Press Correspondent:   Peter Thompson      
ETTA Senior Coach
Tel or Fax 0113 2047082                             

Smith Halts The Youngsters

On Sunday Pudsey TTC held their second club championship at the new Richmond Hill Centre.  The day comprised of a mixture of table tennis events for players whose ages ranged from 10-75 years of age and of varying standards from beginners to county players.

The main event was the open Singles which was played as a straight drawn knockout.  This event provided some interesting results with the most notable being 15 year James Atkins reaching the final knocking out first division players Doug Bartle and Ray Rider.
Richard Smith reached the final disposing of another youngster Chris Parker in the semi-final. Smith’s Class shone thru to win the final. 

The novelty mini bat competition produced some amazing play from all players using these quarter sized bats. The final was contested again by Smith and Atkins but this time the youngster came of victorious. The singles handicap event saw Smith defy the handicap to get the better of Mick Lowe in a tight fifth end.

The biggest leveller of the day was the hard bat competition which saw the clock turned back to times long ago when rallies seemed to go on forever but once more Smith showed his adaptability reaching the final. His opponent in the final, veteran Ray Rider made Smith work hard but again it was Smith who took the spoils.

To round off the day all players took part in a banded singles event which saw groups of six or seven players of similar ability.  Here the new generation of Pudsey players were dominant. Band four was won by the unbeaten 10 year old Neil Dattani. Band 3 saw elder brother Vishal repeat the performance. Band two saw James Atkins also come thru unbeaten. In a fitting end and last match of the day, Richard Smith got the better of Chris Parker to win the band one and finish with a four trophy haul.