BATH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008 – REPORT

ELLISON IS TRIPLE CHAMPION

Avon County number three, Clive Ellison was in superb form at the Bath Closed Table Tennis Championships finals night at Batheaston Youth Club emerging with three titles from his evening’s work.

In the Open Singles final, Ellison's strong mix of attacking play and thoughtful defensive stokes proved too much for Ensleigh’s inform Chao Dong winning comfortably in three games and securing his second Open Singles title.  Earlier in the evening Ellison had beaten Alan Champneys in straight games while Dong had surprisingly overcome Newbridge star Hakan Karagaac in an entertaining four game semi-final.

The Division 1 final saw Ellison’s Frys’ teammate Bryan Taylor defeat Oldfield's Mike Newton in four games.  Taylor fought back from game point down in the first two ends to win them at deuce before Newton took the third 11-5.  Taylor though showed his prowess in the fourth game to take his first Closed title.

In an all Newbridge affair in the Division 2 Singles final, defending champion John Craig from Newbridge E successfully retained his title defeating club mate Richard Faulkner from Newbridge F in four games.  Faulkner showed glimpses of the attacking flair that has served him well in the league this season but Craig's clever combination of defence and attack proved the difference.

It was further success for Ellison in the Veterans Singles where he successfully defended his title against John Higgs.  Against the shrewd defence of Higgs, Ellison attacked to great effect to run out a comfortable winner in straight games.

The Open Doubles final saw the Open Singles finalists Clive Ellison and Chao Dong team up to take on the strong Newbridge pairing of Karaagac and Roland Lorec.  Although the University pair had chances in both of the opening games they made mistakes at crucial times against the defence of Ellison and the block and counter attack of Dong to go down in straight games.

Open Singles Semi Finals: Clive Ellison beat Alan Champneys  11-8, 11-2, 11-6; Chao Dong beat Hakan Karagaac 11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 12-10,

RESULTS

Final: Ellison beat Dong 11-5, 11-4, 11-5.

Division 1 Final: Bryan Taylor beat Mike Newton 18-16, 14-12, 5-11, 11-7.

Division 2 Final: John Craig beat Richard Faulkner 11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10.

Veterans Singles Final: Ellison beat John Higgs 11-4, 11-6, 11-8.

Open Doubles Final: Ellison and Dong beat Karagaac and Roland Lorec 11-9, 11-9, 11-6.