Many thanks to Mick Strode, for running a fine tournament in Cardiff. It was also a pleasure to see Alex and Val Murdoch venturing across the border on their annual pilgrimage.
We were very pleased to have two home grown winners in the Men’s and Women’s singles. Ryan Jenkins (WAL) after beating his brother Stephen (WAL) 4,5,6 in the semi-final met Gavin Rumgay (SCO) the Scottish No1 who beat Dave Barham (Ca) 13,-9,-7,7,6 in the other closely contested semi-final. Ryan went on to win 7,10,7 but the scores did not reflect the exciting final with Ryan’s local TTK Greenhouse players cheering his every point.
Naomi Owen (WAL) won the Women’s Singles beating Naomi Wilson (WAL) in a close final 5,-9,-9,7,7. Naomi Owen beat Karina Lefevre (Cv) in the semi-final 2,7,8 and Naomi Wilson beat Jurate Brazaityte (K) -6,-9,3,9,13 in the other semi-final. Karina Lefevre (Cv) went one better in the Band one women where she beat Amanda Mogey (IRL) -8,8,11,6. Naomi Owen also won the women’s under 21 event beating Natasha Milliken (SCO) 6,9,3.
The player of the weekend was undoubtedly Liam Pitchford (Dy) who on Saturday lost in the quarter-finals in both Band 1 and Band 2 to the eventual winners. On the Sunday he went a few steps better and won the under 21 men, beating Will Maybanks in the final 7,-12, 10, 8. In the men’s singles he went out in the quarter-finals to Dave Barham 8,-7, 6, 9. A player to keep an eye on.
Will Maybanks had a good week-end getting to the finals of the Under 21 and the Men’s band one, falling to Chris Doran (Np) 8, 6,-12, 10. Men’s band 2 saw Andrew Wilson (Cv) beating Remi Petrosiuos 11,11,-10,-5,9. Men’s Band 3 winner was Richard Andrews (BK) who beat Matt Pernet (Sy) -8 ,9, -9,7,6. In band 4 Matt Pernet (Sy) was again in the final narrowly beating Danny Lowe (Dy) 10,-6,-5,9,10. Band 5 and 6 were an all Welsh affair with Ceri James (WAL) beating Adam Draper (WAL) 10,3,4, in band 5 and Ethan Davies (WAL) 9,5,2 in band 6. Matt Pernet (Sy) also won the Men’s Restricted singles with Maciej Nakielski (E) runner up
The women’s Band two was also an all Welsh affair with South Wales Natasha Rees (WAL) beating North Walian Megan Phillips (WAL) 9,5,-13,7. Wales also took the Band 3 women with Dayna Pearce (WAL) overcoming Natasha Milliken (SCO) 9,9,11. The women’s restricted was cancelled due to insufficient entries.
The vets event was a little disappointing with the vets women having insufficient entries and only five turned out for the vet men, but they had a ding dong event playing a five man round robin finishing with a three way tie, Darren Griffin (Gs) coming out on top and Costos Papantoniou (Mi) runner up.
The weekend was a great success and now that Wembley has taken the FA Cup and the playoff games back maybe the Travel City Sports Cardiff Open should be an excuse to travel across the bridge