In the latest instalment of our series on England’s World Championships performances over the years, Diane Webb (Chair of Archives, Museum and Records Committee) turns to 1951 in Vienna.

---

Richard Bergmann had been suspended indefinitely from 30 June 1950 as “he had taken part in table tennis activities abroad for remuneration without first seeking approval and sanction of the ETTA, also that he then played while suspended”.

Bergmann disputed the allegations and was unhappy that the decision had been made while he was out of the country so could not represent himself in person.

The team looked very smart as they had been fitted out with special shoes, team shirts, tailored shorts and best of all a royal blue tracksuit with “England” emblazoned across the back and with the three leopards in gold on the front.

The Journey

Due to a railway strike it was touch and go whether all the team would arrive in time at the Waverley Hotel in London for departure. The players all made it but the non-playing captains, Adrian Haydon and Margaret Knott, didn’t and had to follow on. Permission had been refused to fly over Russian-occupied territory so the route was via Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Munich. This resulted in the travellers not arriving until 8pm the evening before the first match. Fortunately, the hotel was not far from the venue and very comfortable, so they had a restful night.

Playing Conditions

The setting in the Vienna Concert House was spectacular and the conditions regarded as the best yet. The flooring was better than at Wembley as it was not sprung and the lighting was bright without daylight interference. The surroundings were warm with seats for the players which were comfortable and near the courts. 12 Jaques tables, the best in the world, had been transported from England and were surfaces the England players were used to.

Swaythling Cup

There were enough teams to make three groups of eight teams. The top from each group went through to a three-way final.

England in Group A met Yugoslavia, Sweden, Brazil, Wales, Egypt, Italy and Luxembourg, they were expected to win the group and be part of the three-way final play-off. The first match was against Italy and a good 5-0 start, blooding new Swaythling Cup players Kennedy and Crayden. Simons was the third player. Leach replaced Simons against Wales with the result 5-1, Kennedy losing the one match.

Sweden were the next opponents and here Leach won three, Simons his two and the two defeats from Crayden resulted in 5-2 in favour of England. Sweden were without their top two players, Tage Flisberg and Bengt Grieve, so the result was expected.

It was another 5-0 win against Egypt with the team of Crayden, Simons and Thornhill. Leach, Simons and Kennedy were next on the table against Brazil to make it five wins from five.

Yugoslavia was going to be the challenge and so it proved. It was England’s strongest team of Leach, Simons and Kennedy. Leach had three wins against Josip Vogrinic, Josip Gabric and Vilim Harangozo.  Simons only beat Gabric and Kennedy did not get on the scoreboard. He went on the table at 4-4 against Gabric, a match England needed to win, it must have been daunting for the young man. Regrettably, he was not able to beat his opponent, which put Yugoslavia into the final.

England’s final match was against Luxembourg and they finished on a high with a 5-0 win for Crayden, Kennedy and Thornhill.

Leach had won all his nine matches, Simons won nine and lost two, Kennedy won six and lost four, Thornhill won all his four and Crayden won six and lost two.

Group B was won by Hungary who played against France, Vietnam, Germany, Austria, Holland, Portugal and New Zealand. Group C was Czechoslovakia, USA, India, Switzerland, Belgium, Iran, Israel and Greece. It was the reigning champions Czechoslovakia who topped Group C winning all matches 5-0 with the exception of the USA, who took one game off the Czechs.

The final was a three-way play-off between Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia lost to Hungary 5-3 and Czechoslovakia 5-1. The deciding match was between last year’s two finalists and again it was Czechoslovakia who beat Hungary, the score 5-4. Ivan Andreadis was the hero of the day for Czechoslovakia, winning his three games. Bohumil Vana and Vaclav Tereba  won one apiece. For Hungary, Ferenc Sido and Joszef Koczian both won two games but Kalman Szepsi did not get on the scoresheet, the lack of his wins was the difference between the two teams.  

Corbillon Cup

England were in Group A and there were some tough matches ahead and some which were not quite so challenging. The two youngsters, 17-year-old Diane and Rosalind Rowe, played the major part in the team, well supported by Peggy Franks and Joyce Roberts.

The first match should have been against Brazil, but a no-show from the Brazilians gave our ladies some breathing space to recover from their journey. The second day of play and England took to the table against the USA. The twins got England off to a good start. They both beat Peggy Ichkoff but lost to Leah Thall-Neuberger. Their strong doubles partnership was the decisive match and meant it was a 3-2 win for England.

