A FEAST of Channel Island table tennis gets underway tonight in Guernsey, as no fewer than 20 Caesarean and Sarnian Island champions square off in a bid to become Channel Island winners of their individual categories.
Attention will then turn to the inter-insular on Saturday, as 13 team events will decide the overall winner for 2024.
Guernsey will be desperate to wrestle back the crown they lost on away soil last year, which marked the first time the Caesareans had won since 2017.
It has been an event traditionally dominated by the greens since 1973, as their tally stands at 37, compared to Jersey’s ten, with two draws during that period.
The visitors will have to repeat the feat without the help of teenage star Hannah Silcock, who earned 11 of Jersey’s 79 points from 2023, as well as her sister Kathryn.
The Islander is busy competing at the English Schools Championships in Wolverhampton on Saturday.
If the task was hard already, the Jersey team will start the affair with a ten-point deficit after being unable to field a restricted team (between ages 21-40).
One player who will be involved in both today and tomorrow’s action is Chris Morshead.
The Jerseyman will attempt to retain his restricted singles CI crown this evening, before joining up with Leon Pierre and Alfie Sutherland in the men’s team for the inter-insular.
Morshead said: “Of course it is a great feeling to be Channel Island champion in your given category.
“But it is very much an individual battle in comparison to the inter-insular matches.
“It is a completely different environment. Every single point matters to the overall score and I personally prefer the team event.
“We have age groups all the way from U11 to O70s and there aren’t many sports that can say that.
“Last year we were really strong in the younger age matches and I think we will need them again if we are to have a chance to bring the cup back from Guernsey.
“The two islands have been really well matched over recent years and I think that makes for a really interesting contest.”
As well as the absence of the Silcock sisters from the winning side last year, Jersey will also have to make do without two of their stalwarts.
Morshead continued: “We are missing some really good players. Both Hannah and Kathryn Silcock have been brilliant for us and they are unable to play, as well as Mariusz [Cieminski] and Grzegorz [Frankowski] on the men’s side.
“Coupled with the fact that we can’t fill up a restricted team, we know we are up against it against a strong Guernsey team.
“But the battle itself is great fun and I’m sure we will give it absolutely everything to bring the trophy home to Jersey.”
Jersey Island Champions to play Guernsey (tonight)
Senior Men: Leon Pierre
Senior Women: Esther Lewis
Restricted Singles: Chris Morshead
U21s: Alfie Sutherland
Men’s Doubles: Ian Lambert & Miguel Freitas
Mixed Doubles: Leon Pierre & Freya Allaway
O40s Men: Ian Lambert
O40s Women: Irene Billet Masters
O50s: Yogi Ellis
O60s: Yogi Ellis
O70s: Frank Bougard
U18 Girls: Freya Allaway
U18 Boys: John Le Fondre
Veteran Doubles: Ian Lambert & Miguel Freitas
Women’s Doubles: Esther Lewis & Ella Devlin
U11s: Evan Ness
U13s: Oscar Karwowski
U15 Boys: William Cornthwaite
U15 Girls: Esther Lewis
Junior Doubles: William Cornthwaite & John le Fondre
Jersey inter-insular squad (tomorrow)
Men: Leon Pierre, Alfie Sutherland, Chris Morshead
Women: Freya Allaway, Esther Lewis, Hilary Le Cornu
U11 Open: Evan Ness, Rory Quinn, James Cleverly
U13 Open: Oscar Karwowski, Ella Devlin, Jonty Porter
U15 Open: Theo De Poerck, Callum Allaway, William Cornthwaite
U15 Girls (friendly): Anna Middleton, Ruby Devlin
U18 Girls: Freya Allaway, Esther Lewis, Ella Devlin
U18 Boys: John Le Fondre, Kevan Moreira, Jack Le Blond
U21 Open: Leon Pierre, Alfie Sutherland, John Le Fondre
O40 Open: Eugene Ellis, Ian Lambert, Miguel Freitas
O50 Open: Eugene Ellis, Ian Lambert, Rob Blackmore
O60 Open: Rob Blackmore, Martin Tupper, Dave Le Clercq
O70 Open: Paul Routier, Dave Le Clercq, Mike Sampson
