Ping Pong Success
Posted
As in previous years, it was a most enjoyable evening at the Village Hall on Friday. The availability of Bella Ciao Pizza and the Bar obviously played their part but it was the hotly-contested Annual Table-tennis Championships that captured everyone's attention.
Ably organised as usual by Annie and Steve Whiteman, there were some very close matches in both the Ladies' and Gentlemen's competitions.
As they commented, "Table tennis has proved to be a game for all ages as players from six years old to the mid-eighties recently took to the tables. During the first hour of the evening up to ten juniors bounced, bumped and bobbled the ball from one end of the table to the other in all manners of ways. Hopefully, the outside table – which has bats and balls stored within it – will provide a place throughout the year for their enthusiasm to flourish; who knows, stars of the future?"
When the adults played there was the usual mixture of missed hits and masterly crafted points, alongside looks of despair and frustration as another point was gifted to a grateful opponent.
The eventual winners were Maureen Coe, regaining the trophy she last won in 2017, by beating runner-up Andrea Fitzgerald, and Gary McDonald, beating Bernard Coe in the final match and repeating his win of last year.
It was thus honours even as neighbouring villagers shared the spoils of the tournament.
A great night was had by all the players and by all the watchers. Thanks are due to all who played their part.