Paul Hume took the honours in the Clacton League’s 2025 Handicap Singles Tournament, beating off competition from 31 other players, to lift the Gordon Denton Trophy for the first time.

In the final, the unassuming Hume (-15) took the title by beating 13-year-old Owen Woollard (+3) 11-8, 11-9 in a best-of-three set match.

It was a deserved triumph for the likeable 29-year-old (pictured above), a beaten semi-finalist in both 2020 and 2022, and who, as the top-ranked player in the tournament, had to claw back significant points differences in all his matches.

But Hume went about his business in a typically quiet and proficient way, never resorting to pure defence, but utilising his deceptively skilful attacking play to good effect, never more so than in the final where he was pushed all the way by surprise finalist Woollard.

Woollard – playing in his first final, in his first tournament, in his first season of League table tennis – showed little outward signs of nerves, forcing Hume to produce his best play. But the more experienced Hume was able to chip away at the points deficit, winning in fine style in an entertaining final.

In the group stage, Hume topped his group of Sam Watling, Ian Gwillim and Andy Cawley, the only player to take a set off Hume all day, before overcoming a 26-point difference to beat Anne Bonny, then talented junior Tom Bryden and, in the semi-final, the highly competitive John Gallagher.

Woollard, whose cool temperament and calm manner impressed many and stood him in good stead throughout the day, had an early baptism of fire, topping a group comprising experienced campaigners Kevin James, Russell Hillier and Barry Allen before, disposing of Paul Newbould, another old hand, and Joe Sherwin, one of the League’s top junior prospects, in the first two rounds of the knockout stage.

In his semi-final, Woollard faced Martin Edwards but, once again, he came through this intriguing tie with flying colours, where Edwards, the Clacton League’s Coaching Officer, faced one of his most promising young pupils. But Woollard showed no mercy against a visibly tiring Edwards who, despite putting in 100% effort and concentration into every point as he had done all day, lost 11-7, 11-7, 11-5

It was disappointment for Edwards who, in his long association with the League, had only twice reached the semi-finals, and only once made it to the final, on that occasion in 1995 losing a final set decider 21-19.

An honourable mention should also go to the other semi-finalist, John Gallagher, a vastly improved player over the past three seasons, who was unfortunate to come across the in-form Hume in his semi-final. On his way to this point, Gallagher (-6) had to face daughter Ruby (+1) in a competitive match for the second time in as many weeks, on this occasion winning the day 7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9.

Credit also to one of the League’s less-mentioned players, Anne Bonny, who surprised everyone, including herself, in qualifying from the group stage for the first time in her short table tennis career, only to go out (on +4) to prospective champion Hume (-22) 11-8, 11-9.

Finally, a word of praise for reigning 2024 champion Matt Sage who put in a determined and courageous effort to retain his title. But having topped his group, Sage (+1) was thwarted in round one by 2023 champion, Russell Hillier (-8) who fought back from a disastrous start to win through 0-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-5, 19-17 in one of the most exciting and tense matches seen in the Handicap Singles for many years.

Main results – Final: Paul Hume (-15) beat Owen Woollard (+3) 11-8, 11-9; Semi-finals: Hume (-10) beat John Gallagher (+3) 13-11, 11-7, 11-8; Woollard (+2) beat Martin Edwards (-10) 11-7, 11-7, 11-5; Quarter-finals: Hume (-13) beat Tom Bryden (+3) 11-8, 11-9; Woollard (+1) beat Joe Sherwin (-1) 4-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8; John Gallagher (-6) beat Ruby Gallagher (+1) 7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9; Edwards (0) beat Russell Hillier (0) 13-11, 11-9, 11-8.

For the record, of the 32 entrants, 18 were players from Third Division teams. Of the eight quarter-finalists, seven were from the Brotherhood Club, although the eventual champion was a Nomads Club player. And, once again, a new name has been entered onto the Handicap Singles Roll of Honour. In its 42 years, only one player has won the Handicap Singles three times (back in the early 1990s) while just six players have won it twice, making Paul Hume the 34th different winner in the tournament’s history. 

