Presentations
BRITAIN HAVE SUCCESS IN LIVERPOOL
The most notable wins in the City of Liverpool open, were by Neil Robinson and Lynne Riding. Robinson won the class three event, beating Oerjan Kylevik of Sweden in a thrilling five set final. Robinson actually winning the 3rd set 19-17. Riding beat the top ranked class 2 player, Genevieve Clot, France, in her final within 4 sets.
This was Lynne’s best win to date, as Clot was ranked at number one at the mid term of this year.
The tournament had 98 entries from 18 countries from all over the globe.
The women’s open tournament was won by Satoko Fujiwara from Japan, beating Alena Kanova in another close match. The men’s open was won by Germany’s Selcuk Cetin who out fought his compatriot Jan Gurtler in the final. World number two, Christophe Durand won bronze in this event, gaining his revenge later in the class five final beating our own Scott Robertson. Robertson also won bronze in the Class 5 Team with Stefan Trofan.
Other notable GB performances were by Mark Palmer and Arnie Chan, who won Gold against Littlewood and Newcombe of Gb in the class 4 team final and then made a clean sweep in the class singles event, with palmer gold, Chan silver and Newcombe bronze.
Joy Gerber and Claire Harris completed Britains success with a bronze in the female class 4 event.
Men's Class 1 Medals Gold--- Holger Nikelas (Germany) with Gerry Kinsella - Greenbank Academy C.E.O. Silver --Rolf Zumkehr (Switz). Bronze -- Erwan Fouillen (France) |
Mens class 2 Medals Gold --- Stephane Molliens (France) Silver -- Marc Sorrabella (France) Bronze --Jari Kurkinen (Finland) |
Women's class 2 Medals Gold --- Lynne Riding (GBR) Silver -- Genevieve Clot (France) Bronze -- Eimear Breathnach (Ireland) |
Mens class 3 Medals Gold --- Neil Robinson (GBR) Silver-- Oerjan Kylevik (Sweden) Bronze-- Egon Kramminger (Austria) |
Women's Open Medals Gold---Valerie Gay (France) Silver-- Alena Kanova (Slovakia) Bronze--- Tomoko Fukuzawa (Japan) |
Mens class 4 Medals Gold -- Mark Palmer (GBR) Silver -- Arnie Chan (GBR) Bronze -- Shaun Newcombe (GBR) |
Women's class4-5 medals Gold -- Alice Rast (Switzerland) Silver -- Patrizia Sacca (Italy) Bronze --- Kimie Bessho (Japan) |
Mens class 5 Medals Gold -- Christophe Durand (France) Silver -- Scott Robertson (GBR) Bronze -- Selcuk Cetin (Germany) |
To finish this photo memory of the 2003 Liverpool International Wheelchair Table Tennis Tournament, congratulations must be in order for all those who took part, the organisers, the officials, and the great many helpers who are needed in wheelchair sports, and of course, the players, this was my first visit to a high profile wheelchair tournament, and the friendliness of the competitors to each other was evident everywhere.
The logistics of making sure all the competitors and their helpers had a good time in Liverpool must have been a success, below is a letter posted on the International Paralympic Table Tennis Community web site
by Patricia, ( who I'm sure would allow me to use it )
"
Liverpool Open
Congratulations to the organizers!!!
It's been the first Liverpool Tournament and it
was... excellent! The Greenbank Sport Hall, the hotel, the food, the
transportation... everything was perfect!
We have been partecipating at Tournaments since
many years and from our experience we will keep in our mind your
Tournament as wonderful memory
Thanks again and see you next time!!! "
I am sure, that says it all
Roly Wright
Digest Editor
E-mail rolywright@blueyonder.co.uk