After an absence of one year, Cippenham have re-entered the Women’s British League
but it was a tough start to the campaign at Bristol over the weekend. The regulations
provide that players have to be listed in the order they appear on the English Table
Tennis Association women’s list and that meant Charleigh Kirby, a bright junior prospect
who joined Cippenham a few months ago, playing at number three while Sue Hayes had
the burden of playing at number one. Charleigh was easily Cippenham’s most successful
player with eight wins from ten starts while Sue found the going tough and could
not register a win. Denise Weller, playing at number two, won twice. For the second
weekend, which takes place in February at Doncaster, Cippenham will be strengthened
by the services of new member Tanya Waller who was unavailable this time around.
At the half-way stage Cippenham lie bottom of Division 3 but two teams are within
striking distance of improved performances next time around. Cippenham’s only point
came in the 3-3 draw with fourth-placed Halton 2. In this match Charleigh and Denise
both defeated Halton’s number three Helena Dennett while Charleigh completed her
brace with a 3-1 win over Karen Tonge. Three matches were lost 2-4. Leaders Woolwell
were one of these opponents and they have a very strong line-up at the top with Marketa
Myskova and Elaine Short leading the team. Cippenham’s wins both came against Amy
Whiting. Against Byng Hall A, Charleigh won both her matches and it was left to Denise,
in the final set against Jasmin Ould, to secure a point from a draw. However, it
was not to be as she went down 2-3. Charleigh also won her brace against Ormesby
2 where the closest Cippenham got towards gaining a point was when Sue lost 2-3 to
Jane Durham. In the other match, Cippenham lost 1-5 to De Vere NETTS with only Charleigh
tasting victory over Vicky Gray.
