A good performance from Bournemouth players at the Kingfisher Club in Reading where qualifying rounds for the Wilmott Cup and Rosebowl were played on Saturday the 14th January. Stephen Foster and Hugo Pang represented the Bournemouth and District Association in the men’s competition. Unfortunately a number of our top players were unable to play, due to clashes with coaching courses and other commitments.

The Bournemouth team despite the relative inexperience of Hugo dominated the first two matches against Maidstone and Bracknell and won both comfortably 5 – 0. Guildford A with Reece Placid and Alain Choo Choy were in rather a different class. Alain is an Olympic player and competed in the first Olympics featuring table tennis in Seoul in 1988 (representing Mauritius). Hugo and Steve took the doubles and Steve was 7 – 3 up in the 5th against Alain before losing, demonstrating just how close many of the matches were. Unfortunately Bournemouth went down 1 – 4 and with this result out of the competition.

Chrissie Slot and Becky Kuzu had extremely strong competition in the Rosebowl, the ladies event, losing to Guildford 1 – 4 and to Hastings 2 – 3, but gaining much valuable experience. Sally Cimiotti and Sara Horsnell represented Guildford and Rose Rainton and Lisa Standen Hastings. Chrissie beat Sally Cimiotti and both Chrissie and Becky beat Lisa Standen in very close games.

Bournemouth still have their top women’s team in the competition, with Hannah Hicks, Chloe Thomas, Tressa Armitage and Sanja Clements as the Association received a bye direct to the final.