TIM BAKER WINS THE GORDON BAKER TROPHY FOR SERVICE TO TABLE TENNIS

This year’s IOMTTA prize presentation evening was held at The Crescent Hotel in Douglas on Friday 23^rd May. There were few surprises as the winners of most of the trophies are known in advance but there are some discretionary awards and this always causes an element of expectation, and no doubt a few friendly side-bets, amongst those who try to guess the likely recipients.

Probably the most poignant presentation was made to Tim Baker by his mother Nola who was delighted to present Tim with The Gordon Baker Trophy for service to table tennis. It was fitting that Tim should receive the award which commemorates his late father who was a prominent player and supporter of island table tennis.

Tim has continued the family tradition and is our diligent and inspirational league secretary. He also founded the Ramsey club which meets on a Thursday at Ramsey Grammar School. Such has been its success that, with the help of a generous donation from The Isle of Man Lions Club, they have recently increased the capacity from four to five tables which are also available for the school to use. There are now around 30 regular players aged 7-14 coached by Tim and assisted by Rhys Yardley. The practice is obviously paying off because the North team were victorious at the Manx Youth Games.

It was great to see Jean Looker in attendance accompanied by her granddaughter Charlotte who played in the league before she went off to university. They were there to present the Malcolm Looker Memorial Trophy to Copy Shop’s Sean Drewry who had won the Junior Top 12 competition this season. Malcolm, who passed away in 2012, was also a Copy Shop player and would have approved that his name will from now on be linked with this competition as he loved to coach juniors.

The Glyn Gilbert Trophy went to the veteran of the year Maurice Campbell who in turn presented the divisional trophies to the winners. Former island international players John Shooter and Gary Proctor helped bestow the remaining trophies including the Greystone LLC sponsored Island Closed Championship shields most of which went to the defending champion and current island number one player Ronan McDonnell. The full list of award winners is shown below: