF)), with Paul wining each time. This should not have happened as they were the only two Wellington players in those events. They should not be in the same group in the MS and should have been on the opposite side of the draw for the knockout in the 2nd Grade and O40 MS). Andrew’s best win was beating the Over 50 Men’s Singles winner Phil Osborne in the last 16 of the O40 Men’s Singles 3-1 (8 -5 10 7).

Continue reading “Travel Report – 2018 Nelson Open (16-17 June)” →

Malcolm Wong was the only Wellington player at the Marlborough Open which was held at the Simcox Stadium (Blenheim). There were 37 males (15 juniors) and 8 females (3 juniors) entered. On the Saturday (12 May) Malcolm was runner up in the Over 60 Men’s Singles to Mark Nalder (Nelson) who won 3-1 (11-6 11-5 9-11 11-8) and losing semi finalist in the Over 50 Men’s Singles to Derek Partridge (Canterbury) who won 3-1. The other Over 50 Men’s Singles semi finals was won by Phil Osborne (N) who defeated last year’s winner Mark Nalder (N) 3-1. Derek Partridge won the Over 50 Men’s Singles final 11-7 11-7 11-7.

Mark Nalder/Malcolm Wong won the Over 60 Men’s Doubles defeating Pietro Cannata/Gary Basher (N) 3-0 (11-7 11-5 11-5) and the Over 50 Men’s Doubles defeating Warren Haszard (Marlborough)/Derek Partridge (C) 3-1 (14-12 12-14 11-5 11-8). It brings their doubles titles together to 22.

In the Over 40 events Daniel Astle (N) won 3 titles. The Singles defeating Paul Op den Buysch (N) 3-0 (11-7 11-5 11-7). The Men’s Doubles with Phil Osborne (N) defeating Paul Op den Buysch (N)/Derek Partridge (C) 3-1 (6-11 11-9 11-7 11-5). The Mixed Doubles with Mimi Walle (C) defeating Warren Haszard/Marion Wood (ML) 3-0.

A combined Women’s Over 40/50 Singles resulted in 1st Mimi Walle, 2nd Glenda Ferguson and 3rd Marion Wood.

In the Second Grade David Walle (C) won 3 titles. He defeated Jay Zhu (C) 3-0 (11-4 11-5 11-6) in the Men’s Singles. With Allan Villar (N) they won the Men’s Doubles against Paul Op den Buysch/ Derek Partridge 3-1 (11-9 9-11 12-10 11-9). With Glenda Ferguson (N) they won the Mixed Doubles against Rob Honour /Megan Stratford (ML) 3-0 (11-5 11-4 11-9 ). The Women’s Singles was won by Glenda Ferguson from Marion Wood in a round robin. The Women’s Doubles was won by Vanessa Wood-Lin /Hannah Smit (ML) defeating Glenda Ferguson/Marion Wood 3-2 (11-8 11-6 8-11 3-11 11-7).

A report was in the Marlborough mid week paper and report sent to Table Tennis Nelson.

Open final results are listed below.

Men’s Singles – Nathan Watson (M) beat Daniel Astle (N) 4-1 (11-6 11- 7 12- 10 5-11 11-8).

Men’s Doubles – Daniel Astle/Paul Op den Buysch (N) beat David Walle/Jay Zhu (C) 3-2 (11-8 2-11 10-12 11-5 11-6).

Women’s Singles – Not held

Women’s Doubles – Mimi Walle (C)/Megan Stratford (ML) beat Jacqui Wood/Marion Wood (M) 3-0 (11-6 11-4 11-8).

Mixed Doubles – David Walle/Mimi Walle (C) beat Daniel Astle (N)/Marion Wood (ML) 3-0 (11-6 11-6 15-13).

Thanks to Chris Hood and Debbie Stratford from the Marlborough Association who have run the tournament for many years. Chris was the 1984 Marlborough Open Men’s Singles Champion. He became a Table Tennis Marlborough Committee Member (1982) and has been Secretary since 2009. Chris has been on the Committee for 34 years. He had 4 years off late 1990s-2000s).

