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Baggaley and Sibley Excel
Andrew Baggaley, a name that has slipped off the radar for many English table tennis fanatics, stamped his name in the history books for the second time by regaining the national title he won some five years ago. However, Baggaley’s performance was perhaps overshadowed by the superb Kelly Sibley, who managed to emboss her name on not one, but three national titles.
Men’s Final
Andrew Baggaley v Paul Drinkhall
It was a Cleveland v Buckinghamshire final as Andrew Baggaley squared up to last year’s champion and the number one seed Paul Drinkhall. It promised to be a cracker and it did not disappoint. Baggaley, who plays his game in Spain, lost the first point; from then on, it looked pretty even with Drinkhall edging the first end 11-7.
12-10 went the second end as Baggaley levelled the score, and although Drinkhall came across as more composed, it was his consistency, which had been such a strong point of his game throughout the tournament, that let him down. The third end saw both players prove that they weren’t just heavy hitters, although the play was predominantly getting further and further from the table, it was interspersed with some dynamic, close, precise and delicate shots that left the crowd hungry for more. Baggaley took the third 12-10 repeating the score of the second.
The beginning of the fourth saw the ball hitting the white line more than any other part of the table. However, Baggaley’s strength and relentless pressure secured him his third consecutive end. Onto the fifth, and after going 10-3 down it looked as though Drinkhall’s day was done, Andrew Baggaley’s momentum was unstoppable; Drinkhall tried a late comeback bringing it to 10-6 before hitting long to hand the national title to Baggaley.
This was a superb match and a credit to the raising standards of the English game. Baggaley was a worthy champion who looked strong throughout the tournament. However, you just can’t help but think that fatigue had a part to play, and if Drinkhall had concentrated his efforts squarely on the men’s singles, as Baggaley did, instead of trying to win everything, this match would have been even closer.
Andrew Baggaley (5) bt. Paul Drinkhall (1)
7-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-4, 11-6
Women’s Final
Kelly Sibley v Joanna Parker
Kelly Sibley, last year’s runner-up, looked assured as she dominated the early stages with a confident and positive performance. However, Parker’s elegant playing style brought her back in contention as she varied defence with an impressive forehand attack, something that has been lacking in recent years.
The crowd really appreciated this classic table tennis encounter as both players revelled in the atmosphere pushing each other to the very limits of their ability. With barely two points to separate them throughout the second game, Parker edged it 11-8, following a mistake by Sibley who smashed a high return into the bottom of the net.
Back level pegging the third end seemed to favour the number one seed as she dismantled Parker’s defence 11-4. Sibley perhaps the mentally tougher of the two, was aided in the fourth by a fortunate clip of the net that killed the ball dead, and with this went Parker’s focus as Sibley moved into a 3-1 lead.
In the fifth, Sibley appeared to relax and bide her time waiting for the moment to attack. In a desperate attempt to halt her opponent’s progress, Parker called a timeout at 5-9. This just delayed the inevitable as Sibley went on to gain her first senior singles national title and her third title of the weekend.
Kelly Sibley (1) bt. Joanna Parker (2)
11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 11-2 |
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Kelly Sibley picked up four medals |
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U21 Mens
Paul Drinkhall V Darius Knight
The game commenced with Drinkhall’s consistency being the overwhelming feature. However, you could sense Knight was keen to stamp his mark on proceedings with a mid-game resurgence that had moments of sheer brilliance. Drinkhall was reluctant to loosen his grip on a title that evaded him for two years. However, Knight slipped out of his grasp, as on the two previous years, taking the final end 11-8.
Darius Knight (3) bt. Paul Drinkhall (1)
7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8
U21 Womens
Kelly Sibley v Joanna Parker
In a classic game of defence versus attack it was Sibley’s attacking style that won out in the end after a fight back in game 2 by Parker.
Kelly Sibley (1) bt. Joanna Parker (2)
11-2, 3-11, 11-6, 11-2
Perhaps the best performance, however, was made by Melanie Farquahar seeded 11, who reached the semi-final by knocking out the no. 4 seed Abigail Embling 12-10,6-11,9-11,11-6,11-5
Veteran Men’s
Abdul Wuraola v Eddie Smith
A new champion was crowned in the Veteran men’s singles this year. The final saw a battle of the top two seeds, with Wuraola winning it in the end after dropping the first set.
