NEWSLETTER - August 2019
Teign School Sessions during the summer - The Friday and Saturday sessions will continue uninterrupted throughout the summer holidays. As you have continued to support the sessions, we are happy to keep them going. Friday nights 19.00-22.00 and Saturday mornings 09.00-12.00. The cost of a 3-hour session remains at £2.50 for students and £3.50 for adults, with reductions for families.
South Devon & Torbay League Teams - We are at present proposing to enter 13 teams in the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League for the forthcoming season which starts at the end of September. As teams and players’ availability are not finalised yet we are still able to slot players interested in playing for the club into teams and it is still possible to enter further teams if we have enough players. Entries have to be in to the Club by August 10th. So if you fancy playing League table tennis for Newton Abbot TTC please let me know ASAP and complete the form at the end of this newsletter. There is a small financial commitment for joining Table Tennis England (Adults £16, Juniors £8) and for League registration (Adults £12, Juniors £8), plus match fee of £5/home match. For the forthcoming season it is extremely likely that the League will revert to a four-division format, so please bear that in mind when entering your preferred division on the entry form.
With League and Cup matches there will be approximately 20 matches in the season Sep – Apr. All home matches will be played on a Tuesday or Friday night at Teign School 19.00-22.30, whilst away matches could be any night of the week in places such as Dawlish, Brixham and Torquay. You require 3 players for each match, and I would hope to have teams of 4-5 players to ensure all fixtures can be fulfilled when individual players are unavailable. You may also get an opportunity to play as a reserve for a team in a higher division.
League Players - please renew your Table Tennis England Membership now at:
https://tabletennisengland.co.uk/membership/register-or-renew/
or by ringing 01908 208863 (after 1st August)
Newton Abbot TTC Annual General Meeting (July 26th) – The Chairman, Dennis Gibbs, spoke of the remarkable growth of the club in just a few seasons. Another fine season was reported on by the Secretary, with success on the table, a good increase in membership and a solid financial base. All current Committee members agreed to stand again. It was agreed to keep fees at the present level and to continue to keep the cost of playing table tennis at the club as low as possible. A discussion on the composition of League teams took place, with no firm decisions made as a number of members had not yet confirmed their availability. With several new folk involved at least one more team was likely.
The Albany Florists Summer Singles League – Another excellent competition for our lower league players and non-league players, with 33 different players taking part. At the final session trophies were awarded to all the divisional winners; Div 5 – Marc Winstanley, Div 4 – Kevin Payne, Div 3 – Jasem Abu Ali, Div 2 – Andrew Davies, Div 1 Rowan Bayliss. Congratulations to Rowan Bayliss who retained the overall league trophy, The Albany Florists Cup, which he won last year by a comfortable margin. It was, however, very close behind him with 4 players battling it out for the runners-up spot. Andrew Davies eventually finished a point ahead of Fred Wakefield and Rob Ferguson who were equal third.
Table Tennis England – Unfortunately our National Governing body have made a series of changes that have made life far more difficult for those of us administrating at grass roots level. As a result we have cancelled our Premier Club status (£65) and re-joined as an Associate club (No Fee). There is little significant difference between the two except in the name!
As our South Devon & Torbay League have agreed to continue using TT365 for their Website and League Management our Club website is safe for another year. While all our League players, under Table Tennis England rules, have to be members of Table Tennis England, non-league players are no longer required to be members of Table Tennis England.
Jon Cheung – Most of you will be aware by now that popular coach Jon Cheung has moved up to Bristol. Jon will be sorely missed by all and we wish him well in the next phase of his life. In the last 3-4 years Jon has made a big difference to many players at our club, on the table tennis table for most of you, but also socially with the Buzzards!! We will all miss him. Jon will return to see us at the club whenever he is back in the area.
Non-League Players - While a great deal of this newsletter is focused on the new season and players, I would like to assure all those not playing in the League this coming season, that the club remains just as committed to you. Providing opportunities for anyone to play and improve is just as important to this club, and if you have any suggestions on improving club nights for those not in the League, please let us know.
And finally, The Buzzards – It’s been a very busy couple of months for the Buzzards making the most of their time before Jon’s departure. We have potted at Totnes, fed the giraffes at Longleat, played badminton weekly (or should that be weakly) at Teign School, sung with Steve Knightley at Widecombe church, watched ‘Yesterday’ and ‘Rocket Man’ at The Vue and eaten at Meat 59, Harvester, Inn on the Green, The Ten Tors, Miller & Carter and dipped into several hot tub sessions. Culminating in a great day at Plymouth’s Cancer Research UK Relay for Life where Jon and Kevin were part of a Pink Pong team, in a 24 hour marathon. A great effort from the boys, with Sonja and myself helping out briefly on the 24hr bike ride and helping to keep spirits up by joining the boys on a couple of their hourly stints on the track. (Not the four o’ clock in the morning ones though!).
A link to this newsletter is sent to all those players who have attended our practice sessions at Teign School in the last few months. If you do not wish to be included on my circulation list please let me know. tonyhalse@hotmail.com
Enjoy the summer holidays, and don’t forget Friday nights and Saturday morning sessions continue, so please come along and join us for practice, coaching, competitions and friendly matches throughout the holiday period.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM FOR LEAGUE PLAYERS
SEASON 2019/20
NAME ________________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________________
HOME TEL _____________________________________ MOBILE TEL ______________________________
E MAIL _________________________________________________________________________________
DATE OF BIRTH _________________________________
I am happy that any photos taken during club activities may be used in club publicity material, press reports and on the club website – to be signed by parent or guardian if under 18
SIGNED ________________________________________________________________________________
TEAM WISHING TO PLAY FOR _______________________________ PREFERRED DIVISION ____________
HOME MATCHES TO BE PLAYED AT TEIGN SCHOOL ON TUESDAY & FRIDAY NIGHTS BETWEEN 19.00 - 22.30. SEASON COMMENCES THE LAST WEEK IN SEPTEMBER.
SOUTH DEVON LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP FEES - SENIOR £12.00, JUNIOR (Under 18) £8.00
THERE IS A MATCH FEE OF £5 FOR EACH HOME MATCH TO HELP PAY FOR THE VENUE
LEAGUE PLAYERS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO BE MEMBERS OF TABLE TENNIS ENGLAND, WHICH WE ASK YOU TO JOIN at Table Tennis England Membershipor by PHONE 01908 208898, SENIOR £16, JUNIOR £8 for 2019-20 SEASON. PLEASE STATE THAT YOU PLAY FOR NEWTON ABBOT TTC in the SOUTH DEVON & TORBAY TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE ON YOUR APPLICATION. The club can do this for you if you are struggling!
TABLE TENNIS ENGLAND MEMBERSHIP NUMBER _______________
Please return this form together with the correct remittance by 10th August 2019 to: Newton Abbot TTC Secretary, Tony Halse, 76 Palace Meadow, Chudleigh, Newton Abbot, TQ13 0PJ
