Fenwick takes table tennis title

Canterbury's Simon Fenwick claimed his fourth Marlborough Table Tennis Open men’s singles title at the weekend.

Simon beat Nelson's Daniel Astle in the final of the annual event, sponsored by Gascoigne Wicks and Co and staged at Simcox Stadium, by 11-8, 11-4, 11-4, 12-10.

Simon reached the final with victory over Marlborough's Alex Kennedy in one semi-final while Daniel had a six-set win over North Shore's Ben Jung in the other semi. In the third place play off, Ben beat Alex 11-3, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8 in a hugely entertaining encounter.

Nelson players  Dimitri Bell, Montek Singh and Mark Nalder took out 5-7 placings respectively.

Canterbury's Kris Alisch regained the women's singles crown which she last won in 2022, beating fellow Cantabrian Anny Li in straight sets in the final.

Kris beat Julia Merz, a German student living in Nelson, in one semi while Marlborough's Jacqui Wood lost to Anny in five sets. In the play off  for third, Jacqui beat Julia 2-11, 11-3, 11-1, 6-11, 11-6. Nelson's Anna King beat fellow Nelson player Ana Vasquez Ramirez in the fifth place play off.

Kris added her second title when she combined with Anny for a win in the women's doubles final over Anna and Ana by 11-8, 11-8, 11-13, 11-6.

Her third title came when she combined with Simon for a win over Alex and Anny in the mixed doubles final by  11-8, 11-2, 11-7. As in 2022, Kris ended the day unbeaten.

The men's doubles went to seeding with number one seeds Ben and Alex beating the second-seeded Nelson combination of Joshua Pigott and Daniel Astle in the final 11-3, 6-11, 11-7, 1-11, 11-9.

The third place play off went to Simon and last minute replacement, Marlborough's Chris Hood.

The Harcourts C grade was dominated by Nelson players, Dimitri Bell and Joshua Pigott contesting the final which Dimitri won 4-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6.

The women's title went to Anna King over Julia Merz by 11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7.

The two singles winners combined for a win in the mixed doubles final over Joshua and Ana Vasquez Ramirez by 11-13, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5.

The one title in this section to elude Nelson was the men's doubles, which went to the Marlborough combination of Michael Kamson and Nathan Cross by 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9 over Joshua and fellow Nelson player, Glenn Thorne.

Julia and Evelyn Nashiro won the C grade women's doubles final against Marlborough's Marion Wood and Barbara Burkhart.

Daniel Astle won the over-40 men's single title from Glenn, while Anny Li annexed the women's title, downing Jacqui Wood in a match of contrasting styles.

Daniel added a second title in partnership with Mark Nalder when they beat Marlborough' s Ken Thompsett and Graeme Jackson in the final by 11-4, 11-6, 12-10.

The men's over-55 section went to seeding with Canterbury's Gregg Davey beating Mark Nalder in the final. After a round robin competition, Anny took the equivalent women's event with Marion Wood second.

Ken and Graeme won the doubles title over Canterbury's Gregg Davey and Alan Moore.

In the Motorworld Group Limited junior section played on Sunday, the results were: Under-19 BS: Dimitri Bell (N) -first, Dominic Parrett (C) -second after round robin. Under-19 GS: Julia Merz (N) bt Sophia Dillon (M) 3-0. Under-19 BD: Alex de Bock (C)/ D Parrett (C) bt D Bell (N)/ Tommy Phipps (M) 11-9,11-9,13-11. Under-19 GD: J. Merz (N)/ Hannah McDonnell (N) bt S. Dillon (M)/ Caitlin Exton (M) 11-9, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6. Under-15 BS: D Bell (N) A de Bock (C) 3-0. Under-15 BD: Alex de Bock (C)/ D Parrett (C) bt D Bell (N)/ Fletcher Phipps (M) 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4. Under-13 Mixed Singles: Phoenix Hollyman  (N) bt Cora Wilson (M) 3-0. Under-13 BD: P. Hollyman(N) / Ollie King (N) bt F Phipps (M)/ Finnbar Duncan (M) 3-0.