Garry Dodd has completed the blue-riband treble for a third year running.
Not only did he win a 13th men’s singles crown at the Island Championships, putting him now just three shy of the all-time record held by Bert Brenton, who dominated in the 1920s and 30s, he also defended both of his doubles titles at the GTTA Centre.
After starting his campaign last week, the Sheffield-based player stayed over to secure his titles at Wednesday’s finals night.
‘It’s always great to come back to my “home” and play,’ he said.
‘I love the history of the event and I love seeing friends and people that I’ve grown up with and miss when I’m in the UK. It’s great to see how the sport develops year on year, too.’
In his singles final, he faced second seed Lawrence Stacey, whose impressive domestic season has included the highest Division One averages and winning the Capelles and Whistlers Opens.
Dodd proved a class above, though, and raced to 2-0 up for the loss of just six points.
Stacey seemed to settle in the third set, holding him to 6-all, before Dodd moved through the gears to take it 11-7 and cruise to victory in the fourth.
It allowed him to build on a tough semi-final against Lawrence’s twin Josh Stacey, who took him to a sixth set.
‘Although I felt like I was in control [against Josh] and probably had a couple of gears I could have gone through, it’s always nice to get a close match over with and thankfully winning.
‘Josh played very well so credit to him. He dug in, played until the end and that’s the right way to go about it.
‘Finals night I played a lot higher level in the singles from start to finish and was more aggressive in my play, which was pleasing and I felt once I got ahead my confidence grew – the rest is now history.’
The men’s doubles final was an excellent clash, however, and certainly one of the GTTA Centre’s highest-quality matches of its kind in recent years.
Dodd joined forces with Josh Butler – with whom he had won four times previously – against the Stacey twins.
After sharing honours in the first two sets, the Staceys led the third 10-7 but could not close it out as the defending champions roared back to win 13-11.
A few set points were spurned in the fourth set before a strong forehand topspin cross-court off the third ball from Lawrence restored parity.
Ultimately, Dodd and Butler raised their levels to triumph 4-2.
‘Me and Butler played some very good men’s doubles at times and again came through some tough moments to get it over the line, which I’m pleased about and particularly for Butler, as he’s had a really good season – which is great because he’s a good player.’
Last up for Dodd was a mixed doubles final alongside Ravenscroft Panthers player Marli Barker.
They faced siblings Matthew and Charlotte Casey, the former having come in for Paul Hainsworth due to illness.
Dodd proved to be a key difference-maker and after the Casey siblings fought through the fourth set to keep their hopes alive, the new partnership closed it out on the fifth.
‘Obviously pleased for Marli teaming up winning the mixed for me – she was great.
‘Once she relaxed, she played some really good table tennis and she should be proud of herself because we haven’t played together before and obviously with me being away, haven’t had a chance to practise, so we went into the unknown a bit and came out on top.’
Among the women, Kay Chivers won an 18th singles crown to close down long-term rival Dawn Morgan’s record of 20. This was part of her own treble that also included veterans’ singles and doubles honours.
In winning her first women’s singles crown since 2018, she was too consistent for GTTA development officer Becks O’Keefe and won in straight sets. She had earlier defeated O’Keefe by an identical score in the women’s veterans singles final.
She later teamed with Barker to win the women’s doubles.
Chivers has now won this title a staggering 29 times and this was her second title alongside Barker, after they last won in 2022.
They went up against Casey and Paula Le Ber and, ultimately, obtained a comfortable 4-0 win.
Le Ber and Casey did have their moments, even leading the third set 9-4 before going down 11-9.
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