NEWSLETTER WINTER 2022
CHRISTMAS CLOSURE
Our final club sessions before Christmas take place this coming weekend Friday 16th Dec and Saturday 17thDec, with the possibility of some home cooked goodies again! We then have a 2 week gap before returning on Friday 6th Jan 2023 and Saturday 7th Jan 2023. Have a great Christmas break!
Season’s Greetings to one and all. We are now well into our 10th year as an official Table Tennis Club based at Teign School. It’s been an incredible journey, unable to play league matches at the school in our first year and only a few tables of our own we now run 14 teams in the local South Devon League, as well as 2 teams in the British league. We have over 70 registered league players and over 130 players in total on our books who regularly attend our club sessions. We now own 17 quality tables with more available if required. Our sessions on Fridays and Saturdays are well supported and now continuous throughout the year with the whole hall now available on Friday evenings. Up to 15 tables are now available on Saturday mornings and the match room is booked on Tuesday evenings through the season. While enjoyment and participation has been our primary objectives over the last 10 years a great deal of success has also been achieved while sticking to our principles of sportsmanship and inclusion.
Many thanks to all of you for being part of the very successful journey to where we are now.
Saturday Morning Club Session
SOUTH DEVON AND TORBAY TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE.
Heading towards the halfway stage of the season in the local South Devon and Torbay League all our teams have been battling away some with more success than others!
The Buzzards, Batmen and Eagles are all flying high in the first division. The Falcons are going well in the second. The Kestrels & Harriers are just a few points off the top in the third and the Kites, Ospreys and Merlins are all going well in the fourth. Individually there have been some excellent performances across the board, too many to mention but it has been particularly encouraging to see some of our youngsters and older, new to the league, players settling in and progressing well.
Rob Williams, Andy Millman, Tim Shears (NA Kestrels) Mike Dummett, Josh Redfern, Jim McIvor (NA Falcons)
We have had a few issues with injuries, illness and unavailability and it has been really encouraging to have so many of you happy to step in and help out, many, many thanks to all who have played as a reserve and please do try and help out if further problems occur.
We can generally fit in re-arranged league and cup fixtures on any Friday night but please let me know so I can organise the table set-up.
Please note that the Match Room is still being used on Tuesday nights and there are several dates where there is space for you to play re-arranged league or cup matches. You must book the space with Tony.
Dates currently available – 3rd January, 14th February, 7th March
Marc Winstanley, Mark Dulling, Ken Ramsden (NA Ospreys) Nick Kitchen, Jasem Abu Ali, David Olver (NA Merlins)
SOUTH DEVON LEAGUE EARLY SEASON TOURNAMENT
The two-year absence of the tournament due to COVID perhaps a contributary factor in a disappointing entry from Newton Abbot TTC in a tournament we have always done very well in.
In the Collins Cup there were good performances from Jeremy Broad, Curtis Sage, Andy Guy and Dan Webster-Hall. Andy & Dan both losing semi-finalists, Dan 11-9 in the fifth to eventual winner Rhys Lush. Wojtek Cyron did win the consolation final.
The handicap doubles pitched Andy Guy and Jeremy Broad together who made it to the final but were beaten by Wojtek Cyron and Ben Hoare.
Dan Webster-Hall was the holder of the Hard Bat Excell Shield and he made it to the final again for the third consecutive time but lost out to Stuart Shipley this time.
Doubles winners Ben Hoare & Wojtek Cyron with league sponsor Sonja Ryland
SENIOR BRITISH LEAGUE
At the halfway stage Newton Abbot TTC are currently in the middle of the Senior British League Division C5 with 4 wins and 4 losses and we can consider ourselves a little unfortunate as in 3 of those matches we lost by the narrowest of margins (5-4). This season the squad has been strengthened by the inclusion of Batmen's Naomi Jackson and Charlie Usher back playing for Newton Abbot since his move away from the area who contributed with an excellent return of 7 wins from his 8 singles matches.
