Player of the Week Award - Week of 6th of March

Division 1

Choosing the player of the week was very easy this week. Alan Bruhn is the stand–out choice with his 11-5, 13-11, 9-11, 11-4 win over Paul Green. Paul has long been the King of Sunshine Coast table tennis and very rarely suffers a loss. Up till last Tuesday, he was unbeaten in 2018, he was unbeaten in the 2017 summer season (the only season he played last year), he did not play 2016, he was unbeaten in all 3 seasons of 2015, he did not play spring season in 2014 and was unbeaten in winter. Indeed you have to go right back to the summer season at the start of 2014 when he suffered 2 losses. I am not sure who the conqueror (s) was then.

So that is why it was a cause for celebration. Well done Alan. Paul is always keen to keep his fantastic record intact but he was perfectly gracious in defeat. It is not surprising that it was Alan who stopped this long undefeated run as he is possibly the smartest and coolest customer in Div 1.

By the way, there has been a number of close calls for Paul this season. He scraped home 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-3 against Seng Joo Keng on the 16th January, 9-11, 9-11, 13-11, 12-10, 11-6 against Gerritt Fialla on the 23rd January, and 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6 against Martin Tribe on the 20th February. So it had to happen.

Talking about Martin Tribe, he ensured Alan did not go home with a swollen head by “thrashing” him 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 after Alan had beaten Paul.

Division 2

The choice in Division 2 is not so cut and dry. Gordon Holden, Coen Slaughter and Russell Treloar all had very solid nights with 3 strong wins each but the award goes to the first named. Gordon Holden, as he will admit himself, is no spring chicken, but he has been putting all-comers in place over many years with a combination of skill, tactics, and mostly sheer determination. If Nike wants anyone to demonstrate their motto “Never Say Die”, Gordon is the epitome. He plays mainly a defensive game but he can attack strongly when needed.

Well done Gordon.