Sussex Closed Championships

by Steven Steel, Vice Chair, SCTTA

Pavilion TTC played host to the Sussex County Closed Championships on 24th May. This was the first Championships in the last 5 years where 12 times County Champion Ritchie Venner was not the favourite to take the Men's Singles title. No.1 seed and new favourite was Craig Bryant (Crawley). The England no. 17, formally from Devon, made light work of reaching the semi-finals where he faced the upcoming junior Da Shuai Zhang (Dash). Dash, who had earlier taken out the no. 3 seed, England no. 97 Andrzej Lasota, in the quarter-finals 11-13, 11-4, 11-7, 13-11, displayed incredible power on both the backhand & forehand wings but was unable to dent Bryant's armour losing in straight sets 9-11, 6-11, 9-11. In the other half of the draw former champion (2002) Mayur Majithia caused the day's biggest upset beating no. 2 seed Ritchie Venner in the quarter-finals 11-6, 14-12, 6-11, 11-2. Majithia then narrowly defeated no. 4 seed Peter Bartram in a five set topspin thriller 9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9 to reach the final for the fourth year running. In the final Majithia took the opening end 11-6 with some powerful topspins from the forehand court with Bryant forced back to defend, but from the second end on Bryant took control, backing up his superbly disguised services with placed forehand topspin shots to both forehand & backhand courts to take the second, third and fourth 3, 7, 6.

Majithia did not let the disappointment of the Men's Singles get to him and wrapped up an excellent day's Table Tennis with victory in both the Men's Doubles with partner Ritchie Venner, and the Mixed Doubles with Sarah Stedman. The Women's Singles saw Rose Rainton in her 15th final and despite a brave fight by 5 times winner Teresa Bennett who took the first two ends Rainton fought back to make it Championship win no. 11 in five sets 10-12, 11-9, 11-1, 11-6, 11-5. Bennett had earlier taken the Veteran Women's title for the first time with victory over the 4 time winner Sheila King & the Women's Doubles with partner Lisa Standen.

Men's Singles

Craig Bryant bt Mayur Majithia 6-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6

Women's Singles

Rose Rainton bt Teresa Bennett 10-12, 9-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-5

Men's Doubles

Ritchie Venner & Mayur Majithia bt Peter Bartram & Paul Barry 11-8, 13-11, 11-8

Women's Doubles Round Robin

1st Teresa Bennett & Lisa Standen
2nd Rose Rainton & Chelsea Furnival

Mixed Doubles

Sarah Stedman & Mayur Majithia bt Paul Barry & Rose Rainton 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5

Veteran Men's Singles

Paul Barry bt David Butler 11-13, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9

Veteran Women's Singles

Teresa Bennett bt Sheila King 11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7

Junior Boys' Singles

Da Shuai Zhang bt Stephen Eckford 11-5, 11-5, 11-8

Junior Girls' Singles

Chelsea Furnival bt Helen Rutherford 10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6

Cadet Boys' Singles

Daniel Barna bt Jack Bennett 11-9, 11-7, 12-10

Cadet Girls' Singles

Chelsea Furnival bt Lois Peak 11-7, 11-5, 11-4