~ Danni Eden hits top form at Blackpool Open; celebrates decade of junior table tennis success ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warrington Table Tennis Club founding member and one of the country’s top junior players, Danni Eden, this weekend bowed out of junior table tennis after a decade competing at the highest level. 

Danni chose the Blackpool Open as her final top-level junior tournament, before making the step up to the women's game next season, and it started well for the seventeen year-old: winning her qualification group and looking good for a strong tournament performance. 

Next up for Danni was a quarter-final with Philippa Luxton of Northamptonshire - a consistent opponent that would prove a strong test for the Lancashire player. Danni quickly found herself in a great deal of difficulty, unable to bring her attacking game to the table as Philippa took the first. Danni took the initiative in the second but was unable to capitalise on some outstanding play and, forced into too many errors later in the game, the Northamptonshire player took the second. Danni looked certain to be heading out of the tournament. 

The pressure was on. At 0-2 and a junior table tennis career about to come to an abrupt end, what Danni now needed was composure and belief in her game. This arrived in the third: Danni battled back into contention and, having established a lead, this time took the game without fuss to make it 1-2. 

It was during the fourth that Danni found her true form, taking the ball early and putting her opponent's consistent game under pressure. With confidence returned and the points now going for Danni the tables turned and Danni levelled the match 2-2. As is so often the case, with the game’s momentum going her way Danni then took the final game to win the match 3-2. 

 

 

 

 

2-2 in the quarter-final and the match had 
turned to Danni Eden

 

Danni’s semi-final opponent would be Lancashire and Junior British League teammate, Bethany Farnworth, seeded third and another of the country’s top junior players. The first game went to Beth 12-10 and Danni then levelled taking the second 8-11. The match continued as one the closest and exciting matches of the day and on this occasion Beth came out the winner, taking the third 15-13 and the forth 12-10.

"Reaching the semi-finals at a 4* tournament is a great achievement and a fitting end to Danni's time as a junior player," explained Warrington head coach, Sue Harper.

The Blackpool Open was Danni Eden’s final junior tournament before she progresses into senior table tennis for the 2013-14 season. Danni, started playing table tennis aged ten and is well known around the junior tournaments. She made it into the country’s top-thirty ranking and competed in the 2012 School Games at the London Olympic table tennis venue.

Danni represented the North West Region and played for Lancashire for five consecutive seasons, where she was instrumental in Lancashire’s strong performances in their promotion-winning seasons. 

Opponents in the Cheshire schools will likely be breathing easier on Danni’s junior career coming to an end: the Warrington player was the Cheshire Schools Champion in the under elevens, under thirteens, under sixteens and under nineteens - an outstanding achievement that may never be equalled. Danni also won several of the region’s Junior Open tournaments and competed for Warrington in the National Cadet and National Junior League for four seasons and then in the Junior British League for three seasons.

 

 

 

 

 

In training at Warrington Table Tennis Club

 

For the 2013-14 season Danni will now make the step up to the senior women’s game, playing for Halton in the Women’s British League and will also compete in Senior Open tournaments and Grand Prixs. 

Sue Harper, Danni's coach over the last decade, added: "It’s no surprise that Danni became one of the top junior players. There are many things that go together to make success in sport - training, dedication, energy - and Danni excels in all of these, but it’s Danni’s great attitude that really sets her apart. Danni is a positive influence on the club and on the wider sport and has set a strong example for other young players to follow.”