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Hannah Hicks, has just returned from a very successful weekend in Walsall with the Hampshire Junior side where they retained the Premier Division trophy for the second year in succession. This was the final session of four matches and with Hampshire undefeated prior to this, they were clear favourites. The first three matches against Devon, Essex & Derbyshire resulted in wins of 7-3; 10-0 & 7-3. The one County who were still in the running was Lincolnshire, being level on points with Hampshire, but with a worse games difference. The two Counties faced each other in the final match of the Tournament with Hants needing just a draw to clinch the title. The team of Hannah, Annabelle Morle, David McBeath, Garth Kinlocke & Riuhao Zhang were in no mood to accept second place and promptly swept into a commanding 4-0 lead. After a minor setback when Morle lost to Emma Bates, Kinlocke got the point they needed by disposing of Michael Bates in good style. Hampshire eventually won the match 7-3.

January 2nd 2009

Swedes mashed up by Hannah

Hampshire's successful squad

With many of England's top junior table tennis girls competing at home, at the Derby junior event last weekend, Andover's Hannah Hicks, was away in Sweden playing for Team Ljungsbro, in the final weekend in the Women's League Division One.

Hannah played the final match against Sara Shuster, the Swedish national top 12 junior, and secured victory for her side, to give the team promotion to Sweden's Elite League next season. Ljungsbro is a small town close to Linkoping and Stockholm's Skavsta airport, and the town was celebrating with their first ever team to play in any sport in Sweden's elite.

Hannah's own impressive string of victories over high level opposition during the course of the season included opponents of varied styles. Emma Varynen is the best young defender in Sweden but Hannah dominated and won 3-1. Emila Akerstrom is one of the top two "frictionless" players in the country, again Hannah won 3-1. Karin Svensson, Sara Lundin, Caroline Olsson and Nina Stenviken all qualified for the National top 12 in Sweden, but it didn't help them against Hannah.

Linda Dahlstrom, Phillipa Rohdin and Ida Soderland have all played several times for the national team, but none of them had any answer to the depth and variation of Hannah's game.

It hasn't all been plain sailing as Hannah has taken the major step of changing her style to an orthodox defender ready to attack from both close to, and back from the table.

Hannah says: "I have studied all the world's best women defenders with my coach and hardly any of them have a strong attack. I intend to be a different type of defender. It's been hard for me over the last six months or so and I've had a few setbacks, but now things are starting to come together."

New Year Success for Hannah in Sweden:

An imposing start for Hannah Hicks in the First major tournament of the new year, the Varendesplen in Vaxjo, central Sweden, taking place on the 4th, 5th and 6th of January.

She reached two semi-finals, girls 17 and Women's Class 1 and lost in 5 in the final of Women's band 2.

More impressive than her final placings was the string of Victories over high level opposition during the course of the tournament and over many opponents with very varied styles. The young Emma Varymen is the best young defender in Sweden and beats many older players - Hannah dominated and won 3 - 1. Emilia Akerstrom is one of the top 2 'frictionless' pimple players in the Sweden, again Hannah won 3 - 1, Karina Svensson, Sara Lundin, Caroline Olsson, and Nina Stenviken all qualified for the National Top 12 in Sweden, it didn't help against Hannah. Philippa Rhohdin who played countless times in the Swedish National Team at all levels didn't answer either against the depth and variation in Hannah's game.

One might think that it would be hard to top such a performance but the following weekend, the 12th and 13th, Hannah led her team of Ljungsbro in Stockholm from 3rd position in the Women's 1st division to lead the table. Hannah helped her team to 8 -2 and 8 - 3 victories over the two leaders Vrena and Tyreso and over the weekend won 8 matches and lost only 1. Among her victims were former elite players, Elsa Ekmann, Linda Ahlgren, and Marita Appelgren (wife of the world champion)

To cap a fine week Hannah played a local league match and beat the European No.5 and World No. 8 Veteran.

Last weekend Hannah was at Doncaster playing in the Grand Prix she got to two semi-finals losing to Naomi Owen the Welsh No 1 and Amanda Mogui from Ireland.

This last weekend she was at Wolverhampton playing in the National Junior British League for London progress coming runners up in the Premier Division only missing out by a few points.

Hannah is off to Saffirs International Tournament in Sweden on the 21st February.

