NEWSLETTER - April 2014
SPECIAL CLUBMARK CLUB NIGHT, 21st Mar 2014 - A great night enjoyed and supported by many, centred around the presentation of the ‘CLUBMARK’ certificate by Chris Brown (ETTA) to our Chairman Dennis Gibbs. The Mid Devon Advertiser sent a photographer and good coverage should be given to the evening in both the Mid Devon & Herald Express.
Chris Brown said ‘this award shows the commitment the club have made to offering a high quality, safe, and sociable environment for people to develop their table tennis skills, practice, and compete. CLUBMARK is the sign of a quality sports club, and I have no doubt Newton Abbot TTC will continue their growth and development with the help of Teign School.’ Chris Brown very much enjoyed his time at the Club and was very impressed with the venue and set up. He stayed on to watch matches and chat to members.
One of the highlights of the evening was a terrific exhibition match between Shaun Gibbs & Kevin Nicholls which had the large crowd enthralled. A junior Clubmark Challenge tournament then took place involving 14 juniors, which was won by Gregory Bartlett who beat Andrei Constantin in a hard hitting final. Gary Payne of Teign School said ‘…..It was particularly good to see the Teign students’ (and others) standard of play and the fantastic progress that they have made since we started the link….’ Check out the coverage on ETTA’s website www.etta.co.uk
Dennis Gibbs receiving CLUBMARK certificate from ETTA's Chris Brown
Exhibition match - Kevin Nicholls v Shaun Gibbs
JUNIOR UMPIRE AWARDS - A further 6 students have passed the ETTA Junior Umpire Award and some of them were presented with their certificate by Chris Brown at our special Club night. Well done to: Thomas Phillips, Alexander Walmsley, William Bastow, Gregory Bartlett, Connor Adams & Samuel Bastow. Further successes will follow.
William Bastow receiving his Junior Umpire Award from Chris Brown Alex Walmsley receiving his Junior Umpire Award
CLUB SESSIONS During all the years we have been running the sessions at Newton Abbot Leisure Centre, we have always finished for a summer break at the beginning of April. However, the numbers attending the sessions are high and talking to players they are keen to carry on, so by popular demand we have booked up the school on Friday nights, right up to the middle of July. We have also, finally, got the go ahead for Saturday morning sessions at Teign School, so we are starting them from the 5th April, 9.00-12.00, to keep the continuity, so the last ever session at Newton Abbot Leisure Centre will be Saturday 29th March. I have provisionally only booked this session throughout April as numbers will drop off as the season ends. PLEASE NOTE BOTH FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS WILL BE CONTINUOUS THROUGH EASTER so there WILL be sessions on Good Friday & Easter Saturday. We will be moving the clubs’ own 8 tables across to Teign School from Newton Abbot Leisure Centre so we could have up to 18 tables on the go!!!
CONGRATULATIONS DENBURY DEMONS Champions of the Exeter & District Table Tennis League again, Dennis Gibbs with son Shaun and Kevin Nicholls stormed to the title with 3 matches still to go. Well done!
BEST OF LUCK to Committee Members and Club Members Geoff Read, Dennis Gibbs, Mike & Iain Dummett, Andy Tyrrell, Doug Morgan, Mike Coxhead, Tony Morley, Connor Adams, Jim McIvor and Scott Jessop who are all fighting for League or Cup honours in the last weeks of the season.
NEXT SEASON - We are hoping to run several teams at Teign School next season, in the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League. At present there are 3 divisions of varying standards. The home matches would take place on Friday nights between 7.00 - 10.00 with away venues in Dawlish, Brixham, Torquay, Marldon, Bishopsteignton & Halwell which could be on any week night. Teams consist of 3 players who each play their opponents' 3 players, and there is one doubles match. Usually 16/18 matches in a season, 8/9 home & 8/9 away. Hopefully several of the students will be good enough to compete well in the League by the time it starts in October.
BRIBAR - Nick Halse has an agreement with Bribar (Table Tennis specialist supplier), so if you need any equipment see Nick and he should be able to get an extra saving off their catalogue price. Nick also has loads of Bribar catalogues if you want one. In conjunction with Bribar we are looking at the possibility of Club shirts, they are offering top quality Joola Table Tennis Shirts, printed for the club (probably with the logo at the top of this Newsletter) for about £20 each if enough people are interested. Please let Nick or Tony know if you would be interested.
WEBSITE - Don’t forget to check out our website www.tabletennis365.com/newtonabbot for further information, more pics of the Special Clubnight and all the results from the Clubmark Challenge Tournament.
CLUBMARK Challenge Final - Andrei Constantin v Gregory Bartlett
Champion - Gregory Bartlett
