|
AT 57, MANWEB’S John Ashbrook
became the oldest player ever to win the men’s singles title in the
Mid-Cheshire Table Tennis championships at Rudheath Youth Centre on
Saturday.
More than 30 years after entering
the event for the first time, veteran John at last achieved his objective.
He said later; “I have never given up hope of winning the title and when Ian
Johns, holder Martyn Thomson and number two seed Simon Douglas all didn’t
enter and the number one, Clive Dewison went out in the first round, I
fancied it might be my day.”
And so it proved, because John
not only achieved his principal ambition, he also won the veterans singles
as well. Quite a day for the Sandiway man, who has been one of the hardest
players to beat in the league ever since he began playing in the 1950s.
En route to the singles final,
John beat promising Rudheath YL player Mark Darlington, who had earlier
shocked Dewison (Police) in a thrilling three-setter. In the semi finals,
John eliminated his old rival Roger Eaton (Winnington Park) to set up a
final against Moulton’s Dave Nelson.
Ashbrook won the first 21-19,
lost the second 17-21, then clinched his greatest triumph with a 21-18 third
set performance.
|
 JOHN'S
30 YEARS EFFORT PAYS OFF
|
|
In the veterans singles final, he
beat fellow MANWEB veteran Alf Perry 21-17,21-16.
The men’s doubles went to form,
number one seeds Clive Dewison and Alec Johns (Police) beating Ashbrook and
Perry in the semi finals, then Roger Eaton and Geoff Moores (WPRC) in the
final 21-19,21-13. Roger and Geoff knocked out Maureen Green and Dave Nelson
in their semi final.
Several younger players made
their mark. In the junior singles, Chris Hayter (Holmes Chapel) beat Gary
Moore (Rudheath YC) 21-14, 21-9, and in the youths final, two. Winsford
Youth Centre players clashed. Brian McGee beating colleague Alan Churchill
22-20,10-21,21-16.
• This was the first time the
championships had been played at Rudheath Youth Centre and conditions proved
ideal.
|
