Success for STTC players
Participants and spectators at Stowupland High School on Sunday, 24th March witnessed a highly competitive and entertaining day’s play in this year’s championships with a very high standard of play.
Star player of the day was Stowmarket player, James Davies-Stokes, who won 3 titles:
Open singles, Handicap and Mens Doubles (with his brother, Luke).
Club Chairman, Richard, father of James and Luke, was no doubt proud to have the singles cup back in the family after Luke, who had won the open singles two years ago and was runner-up last year, was unfortunate to lose a tight and very high quality match with Kian Burgess in the semis. Kian’s countering of Luke’s phenomenal forehand attacking shots were perhaps decisive.
In the final, James, who knew Kian well from their time as juniors, did the same to Kian, taking Kian’s counterattacks early and adding even more oomph (technical term!). Nonetheless, Kian started to take control and went 2-1 up. James however, dug deep to come back.
result: James Davies-Stokes beat Kian Burgess 11-5, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8
The Handicap event was also exciting, and the handicap evidently well judged, with both semi-finals and the final all going to the sudden-death point at 30-30. James’ consistency, very heavy topspin loop and apparent ability to retrieve all but the heaviest and well-placed smashes, proved to be the decisive factors.
Result: James Davies-Stokes beat Tarun Vignesh 31-30
James and Luke were probably favourites to win the doubles but they had to come back from 2-1 down in the final to beat a feisty showing from Henry Shaw & Joe Fortnum Adams.
Luke & James Davies-Stokes beat Henry Shaw & Joe Fortnum Adams 5-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6
Other results not involving STTC players
Womens Singles – Gracie Edwards victorious, Holly McGerty runner up.
Restricted singles – Paul Broxton beat Dan Taylor
Womens Doubles – Gracie Edwards & Lucy Curtis beat Izzy & Holly McGerty
Mixed Doubles – Andy Warner & Gracie Edwards beat Joe Fortnum Adams & Izzy McGerty