NEWSLETTER SPRING 2025
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our first newsletter of 2025
I’m getting this Newsletter out early to warn you about another forced cancellation of our session this coming Friday 21st February 2025. Due to staffing issues Teign School will be closed that evening, my apologies but it’s out of my control.
While on the subject of cancelled sessions we will be unable to hold club sessions during the Easter weekend as the school will be closed, that means no sessions on Friday 18th April and Saturday 19th April.
While a great deal of this newsletter will focus on competitive table tennis our club is equally focussed on those playing just for the enjoyment and exercise.
Newton Abbot Table Tennis Club currently have 64 members playing in the South Devon and Torbay Table Tennis League in 14 teams representing the club and a further 8 members representing the club in the Senior British League and Veterans British League. Our attendance register currently has over 120 names on it, the additional names being social players, juniors, beginners, and players from other clubs enjoying our club sessions.
SOUTH DEVON AND TORBAY LEAGUE
The first division is again dominated by Newton Abbot Table Tennis Club running five teams in this division of eight teams. NA Buzzards currently have a comfortable 14 point lead at the top of the table with NA Eagles and NA Batmen fighting with Brixham Sharks to pressurise the leaders. Both NA Condors and NA Owls have had issues with player availability but have been battling hard and have done enough to stay clear of relegation.
Naomi Jackson & George Haskell (NA Batmen) v Kevin Nicholls & Simon James (NA Buzzards)
While it will be difficult for either NA Ravens or NA Raptors to catch the leaders, Grove Guerrillas, at the top of the second division table, both teams have had exceptional seasons. NA Ravens, with several new faces, lie in second place and have yet to lose a match in the league, while the Raptors lie in third. Just two points separate the next three teams NA Falcons being one of them.
NA Kestrels going very well in the third division are just one point off the top, behind the strong favourites Torre Vikings. NA Kites have battled extremely well having moved up a division, while NA Harriers have found it tough going having been put up into the third division by the league committee.
Going well in Div 3, NA Kestrels – Jackie Whitehorn, Richard Hathaway, Rob Williams
Although not too far off the pace this season NA Merlins and NA Ospreys have both had their moments and currently have very similar match records. Their challenge will probably be between the two of them to see who can finish in third place. Our new players in the NA Vultures are all learning about league play and show signs of improvement particularly the younger element!
Each season Newton Abbot TTC make every effort to place all our players in the division which best suits their ability, however this does put the club at a disadvantage over clubs that drop players down a division or two in order to try and win the division. This practice, particularly in the bottom division, is not good for the players involved or their opponents who, in many instances, are new to the game.
HANDICAP TEAM CUP COMPETITIONS
The handicap cup has seen some very notable victories. In the singles cup the Owls, Kites & Condors are in the Quarter Finals while the Falcons will hope to join them. The Dyment Doubles is a bit further behind the singles competition, however the Ospreys, Harriers and Kites have made it to the quarters already while the Ravens, Owls and Falcons will be trying to join them.
Quarter-finals in both Cups, NA Kites – Fin Humphreys, James Kitchen, Nick Kitchen
SOUTH DEVON & TORBAY ANNUAL CLOSED TOURNAMENT AND FINALS NIGHT
Our local league’s Closed Tournament for league players is on Easter Sunday 20th April at the Torbay Leisure Centre, Goodrington, Paignton. This is an all-day affair with 16 events taking place throughout the day. A full day’s TT and your chance to play against some of the best players in the league. Singles, Doubles, Veterans, Junior and Divisional Events will all be happening and it would be great to see a good contingent of Newton Abbot players taking part. There is also a free to enter under 11 and under 13 competition open to non-league players.
The finals of the main events and the presentation of all the league’s awards will take place on the following Tuesday 22nd April (19:00) at Stover School, Newton Abbot. Again your support for this event would be much appreciated.
If you would like an entry form or wish to know more about the tournament speak to either Sonja or myself, as it is again being run by our club.
Link to Entry Form:
NEWTON ABBOT TTC SINGLES SHIELD 2024
For the second year running we have had real problems trying to fit our club singles shield competition into our busy schedule. So the 2024 singles shield will be held in April 2025! FRIDAY 25TH APRIL. Please make a note in your diary. This competition although a Newton Abbot TT club event, like all our competitions, is open to players from other clubs who regularly attend our NATTC sessions.
PARKHOUSE PAIRS 2025
The 4th Annual Parkhouse Pairs competition will go ahead in the Spring / early Summer of 2025. I am hoping to start the competition on Friday 2nd May and it will run for up to 10 weeks on every Friday. All those who entered last season will be given an invite. If you wish to enter a team and you didn’t compete last year speak to me to get a form and get your entry in. The number of teams will be limited, so to ensure your entry get your form in early.
