DHS Greenhouse Progress Table Tennis Club News Article

Date: Nov 4 2008 10:12PM Simply the Best Ryan Jenkins and Egle Adomelyte were in a class of their own in winning the Men's and Women's titles respectively, on day two of the Tees-Sport sponsored Bristol UWE Open, a Butterfly Grand Prix event. Jenkins the Welsh Rocket and top seed for the Men's Event was superb and in sparkling form, showing his true class and just had too much gunpowder in blowing away his last opponent, Matt Ware in a very one-sided final. However there was so much enjoyable, and at times sensational play from the ninety six competitors leading up to the latter stages of this competition. Right from the 9am Sunday start at the University Frenchay Campus venue there was drama and upsets being unfolded. In the group stages 8th seeded Niall Cameron had to work his socks off to come back from the dead at two love down against Daniel Ives who was playing some fantastic table tennis, with Cameron just coming through in the fifth end. Then number three seed Paul Mcreery looked down and out against Chris Smith in what was a wonderful match, again the higher seeded Mcreery just edging his way through 12-10 in the last end. The knockout stages in the top half of the draw were shaping up with Ryan Jenkins cruising through to the semi final, only once dropping a set, that to his brother, Stephen in the qtr final. His semi final opponent, Abdul Wuraola who had earlier enjoyed good wins over Richard Andrews and Dob Tokov, had no answers for Jenkins, losing out in straight sets. Other notable results were that of Ryan Collins ousting 3rd seed Paul Mcreery to reach the last 16, with also Chris Lewis battling past Shaun Marples to also reach the same stage. Chris Doran was beaten by Stephen Jenkins in the 3rd round with also Richard Andrews getting past Ryan Collins to make it through to the last eight. Chris Lewis run came to an end by Ryan Jenkins, with Wuraola getting the better of Richard Andrews in the qtr final. In the bottom half of the draw the 2nd seed, Nikki Sharrer from Switzerland outplayed Alistair Smith and then was taken to five sets against a spirited Mark Simpson to reach the last eight. He then faced Matt Ware, who had reached this stage with wins over Josh Band and Simon Nouch. Damien Nicholls seeded at four was beaten by an in form Alim Hirji in the 3rd round, then Hirji went one better in defeating Niall Cameron to set up his semi final confrontation with the winner of the Sharrer and Ware quarter final encounter. Sharrer, new to the Grand Prix scene and something of an unknown quantity was certainly a quality player. His match with Ware went to four sets with Ware coming through to meet Hirji in the bottom half semi final. Ware managed a four set win over Hirji to set up his final with Jenkins. Ryan Jenkins showed some touches of brilliance and skill in the final with Ware. There was one point in particular with Ware taking the initiative from the Jenkins serve, and in a prolonged back from the table rally, Ware came into take an early ball off the bounce. Looking all over that the point was won, somehow, miraculously Jenkins ripped a backhand winner down the line, taking it from two feet from the floor, leaving Ware stranded, and to the packed audience's amazement. Ryan ran out a comfortable three sets to love winner, to take the ?300 winners cheque. Egle Adomelyte won the Women's Open, and she was simply in a class of her own. Her final opponent, Hannah Hicks was brushed aside three sets to love. Egle, like Jenkins in the Men's equivalent, dropped only one set on her route to collecting the ?175 winner's cheque, and that was to Sanja Clements in the semi final. Fourteen year old Jas Ould caused some major upsets in this event recording brilliant victories over 2nd seeded Naomi Wilson in the group stage, and then to come back from two sets to love down to gain another famous result over 5th seeded Stephanie Donnelly to reach the last eight. The Byng Hall youngster's run came to an end by Sanja Clements, losing in straight sets, but must take huge credit for her achievements. Hannah Hicks progression to the final was at the expense of Emma Rose, Martha Travis and Penny Perry at the semi final stage. Perry had earlier enjoyed some great wins against Naomi Wilson and Jas Ould in the group stage to take up the number two seeded position in the draw, to then outplay Melissa Wright in the quarter final. Penny's great run came to an end against Hicks in the last four. With almost an identical result as in the men's final, Hicks was never in the race for the Women's Open title final and had to play second fiddle to her superior opponent, Egle Adomelyte. The Men's and Women's under 21's competition, with also