Polish Open Results
Scott Robertson - reached quarter finals in the Open Event losing to Rolf Paulson of Norway. In the singles event Scott reached the semi-finals losing once again to Rolf Paulson and then lost in the play off for the Bronze to Selcuk Cetin (Germany). Team Event Class 5 Scott, Neil Robinson and James Rawson reached semi-finals defeating Germany but then losing to Norway 3-2. Better performance from both Neil and Scott.
Neil Robinson, not one of Neil's better tournaments, still recovering from a shoulder operation, but played really well in the Team Event with Scott and James winning Silver in the Team Event.
Paul Karabardak, reached second round in the Open Event. Singles Event Class 7 - reaching the final, losing to Adam Jurasz (Poland) 3-1. Team Event, Paul and his partner Will Bailey (England) won Gold playing in a group of five teams which included Poland, Netherlands, Russia, GB2, winning four games out of four.
Paul Karabadak back in action after undergoing surgery to a wrist injury.
Medal total:
1 Gold
2 Silver
Next tournament will be in Piestany, Slovakia 28 May to 1 June.
Welsh dominate Brittish closed
Excellent performance by Neil Robinson winning Gold in the doubles with his partner Scott Robertson. Also winning Gold in the Class 2/3 singles event defeating James Rawson (England) 2-3 in the final.
In the Open Event once again Neil triumphed winning against Scott Robertson (Wales) 3-1.
Scott Robertson and Neil Robinson won the doubles event. Scott also won the singles Class 4/5 event, beating Mark Palmer (England) 3-0.
Sara Head dominated the womens' event, winning Gold in the doubles with her partner Jane Campbell (England). Also winning the Class 2/3 beating Jane Campbell (England) 3-0.
In the Open Event Sara played Claire Robertson in the semi-finals but unfortunately Claire pulled out due to ill health. Sara then played Sue Gilroy (England) in the final but lost 3-1.
Claire won Silver in the doubles event with her partner Sue Gilroy (England) but retired from competition due to ill health.
Paul Karabardak finished with Bronze in the doubles event with his partner Farrel Anthony (England). Paul won Silver in the Team Event, Class 6/7, losing in the final to Will Bailey (England) 3-2. In the Open Event Paul had his revenge against Will, beating him in the semi-finals 3-2, then went on to win the Open beating Chris Cotell? (England) 3-1.
Excellent performance by the Welsh athletes winning a total of:
Gold = 7
Silver = 4
Bronze = 1
Wheelchair Bowls:
Wales Triumph at 2008 Home Countries (Wheelchair Bowls) Championships
For the first time since 2000 Wales have won the Home Countries Championships, held at Stoke Mandeville over the Bank Holiday weekend of 3rd/4th and 5th May. The winning margin was just one point over Scotland, with England third just a further point behind and Northern Ireland finishing fourth, some distance behind.
(Nigel Smith left with individual tetra award, and right Adrian Foley with individual para award)
The Wales team was made up of Nigel Smith our ‘tetra’ bowler, and our 8 ‘para’ bowlers: Kevin Woolmore (Captain), Brenda Penny, Barbara Woolmore, Dave Powell, Chris Gibson, Adrian Foley, Howard Dare, and Tony Sprague. The Team was led by Louella Davies (Team Manager), with Maria and Steve Haines, Margaret Powell and Mike Penny in attendance as supporters and helpers.
The wheelchair Championships are held annually between England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, run over seven two hour sessions, with each Country playing nine Singles matches, nine pairs and three triples matches. The scoring system is two points for a win, one a draw; the winner is the Country with the most points, should there be tie the Country with the highest aggregate will be declared winners.
Wales got off to a great start on day one (Saturday) with wins against NI and England in the singles and a draw in the triples, also against England, scoring five out of a possible 6 points. In the next session Wales maintained good form with wins over Scotland in the singles and NI in the pairs, losing to England in the other pairs match. In the third session of day one we lost both singles matches against England and Scotland but won the pairs match against NI, ending the day with 11 points in second place to Scotland with 12.
