Nationals

The National Championships was a terrific event in many ways, particularly the competitiveness of the matches in the men’s singles. Andrew Baggaley demonstrated terrific fighting spirit, lifting his game under pressure in successive matches to lift the crown for the third time. Gavin Evans also had some juicy moments, playing with considerable resolve throughout.

Perhaps the most surprising feature of the entire competition was the emergence of Liam Pitchford as a serious presence in the men’s game. Not only did he defeat Paul Drinkhall, the pre-competition favourite, in the semi-finals; he also demonstrated a fluency of timing and a technical adeptness that enthused the near-capacity audience at Pond’s Forge over the course of a day and a half.

His backhand was particularly impressive, played with lots of wrist and immaculate balance, as was his movement and tactical astuteness. Even more impressive, in many ways, was the way he dominated the table, particularly against Drinkhall, refusing to block the ball passively, always using his wrist on the half-volley, making it impossible for his more powerful opponent to get set and upsetting his balance.

In the final he led Baggaley by three games to one and, at that moment, it looked as if we would see a new winner of the men’s singles. Pitchford was dominating proceedings, changing the shape of the play, teasing the player from Milton Keynes with changes of spin and tempo, using the expanses of the table so effortlessly that it was almost impossible to predict where the ball was going to go.

The change in momentum, when it came, was decisive. Pitchford did not falter; rather, Baggaley, faced with defeat, upped his game in a fashion that was, on any reckoning, deeply impressive. He drilled his forehand with more intent and took the ball far earlier, something he was able to do because of his better understanding of the nuances of the early exchanges. Pitchford, although briefly in with a chance in the deciding game, was fairly outplayed.

At the age of 16, however, there could be a lot more from Pitchford. As with anything in life, the difference between success and failure in the long term will ultimately be determined behind the scenes in his willingness to put in the hours in the practice hall, to strive in each session, to push himself against challenging sparring partners, and to go for it on the running track and in the weights room. If he is prepared to put in the work, the possibilities will escalate.

He will take considerable encouragement from Sheffield. The key with a good performance is to use it as fuel to go one step further. Do not be content, but take the victory as evidence that one is on an upward march, using it as an inspiration to train harder so that the next performance is better still. That, of course, is the virtuous circle that all aspiring Olympians must inhabit if they are going to have any chance at all of making it to the top of the podium.

The women’s final was an absorbing contest, the elegant defence of Joanna Parker proving too secure for the considerable offensive abilities of Kelly Sibley. As always in a match between an attacker and a chopper, the rallies had a pleasing narrative structure, the cat and mouse as Sibley attempted to manufacture a winner while Parker varied the spin and placement, a reminder, if one was needed, of the need for more defenders in the modern game.

As always, the umpires did a magnificent job on the sidelines. Blue-suited and immensely professional, the English umpires remain, far and away, the best in the world, using commonsense and humanity to ensure that the rules are observed and that justice is done. Like many others who made the Nationals possible, the umpires are volunteers who sacrifice their time in the wider interests of our sport.

It is fascinating that, amid the change and flux that is the modern world, the Nationals retains its place at the heart of the domestic calendar. There is no home competition that English players want to win, and no tournament that attracts so many spectators and such a powerful atmosphere. The history of the event can be seen wtih a quick glance at the names on the old trophy as well as by looking around the hall at previous winners who have turned up to watch. At Pond’s Forge, I counted at least half a dozen former champions in the stands including Denis Neale, Alan Cooke, Alex Perry and the greatest British female player of the modern era, Jill Parker.

Next year’s National Championships will take place just a year and a bit away from the Olympic Games in 2012 and it will be fascinating to see who among the English contenders for a place in Team GB has made the greatest progress over the intervening twelve months and whether we are likely to have any players by that time in with a realistic chance of challenging for a medal. The build-up starts here.

Written by: Matthew Syed