Another Armstrong engraved on trophy

Press, 17 April 1979, Page 3

Another Armstrong engraved on trophy

By

DAVID LEGGAT

The name of Stuart Armstrong will be engraved on the men’s Easter singles table tennis trophy after the promising young player won the final against an even younger- opponent, Mark Clasper, at the Selwyn Street hall yesterday'. The surname Armstrong has been on the trophy many times. The agile veteran, John Armstrong, has won the title a record 13 times, although not in recent seasons. Armstrong deserved to win the final against a determined Clasper but was a little lucky to get through his semi-final. He was trailing Richard Dixon, 8-16, in the first game but won it, 21-17, in an impressive fight back. Dixon then won the next two games, which should have given him a straight-set win. Instead Armstrong, showing fighting qualities, won the fourth and fifth games to move through to the final. In the other semi-final, Clasper was pushed very hard by his Avonside II team-mate, John Richards, before taking the fifth game, 23-21. The two are Canterbury’s top-ranked juniors who have worked hard at their game, and should surprise many higher ranked players in the winter competition.

The final bad few long rallies. Both Armstrong and Clasper are essentially attacking players. Armstrong, in particular, favours a heavy’ top spin game. It was an interesting tactical battle with the players trying to take control' early in the rally. Armstrong, with a little

luck off the table, won the first two games but the pendulum swung back Clasper’s way in the third game, just enough for him to win it, 22-20.

The fourth game was especially close at 15-15. Armstrong managed, to remove most of the tension by taking four successive points on his own serve, which carried him to a d eserved win. The women’s singles competition was played as a round robin, but in the end it was the veteran, Thelma May, a Canterbury’ representative on numerous occasions, who won the title for the eighth time. She first won in 1951 and her latest win was in 1970. She was one of the hard-est-worked competitors in the Easter tournament. As well as taking the open women’s singles title, she won the women’s doubles title with Pam Shadbolt, the mixed doubles title with Yee Chow Boi, the veteran women’s singles title, the veteran women’s doubles title and the veteran mixed doubles, where she partnered Trevor Flint to beat Bert and Kath Thompson in straight games. Results:— OPEN

Men’s singles.—Quarter-finals: S. Armstrong beat T. Y. Tai, 21-11, 25-23, 21-17; R. Dixon beat W T. Scott 21-12, 21-15, 21-19; J. Richards beat B. Thompson, 10-21. 21-18, 16-21, 22-20, 21-13; M. Clasper beat C. B. Yee, 17-21, 21-13. 21-13. 16-21. 21-19. Semifinals: Armstrong beat Dixon, 21-17. 13-21. 9-21, 21-8, 21-13; Clasper beat Richards, 21-15, 17-21. 7-21, 21-19. 23-21. Final: Armstrong beat Clasper, 21-17, 21-19, 20-22, 21-16. Men’s doubles.—Semi-finals; S. Cairns and L. Richards beat M. Prisk and P. de Boer. 20-22, 21-13, 21- 21-17; M. Hamel and Dixon beat Clasper and Richards. 21-19, 22- . 9-21, 22-20. Final: Hamel and Dixon beat (’airns and Richards. 22-20. 21-15. 21-19.

1 Women,’® singles .round robin plavi.—Final: Mrs T. May beat Miss P. Shadbolt, 18-21/ 21-17, 21-15, 21-15. Women’s doubles.—Seini-linals; Mrs May and Miss Shadbolt beat Miss M. Brice and Miss K Perrv, 20-22. 21-19. 21-9. 21-11: Miss J. Stead and Mrs K. Thompson beat Miss D. Tipper and Miss M.

Gluckman. 12-21, 21-12, 21-12, 21-13. Final: Miss Shadbolt and Mrs May beat Miss Stead and Mrs Thompson. 20-22 21-19. 21-14, 21-15. Mixed doubles.—Final: Yeo and Mrs May beat Hamel and Miss Shadbolt, 19-21, 21-19, 21-16, 21-15. SECOND GRADE Men’s singles.—Final: P. Whittaker beat S Thompson. 12-21. 21- 22-20. Men’s doubles.—Final: J. Mason and G. Winchester beat Whittaker and P. Gasgoyne, 21-11, 22Women's singles.—Final; Miss Brice beat Miss Gluckman. 21-10, 21-17. Women’s doubles.—Final: Mrs Thompson and Miss Stead beat Miss Brice and Miss Perry, 21-13, 21-15. Mixed doubles.—Final: Thompson and Miss Brice beat R, Anderson and Miss Stead 5-21, 21-14, 21-18. VETERAN Men’s singles (round robin play).—Winner: B. Thompson. Women’s singles (round robin play).—Winner: Mrs May. Men’s doubles.—Final: Thompson and T. R D. Flint beat G. Plane and S. Le Roy. 21-11, 21-16. Women's double.—Final: Mrs Thompson and Mrs May beat Mrs I. Mehrtens and Mrs D. Blain, by default. 'Mixed doubles. —Final: Flint and Mrs May beat Thompson and Mrs Thompson, 21-17, 21-18.