JOHN Threadgold appears to have one hand on the Swan Hill Table Tennis A Grade singles trophy.
Despite a history of falling short in the big one, Threadgold expressed strong belief this is his chance, having only had one singles defeat this year.
Six-time club champion Stefan Mangiameli is the danger, and has plenty of experience and the ability to rise to the challenge.
Young talent Lachlan Carroll has got the power to go deep in the tournament, while Joseph Pino with his defensive play could also potentially cause an upset or two.
The A Grade doubles looks to be a lot more even affair, with reigning champion Natalie Whateley teaming up with Lachlan Carroll to give their team a great mix of control and aggression.
All eyes will also be on the pairing of Brett Armstrong and the unpredictable Glen Evans.
The B Grade singles should come down to the big four, with Tayte Tants winning many points on his spin serves.
Kevin Edwards’ backhand slice is a joy to watch, while Kevin Burge has the all-round game to cause plenty of problems.
Finally, Darryn Stevenson on his day can be so hot and is always a crowd favourite, but if there is to be an upset, first-year player Matt Brunner could be the one.
Roberta Spicer and Gayle Williams are the top choice as the B Grade doubles winners, as they combine together with speed and agility around the table.
Norman Campbell and Sammy Hobson are the threats, with both possessing big forehands, although Norm sometimes can be overly aggressive.
Play starts on Monday night at 7pm at the St Mary’s Primary School gym, with spectators encouraged to attend.
