Evans and Hursey Retain National Titles

The Welsh National Championships held at the prestigious Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff provided a spectacle event for the best players in the country.  

The Men’s Singles showcased some of the emerging talent in Wales. Former Welsh National Team players and Commonwealth Games athletes Daniel O’Connell and Patrick Thomas returned to compete in the National Championships following a length of absence. Number one seed Harry Docherty saw off a strong challenge from Patrick Thomas in the quarter finals, whilst Callum Evans saw off 2015 Men’s Champion Daniel O’Connell in a closely fought match. Louie Evans progressed through his quarter final match after losing the first set to Benjamin Lam, Louie won the next 3 games in a row to progress to the semi-finals. The last quarter final saw Lloyd Gregory defeat Oscar Marriot in straight sets.  

The Semi Finals were something of a highlight of the event. Callum Evans manged to see off his younger brother to win 4 sets to zero. In the other half of the draw, Lloyd Gregory raced to a 3-1 lead, but Harri Docherty dug deep and raised his level to win the next three sets and take the match 4-3 to progress to the final.  

The Men’s Final produced a high level with both players raising the bar and providing something of a spectacle match for a packed crowd. Callum Evans came firing out of the traps in the first set to take an early 1-0 lead. Harri Docherty swiftly clawed the game back taking the second set. Callum manged to win the next two sets, in close sets to take a 3-1 lead. The fifth set went the way of the young emerging talent with Harri edging the set 13-11, however it was Callum Evans who raced to victory in the sixth set taking it 11-7 to secure his 7th consecutive Men’s title. 

The Women’s Championship provided a high-level field, Anna Hursey coming off the back of a highest world ranking of 93 took the top seeded stop, with second seed and seven times Ladies Champion Charlotte Carey on the opposite side of the draw. Lara Whitton progressed through her group and come up against the experienced Catherine Jones. Lara took an early lead, only for Catherine to pull one back in the second. In a closely fought game it was Lara Whitton who took the next two sets to progress into a semi-final place. In another Quarter Final made of up emerging junior talents in Darcey Taylor and Lowri Hurd, It was Darcey who came out on top in this match to progress though to her first Women’s semi final against the experienced Charlotte Carey.  

Anna Hursey showcased some high-level action against Lara Whitton in a semi final that highlighted the strengths of women’s table tennis in Wales. Anna saw off her commonwealth teammate to reach the final. On the other side of the draw, Charlotte let her experience prevail as she took victory in the semi-final in straight sets following a brave performance from the emerging talent of Darcey Taylor.  

The highly anticipated Women’s Final brought with it a packed crowed as the top two players took to the court for a match that couldn’t disappoint. It was Anna Hursey who settled into the first set and managed to take a 1-0 lead. Charlotte Carey come out in the second and found another gear to even up the final. In a final that provided some of the highest-level action, it was Charlotte Carey who took the initiative in the match and managed to win the third and fourth set to earn a 3-1 lead. The fifth set saw both players increase their level to provide some incredible table tennis points, which entertained an excited audience. Charlotte Carey was unable to close out the game following a match point as Anna managing to hold her nerve and claw her way back into the game winning the next 3 points. The sixth game went the way of Anna Hursey as she levelled the game at 3-3. As the tensions built in the crowd with the match poised in the balance, both players found a level that showcased the highest level of table tennis. The game tipped back and forth in the deciding set, but it was Anna Hursey who prevailed to retain her Women’s Title. The crowd gathered to their feet to applaud both players for what was a remarkable final. 

 

Results Day 1 

 

Junior Boys Singles 

Gold – Harri Docherty 

Silver – Oscar Marriott 

Bronze – Harry Street & Toby Harwood

 

 

Junior Girls Singles 

Gold – Lowri Hurd 

Silver – Ruby Elliot 

Bronze – Lily Walters & Darcey Taylor 

 

 

Under 13 Boys Singles 

Gold – Dylan Williams 

Silver – Jenson Denton Smith 

Bronze – Charlie Meek & Oliver Harvey 

 

 

Under 13 Girls Singles 

Gold – Ffion Evans 

Silver – Penny Muil 

Bronze – Jesse Daniel & Evelyn Turner-Samuels 

 

 

Veteran Over 60  

Gold – Stephen Eades 

Silver – Dennis Bromage 

Bronze – John Hook & Ray Goulding 

 

 

Para Class 6-10 

Gold – Joshua Stacey 

Silver – Grace Williams 

Bronze – Jacob Wicks 

 

 

Cadet Boys Singles 

Gold- Harry Street 

Silver – Ausitn Hibbert 

Bronze – Daniel Harrison & Oliver Harvey 

 

 

Cadet Girls Singles 

Gold- Isabella Turner-Samuels 

Silver – Amelie David 

Bronze – Lily Walters & Ffion Evans

 

 

Veterans Over 50’s Singles 

Gold- Lee Thomas 

Silver – Mark Farrow 

Bronze – Bryan Fernandes & Dennis Bromage 

 

 

Under 11 Boys Singles 

Gold – Dylan Williams 

Silver – Toby Young 

Bronze – Freddie Dacey & Stanley Jones 

 

 

Under 11 Girls Singles 

Gold – Evelyn Turner-Samuels 

Silver – Gracie David 

Bronze – Ezgi Dion & Marnie Holland 

 

 

Senior Mixed Doubles 

Gold – Callum Evans & Charlotte Carey 

Silver – Harri Docherty & Lara Whitton 

Bronze – Toby Harwood & Darcey Taylor

 

 

Junior Doubles 

Gold – Harri Docherty & Oscar Marriott 

Silver – Toby Harwood & Lowri Hurd 

Bronze – Eleanor Turner-Samuels & Isabella Turner-Samuels 

Bronze – Darcey Taylor & Ruby Elliott 

 

 

Veteran Doubles  

Gold – John Hook & Bryan Fernandes 

Silver – Catherine Jones & Michael Fischetti 

Bronze – Craig Henton & Dennis Bromage 

Bronze – Lee Thomas & Mark Farrow 

 

 

Results Day 2 

 

Men’s Singles 

Gold – Callum Evans 

Silver – Harri Docherty 

Bronze – Louie Evans & Lloyd Gregory 

 

 

Women’s Singles 

Gold – Anna Hursey 

Silver – Charlotte Carey 

Bronze – Lara Whitton & Darcey Taylor 

 

 

Veteran Over 70s 

Gold – Dennis Bromage 

Silver – Ray Goulding 

Bronze – Colin Price & John Thomas 

 

 

Under 21 Men’s Singles 

Gold – Harri Docherty 

Silver – Harry Street  

Bronze – Toby Harwood and Oscar Marriott 

 

 

Under 21 Women’s Singles 

Gold – Lowri Hurd 

Silver – Darcey Taylor 

Bronze – Lara Whitton & Ruby Elliott 

 

 

Veteran Over 40 Men 

Gold – Daniel Harris 

Silver – Craig Henton 

Bronze – Michal Luckanic & James Fenton 

 

 

Veteran Over 40 Women 

Gold – Catherine Jones 

Silver – Lynne Harrison 

Bronze – Claire Flannagan 

 

 

Senior Men’s Doubles 

Gold – Harri Docherty & Lloyd Gregory 

Silver – Callum & Louie Evans 

Bronze – Benjamin Lam & Samual Ashman 

Bronze – Ryan Crowley & Daniel O’Connell 

 

 

Senior Women’s Doubles 

Gold – Charlotte Carey & Lara Whitton 

Silver – Lowri Hurd & Ruby Elliot 

Bronze – Catherine Jones & Darcey Taylor