Hannah as also had 2 call ups for the England Squad, Czech Republic and Poland.

July 2007.

Hannah has reached no. 23 in the Women's ranking

21st April 2007

More success for local girl Hannah Hicks when she became the English Schools U16 girls champion. Hannah, who represents Test Valley School in Stockbridge, travelled to Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday for the all England finals. Watched by her parents Nigel & Rachel, who have supported her throughout in her meteoric rise in the sport, she progressed comfortably to the semi-finals where she was up against Karina Le Ferve from Cleveland. Karina won the U13's event last year, so a tough game ensued. After four sets the girls were level, but Hannah found that little extra to take the final set 14-12. Fiona Dennet from Cheshire awaited Hannah in the final and is ranked several positions above her in the National Junior lists. As with the previous match, Hannah was determined not to let the chance of the title slip away and duly took it over 5 gruelling sets

County Championships Premier Divisions - Saturday 31 March 2007 - Round 5

Junior Premier Division

Derbyshire 4 Hampshire 6
South Yorkshire 4 Devonshire 6
Essex 4 Lincolnshire 6
Bucks 4 Yorkshire 6.

Hampshire faced their biggest test of the Season and despite trailing 3-2 and 4-3 they came through to beat second-placed Derbyshire 6-4 to retain their 100 % record. Matt Ware and Hannah Hicks were both undefeated and England no. 11 Junior Hannah really "earned her County Badge" with a superb performance which saw her fight back from 2-0 down to beat England no. 2 Junior Emma Vickers 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 to give Hampshire a 5-4 lead. Garth Kinlocke had the opportunity of sealing victory for the South Coast team and he made no mistake as he beat Shaun Cullen 11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3. Hampshire's top boy Matt Ware played his part by beating Danny Lowe 10-12, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 and his second victory, a vital 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 13-11 success against Liam Pitchford enabled Hampshire to square the match at 4-4. In their first season in the top Division it looks very much as if Hampshire will be Champions, a superb achievement

Report by Steve Kems

Hicks reaches final at Hereford Grand Prix.

Report from Geoff Ware 5th December 2006

Hannah Hicks, at the tender age of 15 years, reached her first ever women’s senior open table tennis Grand Prix final, at the Hereford Leisure centre, writes Geoff Ware.

Over the weekend of 2^nd/3^rd December 2006, Hannah, unseeded in the tournament, achieved some remarkable results, to take her chance in ladies final, against Olympic silver medallist, Jin Sun.

In the group stage, Hannah brushed aside, higher ranked Sally Smith from Devon, and Lindsey Armstrong from Middlesex, to make her way through to the first round. There awaited the more experienced Terri –Anne Nolan from Cheshire, and once again Hannah was in top form, in defeating her in straight sets. In the quarter final, she met the classic defender from Gloucester, Judy Morley. Hannah played to her own strengths, and out played Judy to reach the semi-final stage.

This was where the going would really be tough, as her opponent in the last four stage, was England International and ranked at number 4 in the country, Helen Lower.

Hannah started brilliantly, and it was very evident that Hannah’s style of play would upset the England ace, and it was Hannah who took the first game, 11-6. It was plain to see, that Lower was visibly shaken, and unfortunately, after a fall, during the second game when Hannah seemed in command at 4-I up, the England star withdrew from the match, leaving Hannah with a place in her first ever, Ladies Grand Prix, final.

In the other half of the draw, the highly talented Chinese Olympic silver medallist, cruised into the final, with comparative ease.

So the stage was set, with a crowd of around 50 people to watch the ladies final. Hannah to her credit fought very bravely, but went out in straight sets, to the superb skills of Jin Sun.

Hannah’s is quickly establishing herself as a formidable player, and her progress through the rankings has been nothing short of miraculous, when you consider that two years ago; she wasn’t even playing table tennis. Already ranked at number 12 in junior girls (under 18) and in the top 40 in senior ladies, in the country, she has made dramatic advances in the table tennis world, in such a short time.

Her determination and fighting spirit, together with hundreds of hours of practise and coaching sessions from her “mentor” Rowden Fullen,( a most experienced International coach,) her rise to fame, has paid of in no uncertain terms.

