Following yesterday's confirmation that the area covered by Essex County Council has been placed in the Government's Tier 2 (High) Covid-19 category, Table Tennis England have confirmed that all League matches should be suspended as of midnight tonight - Friday 16 October 2020.

As many of you may have noticed, some of the Chelmsford League club's venues may be caught by the Government's new rules requiring that they close at 10.00pm.

The 2020 Season (Part 1) starts later today, so it is an appropriate time to draw your attention again to the Chelmsford League Playing Conditions for matches, given the need for us all to minimise the risk of transmission of Covid-19.

The following timetable will apply for the start of competitive table tennis on Monday 21 September 2020. These dates may be subject to change if TTE or Government Guidelines change in the intervening period.

The Management Committee of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League have issued the following update on the return of competitive table tennis and plans for the 2020/21 Season

The Chelmsford Table Tennis League Management Committee met, virtually, on Wednesday 6 May 2020 and a summary of the decisions taken can be read here.

Statement as at 6.45pm on Monday 16 March 2020

In the light of the Government's announcement this afternoon about increased measures required to combat the Coronavirus outbreak, the Chelmsford League Committee have decided to suspend all competitive table tennis with immediate effect. This includes matches due to be played this evening.

Further updates will follow via email and the League's website

In an unprecedented double for our Junior Teams, Chelmsford's National Cadets follow in the footsteps of the Chelmsford Juniors to become North London Region National Cadet League Champions.

Read the full report from Arthur Clark, Chelmsford League Junior Match Secretary.

The Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Committee have followed the directive of Table Tennis England and at present League matches do not have to be postponed or cancelled if all players are fit to participate, notwithstanding the ever growing concerns regarding the Coronavirus. All players are advised to check the Table Tennis England Website regularly as matters can change on a daily basis.

TTE advise flexibility if players or clubs are unable to fulfil fixtures for reasons related to the Covid-19 virus.

CDTTL clubs and captains may decide whether to play or postpone individual matches due to concerns over the Covid-19 virus. If matches are to be postponed, the team captain postponing must inform the opposing captain and the League Divisional Secretary via chelmsfordttl@gmail.com.

Please just be aware that it may be difficult to rearrange fixtures at this stage in the season.

Chelmsford TTC have suspended hosting all table tennis including league matches and Friday and Sunday practice sessions until further notice - so if you have an AWAY match to CTTC, this match is currently postponed. CTTC are still playing away matches unless the CTTC team captain specifically contacts opposing captain and the Fixture Secretary to confirm they are not.

This decision does not affect Bat&Chat sessions on Mon (12-2pm) and Thurs (10am-12pm) which are currently continuing.

The battle to avoid relegation from division one of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League really couldn’t be tighter and a mere two points covers no fewer than five teams. You wouldn’t expect to see OCs A so close to the bottom but they lost 7-3 to fourth-placed Galleywood A

The third round of North London Region National Junior League matches for 2019/20 was held at Ellenborough TTC, Enfield on Saturday 11 January 2020. Having led Division 2 by one point after the first round of matches the A Team had then been promoted to Division 1s.

Leaders Maldon A overcame the potentially tricky hurdle of third-placed Chelmsford A 7-3 in the first division of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League. The hard hitting James Denyer proved to be their main stumbling block and he became the first player to topple Alex Abbott this Season.

Division two of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League looks to have become a two way battle for honours. The top two sides both won this week. Leaders OCs B ran out 8-2 winners against Writtle C. David Cole retained his 100 % singles record but Kevin Worthington has been the main stay of this side with an excellent return of 91 %. Worthington missed out 10-12, 7-11, 12-14 to Gary Ward on this occasion.

The Chelmsford League Management Committee have been advised by Rawreth TTC that they are withdrawing from Division 1 as they are no longer able to raise a team to fulfil their fixtures.

Danbury E, runaway leaders of division three of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League were given the severest of examinations in the division three Knock Our Cup competition. With Gordon Gatheral losing 9-11, 9-11, 4-11 to Bob Garson they trailed Writtle D 2-4 and were in big trouble.

The league would like to invite all CDTTL players and their friends to take part in a charity quiz. The quiz will support the efforts of league stalwart Bob Francis to raise funds for the Stroke Association.

