NEWSLETTER - October 2019
As we embark on our 7th year at Teign School, Newton Abbot Table Tennis Club continues to go from strength to strength. We have a really good nucleus of players who regularly attend our sessions and this has helped the Club to continue to grow with full, uninterrupted, practice sessions right through the summer, often using all 19 tables available, as well as running a number of successful summer tournaments. We also continue to attract a healthy number of newcomers wanting to give it a go. We have over 130 members on our register, many of whom will be playing in our 13 teams entered in the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League. That’s more than we have ever entered before and 6 more than any other club in the area!
South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League:
NA Batmen (Div 1) Runners-up for the last three seasons - Dennis Gibbs has strengthened his squad with the introduction of Yannick Tushingham from last season’s Condors. Son Shaun and Naomi Jackson make up the team who will be hoping to challenge Torbay Academy 1 and maybe go one better than the last three years
NA Buzzards (Div 1) The Buzzards have lost Jon Cheung who has moved away from the area but recruited young Luke Bennett and the experienced Nick Halse. Kevin Nicholls and Herbie Sage remain as does skipper Sonja Ryland who will be looking to improve on their 3rd place last time out.
NA Condors (Div 1) Giles Tushingham has lost son Yannick to the Batmen but is again supported by Mark Burridge and David Davies. Chris Jacob and Jeremy Broad from last season’s Falcons have stepped up to the first division and will be looking to make an impact in the top flight.
NA Eagles (Div 1) Andy Tyrrell’s Eagles, there or thereabouts at the top of the 2nd Division for the last couple of seasons, have made the step up to the First Division. Jim McIvor joins Andy again and they are joined by exciting youngster Lauren Loosemore, Dan Webster-Hall and new to the club Gergely Kiss.
NA Falcons (Div 2) There is a welcome return to league table tennis for Mike Dummett who leads a strong looking Falcons line up. Chris Baron remains a Falcon from last season and he is joined by Louis Wilshire, Ed Crawford and also, returning to league table tennis after a 20 year absence, Gavin Dart.
NA Hawks (Div 2) Pete Sercombe takes over the Hawk’s reigns from Doug Morgan with little other change as the Hawks still have Doug, Ben Swettenham, Jackie Whitehorn and David Doxsey to call upon as they have another bash at the second division following their impressive third division campaign last time out.
NA Kestrels (Div 2) Dale Fabian’s Kestrels have recruited Bruce Freeman from Dawlish, Rob Williams and Mitch Bellham remain and they are joined by newcomer Ed Moffatt who will be looking to make an impact as he makes his League debut. It will be tough for the Kestrels up in the 2nd Division but they may well surprise a few teams.
NA Owls (Div 3) Disappointed the league didn’t think they were strong enough for Division 2 the Owls ‘youngsters’ will be out to prove the league wrong. Matt Cyron joins improving youngsters Rowan Bayliss and Josh Redfern with skipper Rob Bayliss helping out when necessary.
NA Harriers (Div 3) A new team being led by Rob Ferguson who has stepped up from last year’s successful Ospreys team to lead a new mixture of players. Ivor Copley and Andrew Davies, regular session players at our club for a number of years, have joined us from Dawlish & Torre. David Palmer also joins Rob as does Peter Tarjan.
NA Kites (Div 3) The Kites, depleted due to University commitments, have Andy Guy at the helm this season. He is joined by Kevin Payne, Derek Stratton and exciting youngster Quillan Wilson.
NA Ospreys (Div 4) Young Benj Pead takes over the captaincy of the Ospreys as Rob Ferguson has stepped up a division. Benj is again joined by brother Ollie and Henry Greet. Ethan Lee has joined the Ospreys who will be part of the youngest team we have ever put out.
NA Merlins (Div 4) The only team to remain unchanged! David Olver will again lead Marc Winstanley, Eve James and Chris Bishop into battle! Following a big learning curve last season the Merlins will be hoping to improve on last year’s effort.