In first session on day two (Sunday) Wales were in terrific form scoring maximum points with wins against NI in singles and pairs and Scotland in triples, putting us n the lead. Another good session followed with wins NI in singles and England in the pairs, losing to Scotland in the other pairs match. The final session of a long day was again fruitful with wins against England in singles and NI in triples, losing to Scotland in pairs. The position on Sunday night put us three points ahead of Scotland with 25 points while England were a further three points behind on 19, and all to play for on the final day.
In the final session on day three (Monday) Wales needed to win one of the matches against Scotland to win the Championships. In a tense couple of hours Wales won the pairs against Scotland, losing the other matches to England in the pairs and Scotland in the singles. The final score was therefore:
Wales 27
Scotland 26
England 25
Northern Ireland 7
The Wales team bowled well all weekend and everyone made a contribution to the win, showing great team spirit. In addition Wales took both the individual awards with Nigel Smith winning the tetraplegic plate and Adrian Foley the paraplegic plate which capped off a marvellous weekend for Wales.
For more information on wheelchair bowls contact Kevin Woolmore on 01978 359230.
Table tennis:
The 5th Slovenian Open, Lasko
Great Britain sent a team of 9 wheelchair players and 4 standing players. The players from Wales were:
Scott Robertson - Class 5
Claire Robertson - Class 4
Sara Head - Class 3
Robert Davies - Class 1
Paul Davies - Class 2
Jim Munkley - Class 2
Paul Karabardak - Class 7
Some mixed performances from the Welsh athletes:
Scott Robertson reached quarter finals of the singles in his Class, and quarter finals of the Class 5 Team Event, also reached the last 16 in the Open Event. Once again playing Tommy Urhaug of Norway the World Number One.
Claire Robertson didn't progress outside her group which is unusual, reached the quarter finals in the Team Event with her partner Sara Head, reached the last 16 in the Open.
Sara Head reached quarter finals of the Singles (Class 3), reached the quarter finals in the Team Event with her partner Claire Robertson. Reached the last 16 in the Open.
Paul Davies didn't progress outside his group (Class 2), finished third in the group of the Team Event but did not progress any further (team partner Jim Munkey). Reached second round of the Open.
Jim Munkley did not qualify out of his group (Class 2), finished third in the group of the Team Event (partner Paul Davies).
Paul Karabardak finished top of his group in Class 7, but then got knocked out in the last sixteen, reached quarter finals of the Team Event and third round of the Open
Last but by no means least our only medal winner in the GB Squad - Robert Davies (Class 1) Academy Athlete, excellent performance by Rob playing in the Class 1 Team Event with his German partner Walter Kilger a very experienced player, finishing third in a round robin of five teams, winning 2 and losing 2. Rob is progessing steadily, achieving more than was expected of him since he has only been competing since 2007.
Some really good performances from the Welsh members of the GB Squad but unfortunately did not progress as far as expected.
Next tournament will be held in Poland 14-18 May, those Welsh athletes attending are Scott Robertson, Neil Robinson and Paul Karabardak.
Wales table tennis players among first selected for ParalympicsGB team at Beijing Games
Four Welsh table tennis athletes are among the first to be named by Paralympics GB as part of the British team at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
Paralympians Neil Robinson, aged 49 from Bridgend, and 31 year old Scott Robertson, from Saltney, Flintshire are joined in the squad by debutantes Clare Robertson – Scott’s wife, aged 32, and 22-year-old Swansea player Paul Karabardak. This will be the sixth successive Paralympic Games for Robinson, who made his Games’ debut 20 years ago in Seoul. In that time he has amassed an impressive seven Paralympic Games medals, including individual silvers in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996 as well as team gold in Barcelona in 1992.
Qualification for the table tennis competitions at the Beijing Paralympics was based on positions in the world ranking list after it closed on December 31, 2007. British performances at events throughout 2006 and 2007 saw the GB players rise through the world rankings to qualify and subsequently be selected for the Games. These performances included an individual bronze for Robinson at 2006 IPC Table Tennis World Championships and an individual gold at the Polish Open in 2007 as well as an individual silver and team silver for Karabardak at the Slovenian Open.
Husband and wife Scott and Clare Robertson both said they were over the moon to be selected. Scott added: “It’s a big relief to know I’ve been selected. I’m really excited for both me and Clare – it’s her first Paralympics and my third.
