Ritchie celebrates title double

Men's doubles winners Ritchie Venner and Dave Butler with association president Roger Gillett. Picture courtesy Mick Lane

The Saints TTC talent won the men’s singles and doubles at Hollington Community Centre on Sunday.

Third seed Venner came from behind to edge out top seed Paul Barry (Hollington) 8-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8 in the singles final, avenging a league defeat to the same player earlier this season.

In the doubles, Venner and team-mate Dave Butler justified their number one seeding by getting the better of Barry and Nick Standen (Hollington) 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 in the final.

Just three players contested the women’s singles, yet it turned out to be a very closely-fought event. Sue Sullivan (Tackleway), Pam Winter (Tigers) and Sheila King (Tigers) won one match each, but Winter was first and Sullivan second on games won.

Four pairs contested the mixed doubles in a round-robin format, and it was the father and daughter partnership of Andy and Stacey Furnival (Hollington) which came out on top. Lewis Mayhew (Bexhill) and King were second.

The consolation singles was won by Bob Lowe, who narrowly defeated Bexhill clubmate John Bradbury 4-11, 11-8, 11-3, 9-11, 11-3 in the final.

Ryan Warner (Bexhill) outgunned Kevin McEwan (Tackleway) 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 11-2 to clinch the Division Two singles, while Barry Goodson (Bexhill) captured the Division Three singles by sinking Dave Power (Saints) 11-5, 11-6, 11-2.

The tournament attracted entries from 40 men and four women, which was slightly down on last year. Hastings & District Table Tennis Association president Roger Gillett presented the trophies.