NA Vultures (Div 4) We welcome several new players into our Vultures team who are giving league table tennis a go for the first time. Sue Upsdale, Jasem Abu Ali and Michael Bow are our debutants who will be joined by Mark Heather & Katie Thain, from last season’s Vultures with Kevin Salt and Mike Halse also available.
So welcome to all those new players that have joined us and we hope everyone will have an enjoyable season representing Newton Abbot Table Tennis Club.
Team Newton Abbot – Report from Kevin Nicholls on first round of matches in the National League –
Newton Abbot TTC travelled to Fareham Academy earlier this month to compete in the first round of our Senior British League Matches. It was a fiercely competitive weekend and there was some fantastic table tennis played, however we only won 1 of our 4 matches and were unfortunate to lose 2 of those matches 5-4. Nevertheless a great weekend of sport and we look forward to our next round of matches. A special mention to my county veteran colleague, Mike Hugh, who making his first appearance for NATTC got an excellent return of 7 out of 8 singles matches. Well played to all teams!
Club Sessions – Club sessions will run as normal throughout the year, as matches will take place in the A.M.S. (Athletic Movement Studio) and the far end of the Sports Hall. Up to 15 tables will still be available on Friday nights; Saturday morning sessions will continue as normal throughout the year. With several of our coaches now playing home league matches on Tuesdays there should, hopefully, be more opportunities for coaching during the Friday night sessions
Open to All - We encourage players from other clubs to join our sessions to provide a good mix of abilities and styles. If during the season your opportunities to practise are reduced at your club due to lack of tables, come and join us.
Early Season Tournament – The South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League’s Early Season Handicap Tournament is being held at Torbay Leisure Centre, on Sunday 3rd November. Details and entry forms are available on the League’s website. Tony Halse is the Tournament organiser and will be able to answer any queries you have and supply you with an entry form. This is a good opportunity to play against top local players and, with severe handicaps on the better players, everyone has a chance of winning.
Facebook – Is here to stay! I don’t really understand it! I will try and regularly add articles on our page at the end of the week, with details of all our League teams’ progress. www.facebook.com/NewtonAbbotTTC
Club Kit – Hoodies, T Shirts and match shirts are available to all (not just league players) the kit comes printed with your name, team name and club name. Unfortunately, our supplier, Clothing Your Way in Paignton, have increased the cost substantially for the coming season Hoodies £20.50, Match Shirts £14.00 and performance T Shirts £11.00 or £40 for all three. It is still however, a very good price for quality items individually printed.
Possible new updated club logo, let me know what you think!
Table Tennis Bats – We have found a supplier of good quality rubbers and blades from China, making new bats and replacement rubbers far more affordable (£20 for a decent bat) ie blades from £12 each and rubbers from £4 each. Have a chat with Tony and maybe have a go with some bats he has made up. I also have a couple of Butterfly Skills Junior bats an excellent starter bat for juniors at £15 each
Match Balls - Please note that the practice balls that we generally use at the club are not suitable for matches. A supply of 6 new plastic match balls will be given to team captains and further supplies will be available to purchase from the club. The new plastic balls MUST be used in League matches.
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.
NA Buzzards – The mid-summer months have seen the Buzzards fly to all parts of the world but not as a group! Jon & Kev joined a table tennis training camp in Northern Italy. Sonja has also been to Italy. Kevin is just back from a week in Crete and Jon has just returned from a trip to Brazil. Sonja is currently in Vienna for a few days. Someone has to stay at home to keep the ping pong going! We have managed to fit in regular Badminton sessions, a Phil Beer concert at the Barnfield Theatre, a Mexican meal at Chiquitos and had a successful evening at the Newton Abbot Racecourse. There is an evening planned at Teignmouth Pavilion to see a Simon & Garfunkel tribute as well as an Exeter City match and film night scheduled for late September.
Buzzards at the races just before Floral Queen came in at 9-1!!
BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OUR TEAMS IN THE SOUTH DEVON & TORBAY LEAGUE THIS COMING SEASON
Check out how our teams are progressing in their League campaign at:
