James Denyer and Gracie Edwards continue to dominate the local table tennis scene, both players retaining their titles at last weekend’s Clacton League’s Closed Championships, sponsored by The Survey Initiative, and held at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall.

In a re-run of the 2024 Men’s Singles final, Denyer defeated Greg Green 3-1 (11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6). It was Denyer’s fourth Men’s Singles title, having won his first back in 2014. And although on this occasion there was not the high drama and tension of last year’s final, where Denyer had edged it 13-11 in the decider, there was still plenty of quality play on show from two talented players, both displaying the ability to defend and attack at distance from the table.

Denyer had breezed his way to the final, brushing past all opposition until, in the semi-final, he faced Kevin Gowlett, defeating the twice-former champion 3-1 (11-3, 11-6, 6-11, 11-1). It ended a gruelling day for Gowlett who had won three hard-fought five setters, 11-5 in the fifth against Joe Sherwin, 11-9 in the fifth against Felipe Rodriguez, and, in the quarter-finals, 12-10 in the fifth against Adam Cuthbert.

Green’s progress through the day had been just as comfortable as Denyer’s until the semi-final stage where he was involved in a monumental battle with second seed, and coincidentally his doubles partner, Paul Hume. It proved a genuine nail-biter, with the match swaying to and fro, before Green eventually took it 3-2 (12-10, 6-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-8).

It was disappointment for Hume, the reigning Colchester Men’s champion, who has now lost in the semi-finals of this event three times. The losing quarter-finalists were Andy Vincent, Adam Cuthbert, Gary Young and Ethan Lloyd.

For James Denyer, 2025 proved another step up the Clacton League’s Men’s Roll of Honour, where he leapfrogs Martin Hogg into fifth place in the all-time list, behind Ken Gladwell, Derek Wood, David Binns and Colin Stallwood.

Gracie Edwards retained her title in the Ladies’ Singles for an eighth time in nine seasons. This year, for the first time in all those years, she faced Gill Locke, the champion in 2012, 2013 and 2014, who was making a welcome return to Championship table tennis.

Edwards was given a stern test by her older opponent, who took the first set 11-9. But Edwards gradually established control and, while Locke showed flashes of her old brilliance with some wonderful forehand winners, it was Edwards who finally prevailed in a competitive contest 3-1 (9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10), the winning shot coming via an unfortunate net.

A mention, also, for Ruby Gallagher who enjoyed two unexpected victories in reaching the semi-finals, winning 11-8 in the fifth against Isabel Barton and 11-5 in the fifth against Debra Found.

Edwards and Locke were also on opposite sides of the table in the Ladies’ Doubles where Edwards & Debra Found, holders of the title for the last three years, faced the brand-new pairing of Locke & Lynette Sparks, playing in her first major Championship final.

And although there was valiant resistance from Locke, a three-times winner of this title, and her partner Sparks, the holders were never headed and eased through to a 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-7) victory.

However, there was consolation for Locke in the Mixed Doubles where the mother and son combination of Locke & James Denyer defeated reigning champions Greg Green & Gracie Edwards, taking the final 3-1 (11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7) in a match of entertaining table tennis. The victory provided a hat-trick of Mixed Doubles titles for Denyer and Locke, previous winners together in this event in 2013 and 2014.

The Men’s Doubles proved problematic for the top two seeds, neither of whom made it to the final.

Last season’s beaten finalists, Kevin Gowlett & Gary Young, and this year seeded third-equal, eliminated the highly-fancied second seeds James Denyer & Adam Cuthbert 3-1 (11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6).

Meanwhile, top seeds Greg Green & Paul Hume fell to the unseeded partnership of Felipe Rodriguez & Andy Vincent, the Windsor Hawks’ pair winning their quarter-final contest 3-2 (11-8, 6-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8) in impressive style, before defeating third-equal seeds, John Hatley & Denes Somodi, in three-straight in the semi-finals.

Alas for Rodriguez & Vincent, the final proved a step too far and they could never exert sufficient pressure on their opponents, Young & Gowlett running out comfortable 3-0 (11-7, 11-3, 11-6) winners. Nevertheless, a day to remember and a trophy to treasure for the unseeded underdogs.

The victory for Young provided him with a seventh Men’s Doubles success but, somewhat surprisingly, it was a first Men’s Doubles title for Gowlett.     

Gary Young and Kevin Gowlett were at opposite ends of the table in the final of the Veterans’ Singles, a repeat of the 2017 final. And the result was the same, Young defeating Gowlett 3-1 (11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6) in a match in which where he was always in control.

Top seed Young had dropped only one set on his way to the final, this to John Pattrick in the semi-final, but Gowlett had scraped through his semi-final, getting past Charlie Fulcher by the narrowest of margins, 3-2 (11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9), in an exhilarating contest.

It was Young’s fifth Veterans Singles title, thus equaling the record of the legendary Ken Gladwell – although he still has some way to go to match Derek Wood’s achievement of nine Veterans titles, gathered between 1985 and 1998.

Defeat in the Veterans Singles semi-final did not deter Charlie Fulcher from pulling out his best form to retain his Super-Veterans’ Singles, beating off the challenge of Andy Vincent in imperious style to win the final 3-0 (11-2, 11-8, 12-10). Paul Newbould and Mark Gale were the beaten semi-finalists.