Abdul Wuraola (18) bt. Eddie Smith (17)
6-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-8
Veteran Men’s Doubles
Eddie Smith & Dave Godbold
v Joe Kennedy & Clive Carthy
In a repeat of last year’s final, it was the 2007 runners-up that stepped up to take the title.
Eddie Smith (17) / Dave Godbold (51) bt.
Joe Kennedy (32) / Clive Carthy (34)
10-12, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9
Mixed Doubles
Joanna Parker & Paul Drinkhall
v Kelly Sibley & Darius Knight
As is often the case when opponents that know each other’s games inside out play against each other, points are lost rather than won, this game was no exception. It was a close affair seeing both sides trading points, even as the pace increased neither really took charge. In a role reversal from last year, it was Parker and Drinkhall who eventually took the title.
Paul Drinkhall (1) / Joanna Parker (2) bt.
Darius Knight (3) / Kelly Sibley (1)
11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10
Women’s Doubles Final
Kelly Sibley & Joanna Parker
v Lindsey Reynolds & Abigail Embling
The women’s doubles final saw the top four seeds of the tournament team up.
After a shock defeat in the first round of the singles by Sarah Perks (ranked 16th), Embling was really pulling out the stops to try to redeem herself. There were a few forced errors for Sibley and Parker, but the third and fourth ranked players rarely managed to capitalise. The speed and movement of the top seeds shone through and showed just why they have been performing so well on the international scene recently, winning the game in three straight sets.
Kelly Sibley (1) / Joanna Parker (2) bt.
Lindsey Reynolds (3) / Abigail Embling (4)
11-6, 11-8, 11-8
Men’s Doubles Final
Paul Drinkhall & Darius Knight
v Tim Yarnall & Andrew Rushton
With both Rushton and Yarnall keen to avenge their early exits from the men’s singles the men’s doubles final looked to be a tight affair. Drinkhall and Knight had their work cut out from the beginning to retain their title. The game stared in frantic fashion as the number one seeds shot into a 3-0 lead, this continued onto an 11-7 first end. The next end was a carbon copy of the first as the current holders began to assert their authority over the opposition.
Following their timeout in the third, Rushton and Yarnall commenced a fight back. However, this was short lived and they eventually succumbed to a powerful display from their opponents.
Darius Knight (3) / Paul Drinkhall (1) bt.
Tim Yarnall (7) / Andrew Rushton (2)
11-7, 11-7, 14-12
Performance of the tournament
Andrew Rushton v Mathew Ware (last 16)
Without a shadow of doubt this was game of the tournament, it had everything and more. With Andrew Rushton one of the favourites starting in ruthless fashion, taking the first end 11-0, the result everyone expected looked inevitable. However, Ware had other ideas as he revised his game plan to reverse the 2-0 deficit in devastating fashion, pushing Rushton to his limits.
The increasing spectators became torn between two magical displays, as on the other table Liam Pitchford was busy writing his own story, defeating Tim Yarnall in five. Once complete the focus switched firmly to Rushton and Ware and every eye in the hall became engrossed by the brilliant table tennis.
Ware surged in the third and fourth looking increasingly confident as he created a level playing field pulling the score back to 2-2. The game tightened up in the fifth, but with nothing to lose, Ware pressurised Rushton with some fantastic cross-court forehands and took the game 12-10, edging 3-2 ahead. Ware also demonstrated great sportsmanship, as he corrected an oversight by the umpire following a shot that just clipped the end of the table; the point was correctly awarded to Rushton.
Game six went to the wire, if Ware could just hold his service he would progress to the quarter-finals. At deuce, three match points slipped out of his grasp and the tension became unbearable. Finally, Ware converted making it 16-14 and the crowd applauded in appreciation of his superb efforts.
Mathew Ware (24) bt. Andrew Rushton (2)
0-11, 11-13, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10, 16-14 |
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Andrew Baggaley presented with the trophy by Mayor of Sheffied Arther Dunworth & Chairman Alex Murdoch |
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Results
Men’s Singles
Final
Andrew Baggaley (5) bt. Paul Drinkhall (1)
7-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-4, 11-6
Semi-Finals
Paul Drinkhall (1) bt. Darius Knight (3)
11-4, 16-14, 10-12, 11-4, 14-12
Andrew Baggaley (4) bt. Ben Barlow (19)
11-7, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8
Quarter-Finals
Paul Drinkhall (1) bt. Gavin Evans (5)
11-2, 9-11, 11-5, 13-11, 11-3
Darius Knight (3) bt. Liam Pitchford (40)
11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 11-5
Andrew Baggaley (4) bt. Daniel Reed (6)
3-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5
Ben Barlow (19) bt. Mathew Ware (24)
11-5, 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8
Women’s Singles
Finals
Kelly Sibley (1) bt. Joanna Parker (2)
11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 11-2
Quarter-Finals
Kelly Sibley (1) bt. Mary Fuller (27)
11-5, 11-7, 11-2, 11-4
Sarah Perks (16) bt. Joanna Roberts (5)
11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5
Sarra Wang (7) bt. Lindsey Reynolds (3)
12-10, 6-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-3
Joanna Parker (2) bt. Karen Shepherd (6)
11-5, 11-2, 11-7, 11-2
Semi-Finals
Kelly Sibley (1) bt. Sarah Perks (16)
11-8, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8
Joanna Parker (2) bt. Sarra Wang (7)
11-6, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7
Men’s Doubles
Final
Darius Knight (3) / Paul Drinkhall (1) bt.
Tim Yarnall (7) / Andrew Rushton (2)
11-7, 11-7, 14-12
Semi-Finals
Paul Drinkhall (1) / Darius Knight (3) bt.
Ben Barlow (19) / Chris Lewis (26)
11-8, 11-6, 11-7
Andrew Rushton (2) / Tim Yarnall (7) bt.
David MacBeath (43) / Kim Daybell (74)
11-3, 11-3, 11-8
Quarter-Finals
Paul Drinkhall (1) / Darius Knight (3) bt.
Lorestas Trumpauskas (9) / Clive Carthy (34)
9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
Ben Barlow (19) / Chris Lewis (26) bt.
Simon Noutch (28) / Sam Perry (39)
13-11, 10-12, 7-11, 13-11, 11-5
David MacBeath (43) / Kim Daybell (74) bt.
Liam Pitchford (40) / Daniel Lowe (76)
11-5, 11-13, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6
Andrew Rushton (2) / Tim Yarnall (7)
bt.
Richard Marshall (41) / Alim Hirji (35)
11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9
Women’s Doubles
Final
Kelly Sibley (1) / Joanna Parker (2) bt.
Lindsey Reynolds (3) / Abigail Embling (4)
11-6, 11-8, 11-8
Semi-Finals
Kelly Sibley (1) / Joanna Parker (2) bt.
Caroline Hallows (8) / Hannah Hicks (13)
11-7, 11-1, 11-7
Lindsey Reynolds (3) / Abigail Embling (4) bt.
Natalie Slater (22) / Martha Travis (29)
11-7, 11-6, 11-2
Quarter-Finals
Kelly Sibley (1) / Joanna Parker (2) bt.
Jessica Dawson (28) / Chloe Whyte (31)
11-2, 11-1, 11-3
Caroline Hallows (8) / Hannah Hicks (13) bt.
Eileen Shaler (19) / Val Murdoch (24)
11-5, 11-5, 11-8
Natalie Slater (22) / (229) Martha Travis bt.
Sarra Wang (7) / Melanie Farquhar (11)
7-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7, 11-7
Lindsey Reynolds (3) / Abigail Embling (4) bt.
Emily Bates (15) / Mary Fuller (27)
11-5, 11-5, 11-6
Mixed Doubles
Final
Paul Drinkhall (1) / Joanna Parker (2) bt.
Darius Knight (3) / Kelly Sibley (1)
11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10
Semi-Finals
Paul Drinkhall (1) / Joanna Parker (2) bt.
Daniel Reed (6) / Caroline Hallows (8)
11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7
Darius Knight (3) / Kelly Sibley (1) bt.
Gavin Evans (5) / Lindsey Reynolds (3)
11-9, 11-5, 12-10
Quarter-Finals
Paul Drinkhall (1) / Joanna Parker (2) bt.
Simon Noutch (28) / Joanna Roberts (5)
11-9, 11-3, 11-3
Daniel Reed (6) / Caroline Hallows (8) bt.