Only recently, Hannah beat all comers, in the Hampshire closed tournament, to take both the senior and junior ladies titles. The next major step forward for Hannah is to establish herself on the European junior table tennis scene, and is heading off to Sweden to compete in the Safirs International, held in Stockholm, in February. It won’t be long before she makes her England debut, and if she carries on with the high standards she sets herself, the 2012 Olympic games are a real possibility……………!!

31st October 2006

By Barry Granger

Report on the 1st Junior County matches.

Another season, another County?

After two years of Buckinghamshire dominating the Junior Premier County Championships, over the weekend of 28/29 October 2006 at Cippenham TTC, and without two of the three Evans’ brothers, they came down with a bump losing all three matches.

The team to watch this season are hot favourites Hampshire who have England boys numbers 12, 20 and 32 (Matt Ware, David McBeath and Garth Kinlocke) and Hannah Hicks and Becky House, ranked 13 and 48 in the girls.

They lived up to their odds-on rating by beating Lincolnshire 9-1, Yorkshire 9-1 and last year’s runners up Essex by the same scoreline. A very good win in the Lincolnshire match by Hannah Hicks over the highly rated Laura Springthorpe by 11, 11, -10, 6 caught the eye. On the Saturday, their only loss was Rebecca George (Li) England no. 53 defeating Becky House 9, 5, -10, 7. Five places below in the ranking list so a good win for Rebecca and Sunday’s match against Essex saw Ashley Stokes ranked 26 defeat Garth Kinlocke 3-1. Here Emran Hussain did his level best to defeat Garth going 2-0 up, but finally succumbing 8, 11, -11, -3, -4.

They will certainly take some beating and it will be up to the other four Counties to attempt to halt what seems their inevitable course to the title

Final tables after three matches are:

	P	W	D	L	Pts
Hants	3	3			6
Derbys	3	2	1		5
Lincs	3	2		1	4
Essex	3	1	1	1	3
Devon	3	1		2	2
S Yorkshire	3	1		2	2
Yorkshire	3	1		2	2
Bucks	3	0		3	0

Success for Hannah at Bristol.

March 25th 2006

In the finals of the National Ranking Tournaments, held at Filton College, Bristol at the weekend, our own local girl came top in the U15 girls section. One year ago Hannah Hicks was just another young player, but a combination of the right coaching, plus her determination has seen Hannah rise to the top in a very short space of time. Four groups of eight girls contested the event with just the top girl going through to the next round, so the blond 14 yr. old could not afford any mistakes. Two potential players stood in her way, at this stage. Sally Hughes from Sussex & Kerry Mansell from Derbyshire. In her third group match Hannah dropped the first game to Mansell, but recovered to take the second. She raced to a commanding 10 – 4 lead in the third, only to see her opponent haul it back to 10 – 9. The game eventually went to Hannah at 14-12 after some terrific attacking play by both girls. The forth set was never in doubt and duly went to the Andover player. She then faced the one player who could spoil her day, Sally Hughes and in the first two sets there was little to separate them, with Hannah just gaining the edge. The third set saw Hughes reduced to purely defensive play as big forehands and well directed ‘punched’ backhands from the pimpled rubber began to take their toll. To win this game in straight sets was a taste of things to come. In the semi-final, she was up against Ayonija Sundararqjan, the only player to have beaten Hannah in an earlier encounter, so much was at stake. Both girls play with the ‘pimple’ rubber on one side of their bats, but Hannah swept her aside with an amazing 11-8, 11-4, 11-2 scoreline, to reach the final. This brought on Rachel Baker from Lancashire, who is ranked far above Hannah. The 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 victory, however, gave Hannah Hicks the title. Next stop will be Doncaster, where she will hopefully qualify for the Cadet Masters events. Hannah has also been invited to join the England Training Camp over Easter.

Hannah had another successful weekend in Derby earning herself 827 points plus finalist points over the weekend.

Hannah started the weekend on 388 rating points, and ranked at no: 38 in cadets (under 15) in England. With her 14 wins gained over this weekend, together with the fantastic sum total of 787 points she won at the Essex Junior, has risen her dramatically into the top 10 in England with 1175 rating points !!!.