There were a number of potential winners of the Restricted Singles, an unseeded event, but Ethan Lloyd proved to be the pick of the bunch, defeating significant opposition in Phil Smith, Simon Smith-Daye and John Pattrick on his way to the final. There he met Charlie Fulcher, who’d had a somewhat easier path, with Jason Lloyd and Scott Campbell his main conquests.

The final was one of the best of the Tournament, with both players involved in long rallies and in an encounter which would have graced the latter stages of the main Men’s Singles event. Lloyd it was who eventually took it, winning 3-1 (7-11, 13-11, 13-11, 12-10) to take his first major Championships honour.

John Pattrick enjoyed a good run in this event, with wins over Mark Ratcliffe, John Hatley and Andy Vincent before succumbing to Lloyd in the semi-finals.    

Joe Sherwin surprisingly lost his match against Savindu De Silva in the Group stage of the Junior Boys’ Singles, which meant, as Group runner-up, he faced team-mate in Tom Bryden in the semi-final. But he bounced back to win that match against Bryden 11-8 in the fifth – which meant he faced Savindu De Silva once again in the final.

This time, Sherwin was able to turn the tables, winning 3-2 (11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4) in a see-saw battle, both young players displaying exceptional table tennis talent. It was Bryden’s first Boys’ Singles title but, for De Silva, he finished as runner-up for the second year running.   

Tom Bryden & Joe Sherwin were attempting to retain the Junior Doubles trophy and this they did, after a shaky start in the final, beating the De Silva brothers, Savindu & Harindu, 3-1 (7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5).   

It was third time lucky for Lucy Carvell in the Junior Girls’ Singles event, taking the title 3-0 (11-4, 11-9, 11-5) against Ruby Gallagher, who’d defeated her in the past two years. But there was no actual element of luck for Lucy, as she dominated the final and was a worthy winner.  

The Division Two Singles went according to form with the top four seeds making it to the semi-finals, and the top two seeds getting to the final, where Mark Salter met Jonathan Hockley.

Hockley had defeated Scott Campbell in four in his semi-final but Salter had won his semi-final by the skin of his teeth against Dave Miller, the 3-2 (12-14, 11-8, 12-10, 12-14, 11-8) indicating how tight it was. It was Miller’s second tight tussle of the event, having beaten Chris Petrou 11-9 in the fifth in Round Two.

In a tense final, where dominance veered from one player to another, Salter took it 3-2 (9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7), the outcome in doubt almost up to the final winning ball was hit. It was Salter’s third Division Two Singles title in three years, a League record.

The Division Three Singles final was a high-class attacking match between two gifted young players. In a contest which was always tight, Tom Bryden edged out his friend and Brotherhood F colleague Joe Sherwin to take the title 3-0 (11-9, 12-10, 11-9).

Both players had taken a hard route to the final, Bryden defeating Lynette Sparks by the narrowest of margins in Round Two, 11-8 in the decider, before beating off the challenge of Matt Sage, who himself had eliminated title-holder and second seed Lucy Carvell, in the semi-final. Sherwin had taken an even bigger scalp, causing a major surprise by ending the title hopes of favourite Kelvin Olano Harper 3-1 (9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5) in his semi-final.

Overall, the Championships attracted an excellent entry of 70 players, with over 250 individual matches played over the two days. The Tournament was once again sponsored by The Survey Initiative and the League is most grateful to Gary Cattermole for his generous sponsorship. Thanks also go to Jenny Higgins for her sponsorship of the Junior Singles events.  

2025 CHAMPIONSHIPS
(sponsored by The Survey Initiative)
RESULTS

Men’s Singles: J Denyer beat G Green 3-1 (11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6).
Ladies’ Singles: G Edwards beat G Locke 3-1 (9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10).       
Men’s Doubles: K Gowlett/G Young beat Felipe Rodriguez/A Vincent 3-0 (11-7, 11-3, 11-6).    
Ladies’ Doubles: G Edwards/D Found beat G Locke/L Sparks 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-7).    
Mixed Doubles: J Denyer/G Locke beat G Green/G Edwards 3-1 (11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7).     
Veterans’ Singles: G Young beat K Gowlett 3-1 (11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-9).      
Super-Veterans’ Singles: C Fulcher beat A Vincent 3-0 (11-2, 11-8, 12-10).    
Junior Boys’ Singles (sponsored by Jenny Higgins): J Sherwin beat S De Silva 3-2 (11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4).      
Junior Doubles: T Bryden/J Sherwin beat S De Silva/H De Silva 3-1 (7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5).     
Junior Girls’ Singles (sponsored by Jenny Higgins): L Carvell beat R Gallagher 3-0 (11-4, 11-9, 11-5).      
Division Two Singles: M Salter beat Jonathan Hockley 3-2 (9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7).    
Division Three Singles: T Bryden beat J Sherwin 3-0 (11-9, 12-10, 11-9).
Restricted Singles: E Lloyd beat C Fulcher 3-1 (7-11, 13-11, 13-11, 12-10).