Wim Faassen, Mike Hugh, Kevin Nicholls, Naomi Jackson
VETERAN’S BRITISH LEAGUE
Newton Abbot's Veteran Team led by Buzzards' Kevin Nicholls and supported by some of the top Veteran County players (Mike Hugh, Simon James & Kevin Taylor) made a great start to the 2022.23 Veterans British League campaign at the impressive Derby Arena. Playing in Division 3 (group 1), following securing promotion last season (the 1st time that we have entered a team in this prestigious league), we secured 4 wins and suffered only 1 defeat which leaves us well placed on top of the division going into the final weekend in February
CLUB SESSIONS
Friday Night Session 6:30–10:00pm - Generally 8-10 tables will be available for normal practice sessions (in the middle of the Sports Hall), while league and cup fixtures will also take place during the season on tables at either end of the Sports Hall. During the season this session is a tad hectic so it is not generally recommended for newcomers, although they can be accommodated.
Saturday Morning Session 9:30-11:30am. - Recently this has become very popular with many more juniors taking part and as a result we now book further courts enabling us to use up to 15 tables on a Saturday morning. As ever, this is the best session for newcomers.
Tuesday Evening matches 7:00-10:00pm – In the match room (Dance Studio) Generally reserved for league matches but occasionally available for practice, check availability with Tony.
CLUB KIT / EQUIPMENT
Excellent Christmas present idea - a purple club match shirt available in small, medium, large and X Large sizes at just £8 each, available at all club sessions
I have boxes of 6 ITTF approved 3* XIOM balls @£6/box and boxes of 6 ITTF approved 3* Joola Prime balls @ £7/box
As a Bribar rep I am able to get a small discount and save postage on anything from the Bribar Table Tennis Catalogue – Check them out online at: bribartt.co.uk
I can also make bats up for you or replace worn out rubbers.
Unfortunately Bribar are no longer supplying the excellent Bribar SOLAR bat (£15) which we recommended for beginners, although I still have one left! The recommended start up bat now is the Bribar RALLY bat (£27). It is a better bat but obviously a lot more money, Bribar do claim it’s a saving of £46 compared to buying the rubbers and blade individually and it does include a free case, so it’s not a bad deal.
For those of you who are past the beginners stage there are other excellent bats in Bribar’s Custom range which come highly recommended or if you’re feeling confident select from their extensive range of rubbers and blades and get a bat made up. As mentioned there is a small saving to be made if you order through me.
LOOKING AHEAD
SOUTH DEVON & TORBAY ANNUAL CLOSED TOURNAMENT
Still a long way off but make a note in your diary. Up to 16 different events including junior, divisional and veterans alongside singles and doubles events. It will be taking place at the Torbay Leisure Centre, Clennon Valley, Paignton on Sunday 2nd April 2023, 9am-5pm. Entry forms available on the league website or from Tony.
Finals and presentation night will take place on the Tuesday following the tournament, Tuesday 4th April 2023 at Stover School, Newton Abbot 7.00-10.00pm. As well as being an excellent night of table tennis all the awards for the league season will be presented at this event.
Closed Tournament 2021 at Torbay Leisure Centre
SOCIAL EVENT
With a large number of folk regularly playing at Teign School now it would be great to introduce the occasional social activity. While it is too late to organise anything now for this Christmas I would like to float the idea of an early summer event. If there is anyone out there who fancies the role of a social secretary I would love to hear from you.
Initial thoughts are maybe a Saturday/Sunday afternoon/evening family event at Stover School which could include a Barbeque, picnic, tour of the extensive grounds, tractor rides, and an opportunity to play a multitude of sports ie tennis, football, golf, rounders, badminton, 5 a side, or even table tennis!
Please let me know your thoughts, is it something you would like to be part of?
I AM AWARE THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN A FEW OF YOU WHO RECEIVE THIS NEWSLETTER OVER RECENT MONTHS. IF YOU NO LONGER WISH TO BE ON THE CIRCULATION LIST THEN PLEASE RESPOND SAYING SO. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!
