NEWSLETTER - June 2015
Club Sessions
Apologies to all for some disruption to our sessions over the last few weeks. Sessions have been cancelled at the last minute by the school and now the Sports Hall is laid out for exams until Friday 26th June. We will continue our sessions on both Friday nights and Saturday mornings in the Dance studio adjacent to the Hall, but will be restricted to 6 tables.
As last season, if numbers remain high we will continue the club sessions right through the summer. The Friday night session has already been booked with the school and the Saturday morning session will be added to the booking if attendances are good throughout July.
As a reminder to all: our Club Sessions run from 7.00 – 10.00 every Friday night and 9.00 – 12.00 every Saturday morning throughout the year. When you pay for a session (after your first free trial session) you automatically become a ‘member’ of the Club, there is no fee. You just pay a session fee of £2.50 students and £3.50 adults, with reductions for families. Coaching is available, although limited on Friday nights during the season.
South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League
The Club entered 7 teams in the local league, with varying successes. Our top side NA Batmen finished 3rd in the First Division, while our NA Buzzards side finished 5th, Kelvin Cheung, Dennis Gibbs and Nick Halse all finishing in the top 10 of the averages. NA Eagles finished 3rd in the Second Division, with Jim McIvor 2nd in the averages. NA Falcons clinched the Fourth Division title, and NA Hawks finished 4th, with NA Kestrels 7th & NA Owls 8th. Individual performances to note: Dan Webster-Hall topped the averages, only being beaten once all season by the Falcons’ Lee Passmore, who finished 2nd in the averages. Falcons’ Derek Stratton & Bernard Bretagne were also in the top 10 averages in the 4th Division. Students who did particularly well in their first year in the league were Luke Robins, Travis Graham & Joe Strickland and there was excellent progress made by all the youngsters.
N A Falcons, 4th Division Champions - Derek Stratton, Bernard Bretagne, Lee Passmore (Tom Nicotra)
My thanks go to all the team captains who sorted out teams and fixtures, helped with transport, supplied refreshments etc. also thanks to all the players and parents for their involvement. It was a really good first year for Newton Abbot Table Tennis Club in the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League
Team Cups
NA Buzzards lost in the final of the Challenge Cup Team Singles 5-3 to reigning champions Torbay Academy I, and the Falcons & Hawks also had creditable runs in the cups.
South Devon & Torbay Closed Championships
Dennis Gibbs retained the Veterans trophy for the 13th successive year and took the Super Veterans title at his first attempt. Kelvin Cheung took the Junior Boys title. Dennis & Kelvin joined forces in the Men’s Doubles, but lost in the final. Dan Webster-Hall won the 4th Division Singles title.
Dennis Gibbs with his trophies
Singles Super League
NA Buzzards’ Kelvin Cheung won the 1st Division and N A Eagle’s Jim McIvor took the Division 2 title.
Kelvin Cheung with his trophies
Newton Abbot TTC Junior ‘CLUBMARK’ Challenge – The Don Blatchford Cup
Travis Graham was in fine form, comfortably winning the Don Blatchford Cup. He topped his group winning all 3 games, then beat Josh Abrahams 11-2, 11-9, 11-9 in the semi-final. Sam Hiles won his group, winning all his games but lost out to Joe Strickland in the semi-final 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 4-11. The final, between team-mates Travis and Joe was a one-sided affair with Travis dominating, winning 11-1, 11-3, 11-1.
The Shield final was won by Ross Embury, who defeated Lewis Short 11-6, 11-8, 11-7.
Travis Graham receiving the Don Blatchford Cup from Coach Nick Halse
Junior/Beginners Summer League
If there is enough interest we might set up a junior/beginners mini-league at Teign School over the summer months. It would be good to keep the competitive edge for those who played in the league this year and as an introduction for those that haven’t tried league table tennis yet. The games would take place during the normal Friday night club session. Please express an interest to either Tony or Nick.
Annual General Meeting
The Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held in the Foyer of the Sports Hall at Teign School on Friday 26th June at 7.30. This will be a brief meeting which is open to all, where there will be a brief report on the year, a financial statement/report and election of officers. There will also be a discussion on possible teams for the 2015-16 season.
Student Games
Good luck to all Newton Abbot Table Tennis Juniors who are hoping to get selected for the Teignbridge Team in the Devon Student games next month in Paignton. Teignbridge won the event last year last year, helped by our table tennis players.
League Season 2015-16
Although we have to see the summer off first, we will shortly be trying to draft out teams for the next season in the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League. Please let Tony, Nick or Dennis know your wishes for 2015-16 and we will do our best to fit you in to your preferred team & Division
Clothing / Equipment
We will be putting in a new order to Bribar for Newton Abbot TTC shirts for next season. Any equipment and shirt orders to Nick or Tony. Don't forget, potential captains, it will be compulsory to play with the new plastic ball next season.
