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Gloucestershire Firsts Table Tennis Team
The senior county side exceeded all expectations in managing to maintain their position in the Premier County Table tennis League when they finished a very creditable 6th out of 8 Teams. In the 4 matches played they won 2, drew won & lost 1.
From what seemed an impossible position going into the last round of 4 matches, when they routed firmly at the bottom of the league with no points from the first three matches, it appeared the relegation was automatic being as they were 3 points adrift form the two sides above them.
The first match resulted in a draw against Buckingham and Ann Barnes secured the vital win against a very good attacking player by consistent use of her devastating fore-hand loop and the next match against Durham resulted in a win by 6 games to 4.
Suddenly there was a glimmer of hope that they may survive relegation applicable to the last two teams, but this meant that they had to beat either Sussex, who were 2nd in the division or Middlesex who again were riding high.
Against all expectations the county secured a 6 - 4 sets victory against Essex and all of the competitors secured excellent wins against much higher ranked opposition, but none was more dramatic than Dan Kolesnik's truly remarkable victory against Clive Carthy, who had earlier also fallen prey to Dave Harvey in 4 sets.
At 10 - 4 down in the fifth set all looked lost for Dan, as he was facing 6 match points. However, Dan had other ideas and by ferocious attacking play, amazingly reeled off the next 8 points in a row to secure a famous 12-10 win. If the result had gone against Dan, the county would have been relegated on set difference, such was the importance of this victory.
Choi Sze To (ex Hong Kong Junior International) also contributed well in securing two very good wins against the middle east mother & daughter pairing, who are both ranked higher in the National Rankings. One of the matches was very tense and was won by 11-9 in the deciding 5th set.
Earlier Darren Griffin secured the 6 -4 win against Durham with an excellent win against the no 12 ranked player in England - Mike Marsden in 4 sets and Dave Harvey just failed to repeat the same result loosing closely in the fifth against the same player.
In the last match the county lost quite heavily by a score of 9 sets to
1 and the saviour of the whitewash was Suzy Robinson, whose excellent exhibition of fast loops on both wings completely destroyed the highly rated Sarah Horsnell in three straight sets.
The two teams who were relegated were Durham & Devon (who in recent years were the county champions on two occasions).
This was an excellent result achieved by all players who far and away exceeded any hopes of survival this year and now means that the county can look forward to a third successive season in the Premier Division.
The support, coaching & encouragement by all of the players to all of the team was crucial and contributed significantly to the success achieved.
Gloucestershire Seconds Table Tennis Team
Gloucestershire Seconds once again were stretch beyond their limits in the last round of the County Table Tennis Championship run by the English Table Tennis Association, when the team comprising of Nick Smale, Jason Million, Dan Kolesnik, Ann Barnes and Mel Garlick travelled to Oakhampton in Devon.
Gloucestershire 2nds 4 v Devonshire 3rds 6
During this match Dan Kolesnik won both of his singles games beating Freddie Cutler and Simon James, whilst Ann Barnes and Mel Garlick both beat Amy Whiting.
Gloucestershire 2nds 3 v Cornwall 2nds 7
During this match Nick Smale beat D Plumb, Dan Kolesnik beat M Rule and Ann Barnes beat K Rule.
Gloucestershire 2nds 1 v Devonshire 2nds 9
During this match Ann Barnes was the only player to win a game after a tremendous five set battle she beat Sonya Wicks.