the Mixed Veterans and Mixed Restricted events were soon under way. The Under 21 Men's Event was full of top drawer table tennis, with any one of half a dozen players looking likely to take away the trophy. Damien Nicholls is becoming the Master in these events and it was looking once again that he was the man to beat. He soon made his way to the final, but was made to fight all the way by firstly Daniel O'Connell and then Jonathan Crawford to set up his semi final with Chris Doran in the bottom half of the draw. Doran too, was having his own private battles with Vytas Rybakas followed by Gavin Maguire both going to the full nail biting 5th end, to set up his semi final match with Nicholls. Meanwhile in the top half of the draw, Paul Mcreery was making stealthy progress overcoming Myles Collins and Daniel Ives to make it through to the last four. Matt Ware had to dig very deep to eventually get the better of Richard Andrews, and then had to face Alim Hirji for the third time in three different events over the weekend! Hirji was playing great table tennis and went 2-1 up against Ware in the qtr final. Ware managed to come through to win in five sets but had to play his very best. Mcreery then faced Ware for a place in the final, with Doran and Nicholls doing battle for the other final place. Both these semi final matches were played on adjacent tables proving to be great spectacles to watch, and there is very little to choose between any of the four of them. The Damien Nicholls and Chris Doran match went right to the wire with Damien just edging it in the fifth end. Likewise with Matt Ware and Paul Mcreery, very little separated these two young men, and it was Ware who shaded it in the 5th end. This set up yet another clash with Nicholls and Ware and they seem to be making a habit of it. This time Damien gained his revenge on Matt coming through the stronger in the final leg to lift the trophy. The under 21 Women's event was again a very close contest with Hannah Hicks and Sally Smith making it through to the final. Hannah enjoyed a straight sets win over Natasha Rees in the last eight stage, followed by a very close five set victory against Melissa Wright in the semi final to meet Smith. Sally's pathway to the last match was gained through a titanic struggle over the player of the tournament, Jas Ould coming through in the fifth end, quarter final, to then enjoy a straight sets victory against Annabelle Morle in the semi final. The final was a long and very tight affair with both young ladies fighting tooth and nail for the title. The contrasting styles of Hicks with her mainly defensive play, against the unique style of Smith with her aggressive punchy backhands and hard hitting forehands was a tactical affair, with enjoyable drawn out rallies. With Hicks going two sets to one down it was looking as though Sally would be the likelier winner. However as we all know, Hicks kept on battling and turned the score back to level. The last set was incredible with neither player giving any quarter, and in the last nerve tingling few points, Hicks came through to just nick it 13-11, and take the glass trophy. Abdul Wuraola was the winner in the mixed Veteran's event. He outpointed Michael Levene from the USA in four close sets. Abdul's path to the final was gained through victories over Penny Perry and Keith Falconer, whilst Levene enjoyed solid performances over Rick Jemmott and Julian Gittens Dave Reeves continued in his great form from yesterday by taking the mixed restricted title. He was made to work very hard against final opponent, Dan Kolesnik coming through in five long sets. The Tees-Sport Player of the weekend award and a ?50 voucher was presented to Jas Ould, for her fantastic performances throughout the two-day event. Referee, Mick Strode ably assisted by David Edwards, Doreen Nightingale and the team, with the hard working group of umpires, kept the show on the road, and we must not forget the Bristol UWE for their support in accommodating this event. Full Results from Day two as follows; Men's Open. Ryan Jenkins (WAL) beat Matt Ware (Ha) 11-5, 11-2, 11-7. Women's Open. Egle Adomelyte (Mi) beat Hannah Hicks (Ha) 11-3, 11-2, 11-9. Under 21 Men's. Damien Nicholls (Sp) beat Matt Ware (Ha) 11-8, 11-2, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9. Under 21 Women's. Hannah Hicks (Ha) beat Sally Smith (Dv) 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 13-11. Mixed Veteran Singles. Abdul Wuraola (Sy) beat Michael Levene (USA) 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8. Mixed Restricted Singles. Dave Reeves (Av) beat Dan Kolesnik (Gs) 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 6-11, 12-10. Sourced by: Geoff Ware-ETTA Grande Prix Press Officer