* In Division One of the League, Nomads Lions defeated Walton C 10-0, all of the matches settled in three-straight, and are now looking favourites to take the runners-up spot.

The Walton C team suffered a second 10-0 defeat, this time to Brotherhood A. There were hat-tricks here for Kevin Gowlett, Russell Hillier and Tim Leung, as there were for John Pattrick and Phil Smith in Windsor Eagles’ 8-2 success against Lawford.

Three from Andy Vincent could not prevent a weakened Windsor Hawks going down 6-4 to Brotherhood B, whilst it was the same score as Walton B took four of the matches which went the distance to edge out Walton A.

In Division Two, leaders Windsor Buzzards beat second-placed Brotherhood C 7-3, Scott Campbell taking his eighth maximum of this campaign, whilst the clash of the third- and fourth-placed sides appropriately ended all-square for a second time this season, Mark Salter staying undefeated as Brotherhood D drew with Nomads Tigers.

An all-Windsor clash ended 7-3 in favour of the Penguins over the Kestrels, Neil Chegwidden remaining unbeaten with Paul Woolnough and Sharon Gowlett each picking up two.   

Dan Grindrod took a treble as Brotherhood G kept up their battle against relegation with a 6-4 win over a weakened Nomads Jaguars, but bottom-side Windsor Magpies again tasted defeat, this time 9-1 at the hands of Brotherhood E.

In Division Three, there were wins for the top two sides, Brotherhood F defeating Walton D 10-0 and Brotherhood H beating Holland Hurricanes 7-3. The closest encounter of this latter match was the doubles which saw Harindu De Silva and Owen Woollard of Brotherhood edge past Gary Stallwood and John Smith-Daye 11-9 in the fifth.

Meanwhile, Nomads Bobcats kept their outside hopes of promotion alive with an 8-2 win against Holland Lancasters.

Finally, Dominic Joannou was unbeaten as Nomads Leopards defeated Holland Vulcans 7-3, the same score by which Nomads Ocelots beat Holland Mosquitos, Arthur Wells-Garrett and Hazel Blanche recording hat-tricks.

* The draw for round two of the Handicap Cup has produced some intriguing ties. Two of the big guns from Division One, Walton B and Nomads Lions, have been drawn against each other but perhaps the most intriguing of all will be the clash of the top two Third Division teams of Brotherhood youngsters. The full draw is: Walton B v Nomads Lions; Windsor Falcons v Brotherhood A; Nomads Bobcats v Windsor Penguins; Brotherhood F v Brotherhood H. Matches are to be played in week beginning 24th February.

* The League is pleased to announce that the Closed Championships this year will once again be sponsored by The Survey Initiative. Our grateful thanks to Gary Cattermole for his continued generosity. Entry forms will be available towards the end of February with a closing date of 14 March. The qualification is likely to be revised to five matches.

* The Windsor Club is organising a Pig Race evening on Saturday 8 March at the Brotherhood Hall. Doors open at 7pm with the first race starting at 7.30pm. Entry is free, bring your own drinks and nibbles.  

* Players and supporters of the League may be interested to read the first issue of Scimitar, the online newsletter of the Essex County Table Tennis Association. Many years ago, County published Scimitar as a printed magazine on a regular basis but it has long ceased publication. Scimitar can be viewed on the League’s website under ‘County News’.

RESULTS
Division 1
Windsor Hawks 4 Brotherhood B 6
Walton C 0 Brotherhood A 10
Lawford 2 Windsor Eagles 8
Walton A 4 Walton B 6
Nomads Lions 10 Walton C 0
Division 2
Brotherhood G 6 Nomads Jaguars 4
Windsor Kestrels 3 Windsor Penguins 7
Brotherhood E 9 Windsor Magpies 1
Nomads Tigers 5 Brotherhood D 5
Windsor Buzzards 7 Brotherhood C 3
Division 3
Holland Lancasters 2 Nomads Bobcats 8
Holland Mosquitos 3 Nomads Ocelots 7
Brotherhood F 10 Walton D 0
Brotherhood H 7 Holland Hurricanes 3
Nomads Leopards 7 Holland Vulcans 3