FOUNDED 1931

Wembley & Harrow Table Tennis League 

Closed Championships 2006
 

William Maybanks was crowned the youngest-ever Men’s Singles champion with a thrilling victory in the Wembley & Harrow Table Tennis League Championships finals at the Harrow Leisure Centre last week. The 14 year-old, who plays for the Apollo club, beat his teammate and the defending champion Costas Papantoniou in a five-set thriller in which each player had match points.

Watched by a large crowd, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Harrow, William, ranked seventh in England for his age group, took a two-game lead with some explosive hitting, especially on the backhand. But Costas began to exert pressure on the youngster and fought back to win the third and fourth games. In the deciding game, William took an early lead and was leading 8-2 before Costas again clawed his way back to level at 10-10. Deuce points followed in which each player had his chance before William’s forehand winner clinched the title.

William was also successful in winning the Neil Stratton Memorial Junior Boys’ final with victory over Yasir Mauthoor by three games to one in another exciting match. The trophy was presented by Neil's father Eugene. Costas had his consolation when he retained his Veteran Men’s title, beating Gary Morgan in the final.

Sally Bax won a hat-trick titles to add to her considerable roll of previous honours. The Sudbury Hill player defeated Hilary Birmingham twice, in the final of the Ladies’ and Veteran Ladies’ singles events. Then she teamed up with Stuart Seaholme in the mixed doubles to defeat the unfortunate Hilary and Ian Mablin.

In the Mens’ doubles, the value of teamwork and familiarity was evident as Eli Baraty and James Sprackling won their fifth title in six years as they saw off the challenge of Gary Morgan and Lee Dredge by three games to one.

In other finals, Nikunj Patel beat Bharat Malde to win the Intermediate Singles, Ashraf Miah beat Trefor Nott-Cock in the Minor Singles and Alex Hedges beat Eman Hussain in the Junior Girls’ Singles.

Thanks are due to Steve Dunn for yet another organisational triumph. It really is a lot of effort to arrange ten events at three different venues on seven different days. Also to the staff at the Harrow Leisure Centre, and especially Contract Manager Duncan Cogger, for their help on the day.