Woodward Handicap Cup 2007

Last Saturday 24th March 2007, the final session of the Woodward Handicap Cup competition was held at the Hollington Table Tennis Club.

 Of the eight finalists three were from Hollington, three from Tigers and two from Saints.  The lower divisions of the Hastings Table Tennis League were well represented as three finalists came from Division 3, three from Division 4 and one from Junior Division 2.  The remaining finalist was from Division 2.

 In the first match of the evening John Alexander (Tigers) of Division 4 lost a very close encounter to Lucy Noble (Hollington) of Junior Division 2 by 22-20, 19-21, 18-21, having given Lucy a 13 point start in each game.  Then Curtis Coombes (Hollington) of Division 3 defeated Gordon Roser (Tigers) of Division 4 by 21-16, 21-18, after the latter received 13 points in each game.  This round of matches was completed by Pete Lambert (Saints) of Division 3 wining 15-21, 21-17, 21-16 against Roger Smith (Tigers) of Division 3, having conceded a three point start.

In the first semi-final Dave Power (Saints) of Division 4 gave an 11 point start to Lucy and lost 14-21, 6-21.  The second semi-final was much closer as Curtis finally came through by 14-21, 21-18, 21-13 against Pete, having received a six point start in each game.

 Curtis was aiming to go one better than his father, Guy, who lost in last season’s Woodward Handicap final to Harvey Webb, and this he succeeded in doing as he defeated Lucy 21-18, 21-17, having conceded a 16 point lead in each game.  Curtis (age 13) and Lucy (age 12) were the only two juniors to reach the final session; all the other finalists were veterans!

 Trophies were presented after the final by Peter Harding, President of the Hastings Table Tennis Association.

Sheila King

Organiser