Debbie Stratford (nee Looms) was on the Table Tennis Marlborough Committee prior to Chris Hood. Debbie had a break when she had her 2 daughter and may have been on the committee for nearly 40 years.

Debbie Stratford has won 7 Marlborough Open Women’s Singles (1975-1981), 9 Women’s Doubles (1972-74 with Christine Cootes (ML), 1975-76 with Stephanie Bing (ML), 1978 with Ruth Lee (HV), 1979-80 with Julie Dawkins (ML), 1981 with Janet Johnson (ML)) and 2 Mixed Doubles (1978 with Wayne Adamson (C), 1979 with Michael Hamel (C).

Debbie won the 1981 North Island Women Singles and 5 North Island Junior Titles. The 1977 Under 18 Girls Singles, 2 Under 18 Girls Doubles (1976 with Stephanie Bing (ML), 1977 with Ruth Lee (HV) ), and the 2 Under 18 Mixed Doubles (1976-77 with Stuart Armstrong (C).

In the South Island Championships Debbie won 4 Women Singles (1978-81), 4 Women Doubles (1978-81 with Jan Morris (C) and the 1981 Mixed Doubles with Michael Hamel.

She won 16 South Island Junior Titles. 3 Under 18 Girls Singles (1975-77), 3 Under 18 Girls Doubles (1975 with Stephanie Bing (ML), 1976 with Mary-Jane Gardiner (ML) and 1977 with Ruth Lee (HV). 3 Under 18 Mixed Doubles with Stuart Armstrong (C). 2 Under 16 Girls Singles (1973 & 1975), 3 Under 16 Girls Doubles ( 1973-74 with Stephanie Bing (ML), 1975 with Katherine Bing (ML)), and 2 Under 16 Mixed Doubles (1974-75 with Stuart Armstrong (C).

Debbie was twice runner up the NZ Women Singles (1978 and 1981). She won the 1979 NZ Women’s Doubles (with Jan Morris (C)) and 7 NZ Junior Titles. The 1977 Under 18 Girls Singles, 2 Under 18 Girls Doubles (1972 with Linda Smith (BOP), 1977 with Ruth Lee (HV)), 1977 Under 18 Mixed Doubles (with Lloyd Richards (W), 1975 Under 16 Girls Singles, 1975 Girls Doubles (with Ruth Lee (HV)) and 1975 Mixed Doubles (with Stuart Armstrong (C).

Debbie was ranked 6 years in a row in the NZ Under 18 Girls Ranking List. She was 4th(1972-74), 2nd (1975), 3rd (1976) and 1st (1977). In the NZ Women Ranking List she was ranked 1976-81 and 1985. 7th (1976), 4th (1977, 1978, 1980) 2nd (1979), 1st (1981) and 3rd (1985). Debbie was 1975 Marlborough Sportsperson of the Year in recognition of her becoming the first Marlborough Player to win a individual NZ Table Tennis Title (Under 16 NZ Girls Singles). She was also 1975 NZ Junior of the Year.

In 1978 Debbie represented NZ at the first Oceania Championships (Individual events) held in Auckland and the Australian Open (Melbourne). She and Shelley Palmer were runner up the 1978 Oceania Women Doubles to Jan Morris and Angela Brackenridge. Debbie was in the 1979 NZ Invitation Team (with Jan Morris and Shelley Palmer) that defeated the touring NSW Women 5-4. Debbie was in the 1981 NZ Women’s Team (with Jan Morris (C), Angela Brackenridge (A) and Shelley Palmer (A)) at the NZ Summer Games in Auckland that finished 5th out of 6 teams. Debbie was selected for the 1982 Asian and Commonwealth Championships but withdrew because of a back injury. This injury caused Debbie to retire just as she was reaching her peak. She made a temporary cameback in 1985 and won 3 Titles at the Nelson Open. The Women Singles, Women Doubles with Sally McCulloch (ML) and Mixed Doubles with Jack Taylor (ML). Debbie also won the 1985 Wellington Open Women Singles and was runner up in the NZ Mixed Doubles with Barry Griffiths (Auckland).

– Malcolm Wong