Douglas Huston Ulster Open Table Tennis championships held in Lisburn
December 2, 2016
Rebecca Finn (Ulster) and Gavin Rumgay (Scotland) took the big prizes at the Douglas Huston Ulster Open Table Tennis championships in Lisburn Racquets Club, supported by the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.
Extrovert Rumgay survived a match point to overtake the local favourite Ashley Robinson (Clogher), home from his professional base in Sweden, in the Men's Final.
Gavin had taken out Irish champ, Gavin Maguire in the semis, while Ashley had survived a long battle with Peter Graham (Glenburn) in the quarters before defeating the long-term Ulster & Irish team leader Paul McCreery 3-1 in the semis.
Rebecca Finn (Glenburn) showed immense maturity in claiming her first Ulster Open Women's title, with a remarkable Semi-final win over tournament favourite Ashley Givan (QUB), finishing with a straight sets victory over Claire Heller (Dublin).
Robinson had some consolation in taking the Men's Doubles title with Maguire, who added a further Doubles success in partnering Katie McGlone to the Mixed Doubles title.
Local girl Erin Thompson (Lisburn) teamed up with Dublin and Ireland’s No 1 Katie McGlone to take the Women’s Doubles title beating Devereux and Zareba (Pingzone, Dublin).
Minister for Communities Paul Givan joined the action, tried his hand at table tennis, and was impressed with the diversity of competitors and the high quality of competition.
Chairman of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Development Committee, Councillor Uel Mackin, helped launch the event on Friday night and spoke at the Presentations on Saturday evening: “I would like to thank all the competitors and winners who came to Lisburn to take part in the Douglas Huston Ulster Open Table Tennis Championship. In particular I would like to congratulate local girl Rebecca Finn, from Carryduff, on her outstanding achievement securing the Ulster Open Women’s title and Erin Thompson from Lisburn who claimed the Women’s Doubles title along with team mate Katie McGlone from Dublin. The Council is delighted to help promote table tennis and hopefully we will host many more tournaments in our area. It is good for competitors, local sport and for our tourism development.”
Douglas Huston Ulster Open Results:
Men's Singles; Gavin Rumgay (Sco) beat Ashley Robinson (Ire) 6-11, 11-7, 11-7,. 6-11, 13-11
Women's Singles: Rebecca Finn (Glenburn) beat Claire Heller (Celtic TTC Dublin) 12-10, 11-9, 11-8
Masters Mens: Daryl Strong (QUB) bt Pat McCloughan (Banbridge) 3-1
Master Womens: Gillian Richardson bt Jacky Devine (Ormeau) 3-0
Men's Doubles: G Maguire/A Robinson (Ire) bt P Graham/Z Wison (Glenburn) 3-2
Women's Doubles: Katie McGlone/Erin Thompson bt Sabina Devereux/Marta Zareba 3-1
Mixed DoubleL: G Maguire/K McGlone bt Alan Walsh/Erin Thompson 3-0
Under 21 Mens: Zak Wilson (Glenburn) bt Ryan Farrell (Howth) 3-1
Under 21 Womens: Katie McGlone (Dublin) bt Erin Thompson (Glenburn) 3-0
Under 18 Girls: Katie McGlone (Dublin) bt Rebecca Finn (Glenburn) 3-2
Under 18 Boys: Charlie Fitzgerald (Dublin) bt Thomas Earley (Ormeau)
Under 15 Boys: Thomas Joyce (Mayo) bt Art McLaughlin (Dublin) 3-0
Under 15 Girls: Lucy Craig (Glenburn) bt Pravesha Ragi (Pingzone) 3-0