CADET NEWS

COLCHESTER JUNIORS DOMINATE ESSEX TRIALS

Holly Stubbings, Greg Green and Mike Shore dominated proceedings at the Essex Table Tennis Ranking Trials at Harlow last weekend. Fourteen-year-old Stubbings won both the Girls Junior (under 18) and Cadet (under 15) events, dropping just one set all weekend as she beat the promising Kelly Drury in her final match. Her outstanding performance should earn her an overall ranking of second in the Cadets and third in the Juniors, as Sara Wang will be number one in both, even though she did not attend the trials. Holly’s combative style and cool temperament means she has now become a regular player for Essex and will this season be playing for Rowhedge in Division Two of the Colchester League along with Green and Shore.

Greg Green and Mike Shore fought out an all Colchester final in the Boys Cadets despite not being seeded, the first time this has happened at the trials. Shore took the first set with some blistering reaction blocks to Green’s forehand. Green however, came back fighting in the second set, his powerful forehand loops a feature of his attacking style as he eventually ran out a worthy winner in four sets. This was the only set he dropped as

he eased through the group stages and knockout phase, beating the number two seed Andre Simon in the quarter-final. The game of the tournament has to have been Shore’s demolition of highly fancied Chelmsford youngster Tom Hill in the semi-final. Shore ripped through him, taking the first two sets, his nimble footwork and speed of reaction unsettling the more experienced Hill. However, Hill looked as though he had overcome this as he drew level at two sets all, but Shore showing maturity beyond his thirteen years steadied things to run out an 11-9 winner in the final set. Earlier he had accounted for the number one seed, Lee Sharpe in his very first match making quite an impression with the senior Essex coaches!

The Colchester pair also ruffled feathers in the Junior event with fourteen-year-old Green playing well above his age, finishing in the top fourteen, a result that should see him ranked highly in that as well.

Other Colchester representatives included the West Bergholt trio of David Hichin, Daniel Pigeon and John Li who all figured prominently with Hichin in particular, despite carrying a leg injury excelling. Amongst his scalps was the talented Braintree youngster Ashley Skeggs and as a result of this should see him ranked in the top twenty-five at junior level.
 

Much credit must be given to Colchester coach Rik James who has taken the junior standard to another level in his first year as coach at the Rowhedge Table Tennis Centre. James believes they will go much further in representing the county soon and states:

“Following the outstanding performances of all the Colchester players we have really put ourselves on the map and I hope this will encourage other local youngsters to take up the sport!”

Junior coaching is on Monday nights at the Rowhedge Village Hall between 8.00 and 10.00pm where players of all standards and ages, including beginners are welcome.

The new Colchester season starts this week with defending Division One champions RTTC taking on newly promoted St Mary’s A and watch out for the two new Rowhedge junior teams including their Essex heroes in Division Two and three young debutants led by the promising John Ward son of ex-league player Phil Ward in Division Four.