Martha Marsden (10) / Abigail Embling (4)
11-9, 11-7, 11-6
Gavin Evans (5) / Lindsey Reynolds (3) bt.
David Meads (8) / Melanie Farquhar (11)
16-14, 15-13, 11-6
Darius Knight (3) / Kelly Sibley (1) bt.
Bradley Evans (11) / Sarra Wang (7)
11-8, 11-6, 11-8
U21 Men’s
Final
Darius Knight (3) bt. Paul Drinkhall (1)
7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8
Semi-Finals
Paul Drinkhall (1) bt. Gavin Evans (5)
11-8, 12-10, 11-7
Darius Knight (3) bt. Daniel Reed (6)
11-9, 8-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6
Quarter-Finals
Paul Drinkhall (1) bt. Damien Nicholls (15)
12-10, 11-3, 11-8
Gavin Evans (5) bt. Mathew Ware (24)
11-8, 11-13, 11-9, 12-14, 11-8
Daniel Reed (6) bt. Liam Pitchford (40)
11-9, 11-9, 12-10
Darius Knight (3) bt. Tim Yarnall (7)
11-8, 11-6, 11-8
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Darius Knight beat Paul Drinkhall
in the U21 Men's final for the third year running |
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U21 Women’s
Final
Kelly Sibley (1) bt. Joanna Parker (2)
11-2, 3-11, 11-6, 11-2
Semi-Finals
Kelly Sibley (1) bt. Melanie Farquhar (11)
11-3, 13-11, 12-10
Joanna Parker (2) bt Sarra Wang (7)
11-6, 11-8, 11-7
Quarter-Finals
Kelly Sibley (1) bt. Emily Bates (15)
11-3, 11-8, 11-5
Melanie Farquhar (11) bt. Abigail Embling (4)
12-10, 6-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5
Sarra Wang (7) bt. Reena Ardeshana (18)
5-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-1
Joanna Parker (2) bt Hannah Hicks (13)
11-4, 11-2, 11-4
Veteran Men’s
Final
Abdul Wuraola (18) bt. Eddie Smith (17)
6-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-8
Semi-Finals
Abdul Wuraola (18) bt. Jimmy Walsh (30)
11-4, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9
Eddie Smith (17) bt. Joe Kennedy (32)
11-8, 11-5, 11-8
Quarter-Finals
Abdul Wuraola (18) bt. Dave Godbold (51)
11-8, 11-9, 11-6
Jimmy Walsh (30) bt. Nigel Eckersley (22)
11-7, 11-13, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8
Eddie Smith (17) bt. Jerome Jonah (47)
11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3
Joe Kennedy (32) bt. Dave Harvey (29)
6-11, 12-10, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7
Veteran Men’s Doubles
Final
Eddie Smith (17) / Dave Godbold (51) bt.
Joe Kennedy (32) / Clive Carthy (34)
10-12, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9
Semi-Finals
Eddie Smith (17) / Dave Godbold (51) bt.
Andrew Frain (75) / David Fraser (78)
11-13, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6
Joe Kennedy (32) / Clive Carthy (34) bt.
Trevor Kerry (50) / Diccon Gray (59)
11-9, 10-12, 11-3, 11-6
Quarter-Finals
Andrew Frain (75) / David Fraser (78) bt.
Abdul Wurola (18) / Jimmy Walsh (30)
8-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6
Eddie Smith (17) / Dave Godbold (51) bt.
Julien Gittens (77) / David Ayinde (111)
11-9, 11-7, 11-6
Trevor Kerry (50) / Diccon Gray (59) bt.
Steve Crosby (79) / Steve Lyons (80)
11-8, 11-4, 11-4
Joe Kennedy (32) / Clive Carthy (34) bt.
John Dennison (62) / Martin Smith (65)
11-6, 11-7, 11-6
Disabled Men’s Standing Singles
Final
Kim Daybell (74) bt. Farrell Anthony (99)
11-6, 11-7, 16-14
Semi-Final
Farrell Anthony (99) bt. Chris Cattell (116)
7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4
Kim Daybell (74) bt. Joe Stotesbury (117)
11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8
Disabled Women’s Wheelchair Singles
Final
Leanne Stephens (40) bt. Hannah Coulthurst (41)
11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11, 12-10
DVDs of the National Championships 2008 can be purchased HERE |
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