Hungary were next and the match followed the same pattern as against the USA. Diane and Rosalind both lost to Gizi Farkas but defeated Edit Sagi. The doubles win against Farkas & and Rose Karpati meant another 3-2 win. Yugoslavia was the third match with the singles played by Franks and Roberts and the doubles by Diane and Rosalind. A straightforward 3-0 result.

Franks and Roberts played in all three games against Italy, and it was another 3-0 win. Germany were up next and Diane and Rosalind went to the table, 3-0 again. Switzerland were next and Franks and Roberts took the reins for another 3-0 victory.

It was between England and Austria to decide who would be in the final. Although Diane and Rosalind won the doubles, a clean sweep, played five, won five, they were unable to get on the scoreboard in the singles. Both lost to Trude Pritzi and Rosalind lost to Linde Wertl. 3-1 to Austria, who progressed to the final.

There were nine teams in Group B and Romania won all their matches to put them in the final again. It was 3-0 against Wales, Egypt and Holland and 3-1 against Scotland, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France and India. Star of the Indian team was the elfin, 3ft 6 in 13-year-old, Sayeed Sultana, who had already won the Championships of India twice. She won more than half her matches and was the only player to take a game off Rozeanu.

7 March 1951, commencing 11.45pm was the date and time for the final. Austria were the firm favourites with their duo of 16-year-old Linde Wertl and Trude Pritzi. Romania had world champion Angelica Rozeanu and Sari Szasz in their corner. It started well for Romania with Rozeanu beating Wertl 17, 16. Szasz then beat Pritzi 15, 10. The doubles went the way of the Austrians -13, 16, 21. The match was still in the balance. Onto the table went Rozeanu and Pritzi, the score 21-7, 21-2 to Rozeanu with the second game ending on the 20-minute time limit. The Championship title went to Romania.

England and Wales were the bronze medallists being the runners-up in their groups. The Welsh team comprised Audrey Bates, Audrey Coombs and Betty Gray.

Men’s Singles

Johnny Leach faced American Marty Reisman in the fourth round and it was an easy victory for the Englishman 9, 17, 17. He then beat Frenchman, Rene Roothoft in the quarter-finals and this was considered the decisive match in Leach’s ultimate triumph. There was little between the two players with the first going to Roothoft 21-17. Leach won the next two 21-14, 21-16 and had two match points in the fourth before Roothooft saved those and eventually won the that end 24-22. In the fifth and final game Roothoft was leading 10-7 at the change of ends but Leach pulled ahead to 20-15, Roothoft won the next four points but finally, Leach hit a winner to win 21-19.  

In the semi-final Leach met Vaclav Tereba and won in four -21, 9, 22, 11. The other semi-final was between Ference Sido and Ivan Andreadis and it was the Czech who beat the Hungarian 21-14, 21-19, 13-21, 22-20.

Andreadis had been on top form throughout the Championships, including winning his three matches in the Swaythling Cup final to help Czechoslovakia retain that trophy. In the final it was Andreadis who started well winning the first end 21-16. Leach was the 21-18 winner of the second game. It was 18-all in the third before Leach won the next three points, 2-1 to Leach. This seemed to deflate Andreadis who was 18-3 down in the fourth game and although he fought back it was Leach who got over the line 21-13. Leach was champion of the world for the second time.

Before the Championships, Leach had been undertaking fitness training at Spurs’ football ground at White Hart Lane but had “transferred” his allegiance to Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace was nearer his new home. It would appear the fitness training was very much to his advantage.

Harrower, Craigie and Carrington went out in round one, the second round saw the exit of Simons, Crayden, Haydon and Venner. After Leach, Brian Kennedy and Michael Thornhill were the next best-placed English players getting through to the fourth round where they lost to American Somael and Czech Vaclav Tereba respectively. Kennedy’s match was a straightforward win for the American 8, 19, 9, Thornhill had the harder match against Tereba and got close, eventually going down 15, -19, 19, 12.