The Rosebery/Pope & Smith Award is made annually in recognition of service to Table Tennis in Chelmsford during the current season. Nominations for the award should be submitted in writing before the end of February 2020 to the League General Secretary, Dave Moles.

Top seed Eren Gozcu is the 2020 Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Mens Singles Champion. A former top 12 England ranked Junior the 19 year old Colchester University student was many people’s tip to take the title and he delivered at the Chelmsford League Finals Night which was played at the Old Chelmsfordians Association on Monday 10 February 2020.

Maldon A – runaway leaders in division one of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League took two more steps towards retaining their title. Alex Abbott their leading player was instrumental on both occasions and his record of 39 singles wins out of 39 speaks for itself.

Finals Night for the Chelmsford League Individual Championships will be held at The Old Chelmsfordians on Monday 10 February 2020 starting at 7.30pm. Entrance is free.

To download the Programme for the evening, giving the order of play and biographies of each of the players appearing on Finals Night click HERE

The 2020 Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Closed Championships played at the Hylands School this weekend produced more than its fair share of excitement. The Group stages in the Mens Singles were no exception. Wudong Liu scored a fine 12-10, 11-7, 11-4 win over the seeded John Poysden whilst Robert Shrimpton defeated another seed - Steve Kerns 6-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3.

Brian Ellis 1943 - 2020.

The Chelmsford and Burnham, Leagues are sad to report the passing away of Brian Ellis after a fairly long illness. Brian was a very popular member of the Danbury club in the Chelmsford League and Stow Maries in Burnham.

Arthur Clark, Junior Match Secretary, reports on the National Junior League matches played at Ellenborough TTC on Sunday 15 December 2019 and Sunday 26 January 2020.

In the first division there was a defeat for second placed Danbury A who lost 6-4 to Chelmsford B. Gary Young was undefeated for Danbury A whilst Robert Shrimpton, Mark Allaway and Simon Jarvis all won twice for Chelmsford. Mark Allaway excelled, beating Steve Whiteley 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 4-11, 12-10.

Born on 9 October 1932, Barry attended primary and junior schools in Chelmsford and passed the 13 Plus Exam to go to the Mid Essex County Technical School. Leaving school in 1948 he joined his father as an apprentice coach trimmer and upholsterer at Youngs Coachworks in New London Road.

It’s that time of the year again, The 2020 Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Individual Championships have attracted an impressive 126 entries and 53 of those players are Juniors. Action kicks off at 19.00 hours on Friday evening (31 January 2020) at Hylands School, Chelmsford (Sherwood Drive entrance) and continues late into Saturday night (for a scheduled 21.40 hours finish) and all the way into Sunday evening.

The Chelmsford League Committee have learned, with sadness, that Fred Henwood passed away on Friday 29 December 2019. Fred was a long-standing player in the Chelmsford League, well into his later years, and our condolences go out to his family, daughter Diane Pitt, son-in-law Adrian Pitt and grandaugher Hannah Pitt, who are also current or past players.

The Chelmsford League Committee are very sad to have to report that Brian Ellis, a well liked and popular member of the League, passed away on Tuesday 21 January 2020. Brian had been a loyal member of Danbury TTC for well over 50 years and will be sadly missed. Further details will follow in due course.

Third-placed Chelmsford A have utilised the services of 10 players this year in division one of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League. Pleasingly they have given young improving players the chance to experience life in the top division. Chelmsford A turned out a strong side against Writtle A and won 8-2. Casey Cross won his three singles but Lee McHugh impressed for Writtle.

Maldon A made it 11 wins out of 11 in the top division of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League by beating Chelmsford B 8-2. Their leading player Alex Abbott enjoyed another unbeaten night to make it 30 singles wins out of 30. The hard-hitting Simon Jarvis (63 %) excelled for the losers and he beat both Trevor Lloyd (5-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6) and John Poysden (12-10, 11-6, 12-10), two very good wins.

Second placed Danbury A made it seven wins out of 10 in the first division of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League with a solid 8-2 win over Danbury B. Danbury A have utilised the services of eight players and this time it was Dave Richardson who led the way with a hat-trick.