Rocky Players Head to Bundy as Fixtures Season Nears Finish Line

A solid group of players from the Rockhampton Table Tennis Association will be heading to the Bundaberg Open Championships this weekend. Reports suggest strong entries from clubs across the southeastern part of Queensland and as far north as Mackay, setting the stage for a highly competitive event.

Leading the charge for Rockhampton is Matthew Pettett, who has been in excellent form lately. It will be interesting to see how he fares against top players from other clubs, including Bundaberg, where a new coaching structure has seen younger players making strong progress in the junior and youth ranks.

Other local players to watch include James and Linda O’Sullivan, rising junior Cooper Bulow, the ultra-consistent Monica Deeth, and solid contenders Warun Wilkinson, Kelsey Pettett and Glen McDonald. The Rockhampton contingent will also be bolstered by newer competitors such as Michelle Ilott, brothers Oliver and Julien Wright, Hilton Kane, and Paul Fletcher. Aside from Ilott, this will be their first experience at an open championship.

It’s great to see recent additions to the sport embracing competition, and on this occasion, Rockhampton will be represented by more keen-agers than teenagers.

The current leaderboard in Rockhampton’s top division fixture is shaping up for a thrilling finish, with just three rounds remaining before the first-past-the-post premiership is decided.

At the top of the standings, Matt Pettett & Glen McDonald and Joel Coughlan & Leo Lai are tied for first place. Rayden Smith & Erica Nolan hold third spot, with Dane Coughlan & Jakob Baker just three points behind. With such a tight race, any of these four teams could claim the title. The remaining teams are out of contention and will begin preparations for the next season, which kicks off immediately after the Easter break.

In stark contrast, the second division has seen a dominant performance from Geoff Geddes & Cooper Bulow, who sit a massive ten points ahead of the next closest teams. Geddes is enjoying one of his best seasons in years, boasting a 66% win rate, while 16-year-old Bulow has been in outstanding form, winning 80% of his matches. Since moving from Gladstone to Rockhampton in mid-2024, Bulow has shown consistent improvement, benefiting from regular coaching sessions under Pam Clarke.

Bulow, alongside Judd Carr, will be Rockhampton’s sole representatives at the upcoming Queensland Junior Championships during the school holidays. Both players have been taking full advantage of high-level practice sessions with former state junior representative Matt Pettett at the Thursday afternoon junior coaching sessions (4:30pm start).