PORT LINCOLN COUNTRY STATE CHAMPIONS AGAIN!
Port Lincoln are the State Country Table Tennis Champions for the second time in three years after the Men’s A team overcame Great Southern in the final at the Table Tennis Country Carnival held at Newton, Adelaide recently. With more than 70 players competing from all over the state, the team consisting of Rhys Popovic, Daniel Challinger and Darren Atkins won through the round robin stages, before enacting their revenge after Great Southern knocked them out of last years’ event. In further terrific results for the club, Port Lincoln also had success in the other grades with the Men’s B team consisting of Barry Hancock, Gavin Proude and Riki Popovic victorious, along with Ellen Challinger, Bev Atkins and Helen Proude of the Women’s B team taking home the shield!
The Sunday individual events also showed the current strength of Port Lincoln Table Tennis with numerous participants winning and competing in finals of events. Jason Regan fell just short of taking out the converted Men’s A singles, going down to Great Southern’s Darren Lush in a tight five set final. Unfortunately Angelika Sederstrom also suffered the same fate in the Women’s A singles with Barb Talbot proving why she was ranked the top woman of the carnival. Rhys Popovic and Tai Wheadon showed experience beyond their years to come from two sets down to win the Men’s A Doubles – an impressive feat given they’re both under 15!
That seemed to spark a run of event wins for Port Lincoln with Bev Atkins winning the Women’s B singles, Darren Atkins winning the Restricted Men’s singles, who then combined with Jason Regan to also win the Restricted Men’s doubles. Port Lincoln proved especially strong in the Over 40’s and Over 50’s events with Barry Sederstrom, Angelika Sederstrom, Sally Kunze, Ellen Challinger, Barry Hancock and Bev Atkins all tasting victory.
Port Lincoln has a great history in the junior events, and this year was no exception. Current state representative Rhys Popovic won both the under 15’s Men’s singles and the under 18’s Men’s singles to cap off a great tournament, whilst Tai Wheadon came runner up in the under 15’s Men’s singles to Rhys and up and coming star Gavin Proude in his first ever Carnival came runner up in the under 13’s Men’s singles.
The final individual rankings for the tournament was well represented by Port Lincoln with Rhys Popovic (2nd), Daniel Challinger (3rd), Jason Regan (4th), Tai Wheadon (5th), Darren Atkins (6th) and Barry Sederstrom (8th) all achieving rankings for the men, while in the women Angelika Sederstrom achieved a fantastic ranking of 2nd
All in all a superb Carnival for all those that participated and looking to come back even stronger in 2011!
Men's A Grade Champions - Daniel Challinger, Rhys Popovic and Darren Atkins
Men's B Grade Champions - Barry Hancock, Gavin Proude and Riki Popovic
Women's B Grade Champions - Ellen Challinger, Helen Proude and Bev Atkins