Women’s Singles

As well as the Corbillon Cup players, Miss Robbins from England also entered the Women’s Singles but lost in the first qualifying round. Margaret Knott, back as captain, was also a participant. She came through two qualifying rounds before going out in the round of 64 to Trude Pritzi of Austria, a tough draw. Joyce Roberts also met a strong opponent in the first round, Rose Karpati of Hungary, and went down fighting 17, -16, 18, 11.

Peggy Franks and Diane Rowe made it into the round of 32. Franks lost to Scot Elizabeth Pithie 19, 21, 13 and Diane Rowe to Josee Wouters of Belgium -20, 20, -19, 15, 18. The star of the team was Rosalind Rowe who reached the quarter-finals going out to American, Leah Thall-Neuberger. She won the first two ends but the last three went against her, the final score -18, -17, 16, 12, 12.

One semi-final was between Angelica Rozeanu, Romania and Trude Pritzi, Austria. Rozeanu won 17-14, 14-13 and 5-4, all matches going to time limit. The other semi-final was more straightforward with a win for Gizi Farkas, Hungary against Neuberger 14, 19, 22. The final saw Rozeanu win for the second year running 10, 15, 13.

Men’s Doubles

Ivor Montagu playing with Austrian Robert Thum, and Jones & Taylor went out in the qualifying rounds. It wasn’t to be for Keith Hurlock & Harry Venner and Ken Craigie & Geoffrey Harrower who went out in the first round. The round of 32 saw Frecker & Peter Walton, and Brian Kennedy & Michael Thornhill exit the competition. The next to fall in the round of 16 were the old hands Victor Barna & Adrian Haydon, both in their 40th year, they still put up a good show against the eventual champions Ivan Andreadis & Bohumil Vana 15, -16, 13, 8.

Two English pairs were left in the quarter-finals, Ron Crayden & Aubrey Simons, and Jack Carrington & Johnny Leach. Here, Crayden & Simons went out to Ladislav Stipek & Frantisek Tokar 17, 13, 12. However, Carrington & Leach beat Egyptians Abuheif & Fawzi 20, 9, 16, justifying their seeding, and saw them face Josef Koczian & Ferenc Sido in their semi-final match. It was the latter pair who won 14, -20, 20, 10. The other semi-final saw Andreadis & Vana against Stipek & Tokar and it was the former who won 12, -19, 12, -18, 12. They then went on to win the final in three 13, 12, 19.

Women’s Doubles

30 pairs fought for the title in the Women’s Doubles and England’s hopes were for another medal in this event. The first round saw Margaret Knott, partnered by American Patricia McLinn, go out in the first round. Peggy Franks & Scotland’s Helen Elliot made it one step further but lost to Leah Thall-Neuberger & Peggy Ichkoff in a close match 17, 16, -17, -12, 17.

Joyce Roberts, playing with another Scot, Elizabeth Pithie, went through to the second round where they won 15, -18, -16, 18, 18 against Austrians Staffelleithen & Gertrude Wutzl. Their quarter-final opponents were the English pair of Diane & Rosalind Rowe, and it was the twins who were victorious 19, 17, 12. The twins were guaranteed a medal at their first World Championships.

Their next match was much more challenging as they faced Gizi Farkas & Rose Karpati, a match they won in five 14, -16, 15, -15, 12. In the other half of the draw Angelica Rozeanu & Sari Szasz had progressed to the semi-final where they beat Thall & Ichkoff 17, 19, -16, 19, after having seen off Trude Pritzi & Linde Wertl in their quarter-final match -13, 20, 19, 14.

As well as playing against their opponents the two 17-year-olds were also playing against the crowd with 90% cheering on the Romanians, Rozeanu & Szasz. However, the twins seemed unbothered by nerves and played their usual game hitting everything with their youthful energy. The first four games were close with Diane & Rosalind winning the first two 22-20, 21-19. The next two went to Romania 21-19, 22-20. The fifth saw Diane & Rosalind get a commanding lead and it was 10-4 when they changed ends. They increased their advantage getting nine of the next 13 points to make it 19-9 before getting over the line 21-12. Jubilation in the English camp for the young 17-year-olds, the youngest to win a world title since Victor Barna & Miklos Szabados 23 years earlier.

Mixed Doubles

It was a first-round loss for Ron Crayden with Elizabeth Pithie of Scotland. Also going out in this round were Jack Carrington & Margaret Knott. The round of 32 saw the departure of Harry Venner & Hobik of Austria who had Michael Thornhill & Peggy Franks as their opponents.  Aubrey Simons & Rosalind Rowe also went out at this stage losing to Josef Koczian & Rose Karpati 13, -15, 17, -18, 15.