PARKHOUSE PAIRS – FINALISTS 2024 with sponsor Fred Wakefield
Link to Entry Form:
https://www.tabletennis365.com/NewtonAbbot/MediaLibrary/Download/NFU7Totfi0-7TJK5JTk4rw/70781
NEWTON ABBOT TTC CLUB COMPETITIONS 2025
The Singles Shield, Albany Florists’ Cup, Don Blatchford Cup and the new Doubles Cup competitions will all take place during September 2025 within our club sessions.
Friday 5th Sept – Albany Florists’ Cup, Handicap Singles
Saturday 6th Sept – Don Blatchford Cup, Junior Singles
Friday 12th Sept – Singles Shield
Friday 19th Sept – Handicap Doubles
Friday 26th Sept – Reserved for completion of above if necessary
DEVON CHAMPIONSHIPS (Junior & Senior) 15th March 2025 @ Joola Plymouth TTC.
The Devon County Table Tennis Association is delighted to announce that we will run our County Championships (both Junior and Senior) on 15 March 2025 at Joola Plymouth.
These are technically known as the Closed Championships, which means that they are for Devon-qualified players rather than those of other Counties (as below).
Eligibility and closing date: A player must have been born in the County of Devonshire, OR live in the County and be an affiliated player of Table Tennis England, OR be registered with an associated league in Devonshire at the time of entry, OR be affiliated directly to the County of Devonshire at the closing date Saturday 10th March 2025. Players must agree not to play in the closed championships of an alternative County during the current season.
For Juniors the age qualification is:
Age of the player must be UNDER 19 years old at the closing date Saturday 10th March 2025
Please find Entry forms and more details at:
https://linktr.ee/Devonchampionship
Championships to be held at Joola Plymouth TTC on Saturday 15th March 2025.
For more info if needed, contact the organiser Henry Tam Tel. 07432887749 or email: hcytam@gmail.com
CLUB KIT
As you know we have entered an agreement with VX3 to provide our club kit. You may purchase direct from VX3 on line from our club shop. Link below:
https://vx-3.com/collections/newton-abbot-table-tennis
TABLE TENNIS BATS & OTHER SPECIALIST TT EQUIPMENT
I have a number of excellent new bats suitable for beginners and lower league players at just £19 each, including a bat case. These have been specially put together to aid coaching in the early stage of development and are recommended by top club coaches.
Any other equipment can be bought from Bribar through the club which will enable savings to be made on catalogue and website prices. Speak to me if you require anything.
TEIGN AFTER SCHOOL CLUB
I currently run an after-school club at Teign School on a Friday which enables us to start our Friday night session earlier, you may now arrive from 17.30 onwards for a great warm up for your matches or some extra time perfecting that forehand loop!
NA BUZZARDS
While the active members of the Buzzards have had a couple of trips exploring our capital city while away playing TT I’ve missed out recently. We did get together for a Fairytale in New York performance at the Princess Theatre and leading up to Christmas had a meal and a wander around the Christmas market and lights in Torquay. More recently we hit the Drum at Cockington for Kev’s birthday followed by a visit to VIVA harbourside TQ.
NOTES FOR YOUR DIARY
Friday 21st February – NEWTON ABBOT TTC – Club Session Cancelled
Saturday 15th March – DEVON COUNTY TTA – Closed County Championships (Junior & Senior)
Friday 18th April – Good Friday – Club Session Cancelled
Saturday 19th April – Easter Saturday – Club Session Cancelled
Sunday 20th April – SOUTH DEVON AND TORBAY LEAGUE – Annual Closed Tournament
Tuesday 22nd April – SOUTH DEVON AND TORBAY LEAGUE – Tournament Finals and Presentation of Awards
Friday 25th April – NEWTON ABBOT TTC – 2024 Singles Shield Competition
Friday 2nd May – PARKHOUSE PAIRS – Round One (Further rounds on every Friday throughout May and June)
Friday 4th July – NEWTON ABBOT TTC – Annual General Meeting
Friday 5th September – NEWTON ABBOT TTC - Albany Florists’ Cup (handicap)
Saturday 6th September – NEWTON ABBOT TTC – Don Blatchford Cup (Junior)
Friday 12th September – NEWTON ABBOT TTC - Singles Shield
Friday 19th September – NEWTON ABBOT TTC – Handicap Doubles Cup
Monday 29th September – Anticipated start of South Devon and Torbay TT League season 2025-26
NEWTON ABBOT TABLE TENNIS CLUB SESSIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS
FRIDAY NIGHTS (£5 Adults, £3 Juniors) - March, April, May, June, 6pm – 10pm, July, August 6pm – 9pm, September 6pm – 10pm
SATURDAY MORNINGS (£4 Adults, £3 Juniors) – 9:30 am – 11:30am
We will continue to offer a free Saturday Morning Session if you have paid for the preceding Friday night session
BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OUR TEAMS FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON
