Cream of Isle of Wight table tennis come together for finals night

During the evening, at the Isle of Wight Table Tennis Centre, Smallbrook, the finals included the men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

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There was also the Junior Championships. 

Doubles finalists Alex Rorke and Tim Giles, left, in action against Paul Rainford and Lewis Johnstone. (Image: Isle of Wight Table Tennis Association)

Hugh Idle was crowned men’s champion for the second year running. (Image: Isle of Wight Table Tennis Association)

Participants of all ages took part, with a number of top Island juniors making the finals.

The Junior Championship was a repeat of last year’s final, between Lewis Johnstone and Ryan Cates, who both recently made it through to the final of the TTE English Leagues' Junior Championships.

Johnstone beat Cates in straight sets to take the title for the second year running.

In the mixed doubles championship, Pat Thorley and Tim Giles, faced Elaine Mills and Graham Evans. 

Ladies doubles finalists, from left, Maggie Preston, Marlene Irving, Elaine Mills and Pat Thorley. (Image: Isle of Wight Table Tennis Association)

Finalists of the Gordon Burns Handicapped Singles event, winner Danny Burns, left, and Zak Holbrook. (Image: Isle of Wight Table Tennis Association)

With Thorley and Mills soon to represent the Isle of Wight in the Island Games, it was no surprise they made the final, along with their doubles partners. 

Thorley and Giles won the match in four sets to take the title.

The men’s doubles event featured Johnstone in his second final of the evening, playing with Paul Rainford, up against the experienced Alex Rorke and Tim Giles. 

Rorke and Giles took the title in four sets.

2023 Junior Championships final between winner Lewis Cates, left, and Lewis Johnstone. (Image: Isle of Wight Table Tennis Association)

Mixed doubles finalists Graham Evans and Elaine Mills, left, and Pat Thorley and Tim Giles. (Image: Isle of Wight Table Tennis Association)

The Gordon Burns Handicapped Singles final proved to be one of the most exciting matches of the evening, with Island Games table tennis team manager, Danny Burns, playing junior, Zak Holbrook, recent winner of the inaugural Centenary Cup. 

In am exciting, topsy-turvy match, Burns won the final set to take the title.

Glenn Morley, the Island Games table tennis team's coaching officer, played in three finals and was successful in two, winning both the Over-40s and Over-60s titles, beating Don Hobbs and Tim Giles respectively.

Pat Thorley, who went on to win four titles on Finals Night. (Image: Isle of Wight Table Tennis Association)

The most prolific player was once again Pat Thorley, who won four titles. 

Along with her mixed doubles victory, she also won the women’s doubles with partner Elaine Mills, the Over-70s title and the women’s singles championship.

Hugh Idle was crowned men’s champion for the second year running, beating Rorke in three sets.