Bundaberg & District Table Tennis Association Inc.

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2019 BUNDABERG RADIOLOGY
BUNDABERG OPEN

The 2019 Bundy Open was held on March 30 & 31.

Former Chile representative, Bruno Levis, won his sixth Mens Open Singles at the Bundaberg Radiology Bundaberg Open Table Tennis Championships last weekend, while Rebecca Tran became the first local player to win the Womens Open Singles for a second time since Mary Gollan achieved the feat in the 1970’s. Levis, a resident in Brisbane for the last ten years, returned to Bundaberg after last winning the title in 2017 with previous wins starting in 2011. After comfortable results in the early rounds this year, Levis faced Rockhampton’s Joel Coughlan in the final. Despite many outstanding rallies, Levis won the first two games 11/5, 11/4 but Coughlan showed tremendous fighting spirit to claim the third game 11/8. The high standard of play continued in the next two games but Levis prevailed in each 11/7 and 11/8 to complete his victory.

Tran, who only turned sixteen earlier in March, reclaimed the title that she first won as a thirteen year old in 2016, defeating Michele Brockhurst in an enthralling seven game final that fluctuated throughout the match. Coming into the event as the fifth seed, Tran first beat the highly experienced second seed, Erica Nolan from Rockhampton, in a shock straight games result. Her semi-final, against her fellow Bundaberg and Queensland Junior representative, Leah Scott, was a typical battle between the two who have had countless such matches over the last eight years. Tran won the first game and was never headed but the crucial game was the fifth when Scott led 10/7 only for Tran to win it 15/13. Scott again leveled the game score by taking the sixth then led at the change in the deciding seventh game but Tran again responded to eventually win it 12/10. Meanwhile, Brockhurst, the sixth seed, had beaten the number three seed Zhang Hai Yan (Wynnum) in five close games then outlasted Bundaberg top seed, Lorraine Fourro, in six games to reach the final. Tran won the first game easily but Brockhurst took the next two and only lost the fourth 11/9. Tran again asserted herself to win the fifth 11/4 but Brockhurst again fought back to level the score before Tran’s composure and experience in many finals at local, State and National levels helped her to win the decider 11/7.

Earlier in the tournament, the start had been different for Tran and Scott. In the Womens Under 18 Singles, Tran unexpectedly lost in the group stage to Townsville junior, Caitlin Woods, who then faced Scott in the final. Scott, a silver medalist at last year’s Australian Junior Championships in the Under 18 Girls team event, overcame a slow start to win in straight games.

In the Mens Under 18 Singles, there were upsets in virtually every match of the knockout stage after the favoured players had won their group matches. Brendan Connolly was superb in beating Rockhampton top seed, Matthew Steffen, in a stunning straight games performance while Braydon Chapman outlasted Brisbane’s Zachary Bakanay in five games. In the semi-finals, Andrew Udal downed Connolly in equally stunning fashion as Connolly had beaten Steffen, and Chapman continued his giant killing run, defeating Sam Freeman in another outstanding five game battle. In the final, Udal was in devastating form in the first two games against Chapman then survived 13/11 in the third game for the most significant victory in his career so far.

Bundaberg players had plenty of success in other events throughout the tournament. Bernadette Mitchell dominated her Veterans events, winning all four she entered – the Womens Over 40 and Over 50 Singles events, and the Over 40 and Over 50 Doubles with husband Steve who also won the Mens Over 50 Singles after going down to Sunshine Coast’s Paul Green in the Mens Over 40 Singles final in five games.

Rebecca Tran shared the Open Mixed Doubles with Rockhampton’s Matthew Pettett and also won the U1300 Doubles with Leah Scott, while they lost the Womens Doubles narrowly in straight games to Erica Nolan and Zhang Hai Yan.

Tahia Zia also won three titles in very impressive performances, taking both the Womens Under 900 and Under 700 Singles events as well as sharing the Under 700 Doubles with Matthew Udal.

Tayla Scott included a win over older sister, Leah, on her way to winning the Womens Under 21 Singles from Caitlin Woods, and also won the Under 900 Doubles with Kye Meuli. However, she lost the Girls Under 15 Singles to Natasha Jefferson who came from two games down in another typical contest between the Queensland Junior representatives. Natasha ended the tournament on a high note, winning the Under 700 Singles final against Matthew Udal. Brendan Connolly also won two Singles titles in one of his best ever tournaments, claiming both the Under 1100 and Under 1300 events, the latter an outstanding five game effort against Rockhampton veteran, Jeff Green, having avenged his Under 18 loss to Andrew Udal to win the former. Peter Spratley, who was presented with Life Membership of the Bundaberg Association during the tournament, celebrated with wins in the Over 60 Singles and the Under 1500 Doubles with Andrew McCurley. Pieter Poldervaart and Dale Shailer combined to beat Brendan Connolly and Michele Brockhurst in the Under 1300 Doubles final, while Vinuka De Silva won the Boys Under 13 Singles final from Kane Chantarat in a marathon 13/11, 10/12, 15/17, 13/11, 11/6. Michele Brockhurst gained some joy in beating Rockhampton’s Linda O’Sullivan for the Womens Under 1100 Singles title in another dramatic five game final.

In all, ninety-five players from eight clubs competed in more than forty events throughout the tournament.

To see all the results of the Bundaberg Open, click here.

JUNIOR COACHING

Junior coaching has again started. It is important that this coaching is well under way, especially for Juniors and the Thursday Para TT / Special Olympics, as both groups have competitions fairly early in the new year.

Friday night Junior coaching is from 7.00 – 9.00 p.m.

If you know anyone who wants to come along to Junior coaching on Fridays, please tell them to contact Dave Delpratt on 4155 2388.

2019 MEMBERSHIP FEES

The following Membership Fees are now due and should be paid as soon as possible.

       Adults                                $90.00
       Adult Concession (Pensioner/Student)  $80.00
       Adult Social                          $40.00
       Junior                                $40.00
2018 AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
UPCOMING
DATES
23 & 24 April
Start of Winter Season
26 April
Start of
Term 2 Junior Season
25 May
Qld Schools Tournament
(Bundaberg)
2019-20 Committee

POSITION          POST HOLDER
Patron                Pauline Langford
President             Phil Freeman
Vice President        Nikki Udal
Secretary             Rhonda Dawson
Treasurer             Cathy Rivers
Committee Members     Peter Marris; Rod Stehbens;
                      Michele Brockhurst; Hannah Sunley
Grading Committee     Steve Ricketts; Dave Delpratt;
                      Nikki Udal; Rod Stehbens
Development Officer   Dave Delpratt
Publicity / Records   Dave Delpratt

All members are welcome to attend and speak at our monthly Committee meetings.
Meetings are normally held on the 2nd Monday of the month, starting 7.30 p.m.
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