The round of 16 was the turn of Michael Thornhill & Peggy Franks as well as Victor Barna & Scotland’s Helen Elliot to leave the event, the former going out to Schneider & Horn of Germany and the latter to Brian Kennedy & Joyce Roberts 15, 19, -9, -15, 18. Kennedy & Roberts subsequently lost to Vilim Harangozo & Linde Wertl 8, 17, 14 in the quarter-finals.

This left Johnny Leach & Diane Rowe who had won their first-round match against USAs Jimmy McClure & Leah Thall-Neuberger 24, 15, 18. Their second-round match was victory over Josip Gabric & Covic of Yugoslavia 4, 22, 11. Next up was Ferenc Sido & Gizi Farkas and another win, -21, 15, -15, 18, 17 which put them through to the quarter-finals where they faced Somael & Trude Pritzi, another positive result -15, 10, 11, 20. Into the semi-final where they met Harangozo & Wertl. This was as far as they reached, going down 11, 17, -13, 10.

The other semi-final was between Bohumil Vana & Angelica Rozeanu, and Joszef Koczian & Rose Karpati. It was the former who won 22, -26, 13, -17, 15. Harangozo & Wertl versus Vana & Rozeanu in the final and it was Vana & Rozeanu who became champions, winning 19, 9, 14 which gave Rozeanu her third gold medal of these Championships.

ITTF Congress

35 nations were represented at the ITTF Congress. Ivor Montagu was re-elected as President and presented with a trophy to acknowledge his 25 years’ service to the Federation. Bill Vint was re-elected as Honorary Treasurer and Geoff Harrower were appointed Chairman of the Equipment Committee. England still had major influence at international level.

Summary

Two gold medals and three bronze medals meant an excellent Championships for England. It was the start of wonderful careers for Diane and Rosalind Rowe, their first gold added to which was one bronze for Rosalind and two for Diane. There was continued success for Johnny Leach, winning the blue riband event plus bronze in the Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.

Amongst the archive papers is a report from the Men’s Team Captain, Adrian Haydon. He starts by saying: “As you all know we have every right to be jubilant in as much as the World’s Singles title has again returned to a British-born player – Johnny Leach – two years after he first won it in Stockholm. And may I add he is a worthy champion in every way whose behaviour on and off the table reflects great credit to his country and to English Table Tennis.”

Haydon then goes on to list the results and comments in the Swaythling Cup matches and listed are comments on the three top players: “Johnny Leach won 9, lost 0. He was a tower of strength to the team and did not lose a single match throughout the whole of the tournament.

“Aubrey Simons won 9, lost 2. Both losses were against the Yugoslavs and he appears to have developed a bout of nerves which must be conquered before he can return as a World ranking player. There was a lack of bite in his game which was so characteristic of his games in England and which was so noticeable against Vana last year. Even so he is still England’s No 2 – and a grand team man and he won’t be easy to displace.

“Michael Thornhill won 4, lost 0. Here undoubtedly we have our best prospect if only he could build up his physical strength. He has ability, brain, and I am hopeful that he will fill the No 3 position next season.”

To sum up: “The lesson we learn then was the obvious one, that you cannot afford to carry a passenger at No 3 against first-class teams. Even so we are so near the top that I am sure we can with luck win the Swaythling Cup in the next 2/3 years. Although we lost our group may I say the team were wholeheartedly behind me and I couldn’t have had a better set of chaps to control.

“On the whole then it was a most successful trip and the English team looked very smart in their new tracksuits and shirts and shorts. In fact, they earned the admiration of all by their general good fellowship. In conclusion then may I express my appreciation of having to hand two such very able administrators in Ivor Montagu and Bill Vint to help smooth over any difficulties and last but not least the thanks of the whole team to Mrs Pegg for her sterling work on behalf of the team’s equipment.

“You may not realise that my quest for a winning Swaythling Cup medal has so far gone on 23 years but I am hopeful of achieving my goal in the very near future.”

The ETTA accounts show England’s expenditure for the Championships as £1,044 12s 1d with income £526 9s 1d. This included £50-£60 for anyone accompanying the team to Vienna.