Junior Girls round robin results are, Hannah lost to Naomi Owen Wales no. 1 seed 3-0, Sarah Wang 3-2 [no. 3] and then beat Catherine Hayes 3-0 [no. 59] which left her in 3rd. place. In the Women's Band 3, Hannah was in group 1 with Lisa Standen [ no. 26] whom she beat 3-0. She also played Laura Yarnley [no. 32] and won 3-1. Hannah won her group and progressed into the quarter finals where she met Angela Brettell beating her also 3-1. The semi final was played against a very confident Diane Melvile who beat Hannah in the first set, but Hannah’s confidence grew as she took the second 11-5. At two sets all, Hannah went on to win 11-9 in the 5^th. Hannah then met the un-seeded Jurate Brazaityte from Kent in the final where she was defeated by three sets to love.

On Sunday she played in the under 21s, coming 3rd in her group. Next was the Women’s Open, where Hannah met Lisa Radford who defeated her 3-0. Chloe Dunmall [no.27] was Hannah’s next opponent, who she beat 3-1 to finish as runner-up in the group. Hannah’s tournament was brought to a close in the next round after being defeated by Gemma Yarnley, by three games to one.

Hannah added 6 points to her ranking total, plus and extra 65 points for coming 2nd in the Women’s Band 3 final.

Hannah is crowned Hampshire U18 & U15 Girls Champion after a successful day at the Hants Junior Closed. She faced Tressa Armitage, Lauren Owen & Katie Bradford in the U15 girls, all of whom she defeated in three straight sets to give her the first title of the day.

Next was the tougher U18 event. Hannah’s first game was against the Hampshire number one, Annabelle Morle, who overcame her younger opponent after five gruelling sets. 21-10, 8-11, 15-13, 6-11, 11-4. Hannah’s next game was against Heather Knight, the Hants number two, who she destroyed in the first set, 11-2. The next was 11-7 and with Heather now fighting to stay in the match, Hannah took the decisive third set 14-12. Bradford & Armitage were once again disposed of in straight sets to give Hannah 3 wins out of four. An upset was to follow when Knight defeated Morle by a crucial three sets to one, leaving Hannah to be declared Hampshire Junior Girls Champion, after a better win margin.

More success in the National Cadet Ranking trials held at Cippenham on Dec.3rd. Hannah finished runner up to the number 1 seed Ayonija Sundararqjan [nationally ranked 7] from Basingstoke, who beat her 3 - 1. The sets were very close and could have gone either way.

On her way through she beat Angela Oetiker , Emma Elliston, Daisey Munns, and Stephanie Mitchelle from Buckinghamshire, plus Katie Bradford in straight sets. Then came the Hampshire no. 1, Becky House, whom Hannah triumphed over 9 - 11, 11 - 8, 12-10, 9 -11, 12 – 10. Hannah, Becky & Ayonija all go through to the next round at Bristol in March 2006. If anyone would like to offer sponsorship to this very talented young lady, please contact the Andover Advertiser.

Hannah Hicks announced her arrival on the Grand Prix scene with some storming performances at the Bath Grand Prix. Her performances against highly rated players were so impressive that Hannah was awarded the prestigious Player of the Tournament award.

On Saturday Hannah served notice to her opponents of just how good she may be by taking ends of top rated young players Sara Wang and Emma Vickers.

Sunday arrived and Hannah's games were watched with considerable interest by those who had seen her performances the previous day. In the Ladies singles Hannah faced Michelle Cohen in the first match and Hannah stunned everyone by taking the first end - none were more stunned than Michelle who responded in splendid fashion to narrowly overcome Hannah in what was a really good match with both players punishing any loose ball. An excellent win against Rachel Greener followed and Hannah then faced Lisa Radford. Hannah pushed the much more experienced player to the limit before Lisa beat her young opponent in the 5th end. Hannah's performance's in the group caught the imagination of those watching and the Waterside coaching team and supporters were approached by several interested parties asking who Hannah was.

The scene was set for the U21 category on Sunday afternoon with Hannah growing in confidence - even though she was playing against much older players Hannah brushed both opponents aside in her groups matches with 3-0 wins before progressing to the quarter finals and another encounter with Lisa Radford. Unfortunately for Hannah her opponents experience showed and the end result was the same as their encounter in the morning with Lisa emerging as winner.

Hannah's performances throughout the weekend were so impressive that she was awarded the Player of the Tournament award. This was a great achievement in her very first senior Grand Prix event. Well done Hannah - a very good first step which you must now build on!