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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Tiny yellow balls were bouncing furiously off of tables and paddles as a ping-pong tournament got underway in Fort Simpson on Sunday afternoon.

Randall Hardisty returns a serve during a ping-pong tournament in Fort Simpson on Sunday. Hardisty won first place in the U16 division. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The tournament was held as part of National Addictions Awareness Week.

Seven youths played in the U16 division while another seven people played in the open division.

"I'm happy with the turnout," said Nathan McPherson, the village's recreation director.

McPherson said he had to convince some people who weren't planning to play to join the tournament, but it worked out well.

Best of three

In each division, the players went through a round robin before moving onto the playoffs. Competitors played the best of three games to 11 points.

In the open division, McPherson placed first after the round robin with six wins and no losses.

Robert Gallant placed second with a record of five wins and one loss and James Erasmus took third with four wins and two losses.

For McPherson, the tournament was a return to the game – he used to play in high school. However, he hadn't been able to practise his technique until recently since the ping-pong tables were moved from Thomas Simpson School to the recreation centre.

Hand and eye co-ordination is important to the game and it provides a lot more exercise than people may think, McPherson said.

"You can get a good sweat going on," he said.

In the semifinals, McPherson defeated Erasmus two games straight.

Erasmus was also returning to the game after an absence, having played a bit as a child.

"It's fun," he said.

One of Erasmus's fellow competitors in the tournament was his wife Allyson Skinner.

Skinner said she decided to participate in the event because it sounded like fun.

"I used to play and I always used to have tons of fun," she said.

With approximately 10 years between the tournament and the last time she played, Skinner said she was more than a little rusty. She said controlling the ball is key to playing well.

"You've got to know how to spin the ball properly," she said.

After winning the semifinals, McPherson advanced to the finals against Robert Gallant. Gallant ended McPherson's winning streak and claimed the division championship after two straight victories.

"They were close games," said McPherson.

"He took the lead and I couldn't get it back."

For bragging rights

In the U16 division, only three players stayed to the end of the tournament. After playing a modified playoff, Randall Hardisty emerged in first place followed by Delainea Anderson in second and Arron Antoine in third.

No prizes were awarded during the tournament. McPherson said it was all for bragging rights.

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