“I had a big operation on my leg last year and couldn’t play for three months – so I wasn’t sure if I would be back in time to qualify – but I’ve recovered now and am looking forward to the Games. My aim is to play to the best of my ability and give myself the best chance of getting out of the group.”
Clare added: “I’m nervous about the Games but excited. In China it’s all about table tennis so it brilliant to be part of that.
“I just need to stay fit now so that I can play my best when I’m out there. I would love to make the podium but I’m not going to say that I will come back with a medal as I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself at this stage.”
Table tennis Team Manager Steve Ward said: “To be the first team selected by ParalympicsGB is a great honour for table tennis and the athletes who have achieved the tough qualification standards.
We will have a larger squad than in Athens in 2004 with a number having never competed at the Paralympics before but who have great chances to compete for medals and gain valuable experience for future Games in London in 2012 and beyond.
“We are planning to defend the two medals won in Athens – men’s class 3 team silver and women’s class 2 singles bronze – as well as take others. Beijing will however be much tougher than Athens and all players will need to perform at the highest level to challenge the Chinese in their backyard. The sport over there is like football here and we are being told the tickets are selling out already.
“The venue is outstanding and the biggest stage in world for table tennis, we need to pull out our biggest performances to maximise medal chances.”
The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games opens on September 6 and closes on September 17. The table tennis events at the Games take place from September 7 to 16 at the Peking University Gymnasium.
At the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games Britain finished second in the medal table with a total of 35 golds, 30 silver and 29 bronze medals. With competitive standards continually rising and the dominant Chinese team taking the home advantage ParalympicsGB recognises that the 2008 Paralympics will be one of its biggest challenges yet.
Wheelchair Tennis:
Tarbes Cruyff Foundation Masters Junior Tournament
Academy athlete and Junior Welsh Wheelchair Tennis player, Philip Cochrane from the Cardiff Wheelchair Tennis Club, made his maiden bow at the prestigious event held annually at the foot of the French Pyrenees recently.
With only the top 8 boys and 4 girls players invited worldwide, Great Britain were proud to boast 5 players in total. They were accompanied by British National Junior Coach and Welsh Disability Performance Coach of the Year, Geraint Richards from Cardiff.
The event runs along side the able bodied under 14's age group for top world ranked juniors and has been won in the past by Wimbledon Champions.
Competing at the boys 18 and under World Masters event on the wheelchair Tennis Tour, 14 year old Philip, had a mixed tournament, comfortably defeating an older Dutch opponent 6-2, 6-2 in an opening match but not subsequently managing to progress to the final.
In the doubles event, although losing to the eventual winners in fellow Briton, Gordon Reid from Scotland and his Polish partner, Philip and his Argentinian doubles partner took the notable scalps of the higher ranked Dutch doubles pairing including the world number two boys ranked Junior.
Philip admitted to being very nervous as crowds rose to as high as 2000 people on occassion and is looking to improve upon his promising showing in subsequent events.
Philip who is now ranked World number 5, has 5 years remaining in his Junior class whilst competing on the ITF Senior Mens tour. His next event is at the end of April in Preston, where he will be competing in the mens singles and doubles events.
BOWLS:
Home Countries no longer being held in Ireland, but the event will go on! Home Countries now being held in Stoke Manderville, 3-5 May.
W.P.T.S.A Sports Personality Of The Year;
goes to Mr Scott Robertson, for his achievements last year. He now sets his sights on Beijing!!
EVENTS
Wheelchair Tennis
| DATE: | EVENT: |
| | |
| 17 - 19 October | NEC World Tour: The Esporta Cardiff Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, Welsh National Tennis Centre, Cardiff. |
| | |
Wheelchair Bowls
| DATE: | EVENT: |
| | |
| 3 - 5 May | Home Countries Indoor Bowls, Stoke Manderville |
| | |
| | |
Wheelchair Table Tennis
| DATE: | EVENT: |
| | |
| 13 - 16 March | Liverpool, Great Britain Open |
| | |
| 29 April - 4 May | Lasko, Slovenia |
| | |
| 28 May - 1 June | Piestany, Slovakia |
| | |
| 11 - 15 June | Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
| | |
| 25 - 29 June | Wuppertal, Germany |
| | |
| 6 - 17 September | Beijing, China. Paralympic Games |
Registered Charity No.
254824
