NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2024
As things quieten down on the table tennis front we have time to reflect on another excellent season for Newton Abbot TTC. The local league season was brought to a close at Stover School with our finals and presentation night in mid-April. Once again our club was heavily involved winning all the major events with the exception of the Men’s Singles. As well as success in the tournament NA Buzzards were first division champions and NA Parrots won the Challenge Cup.
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. We welcome many new players who have joined us over the last few months and hope you enjoy your time with us.
If you have any comments, ideas, proposals etc. to further improve your experience at your club please share them.
CLUB SESSIONS – TIMINGS THROUGH THE SUMMER
Our Club sessions continue throughout the summer months although the sessions on a Friday night will finish a bit earlier.
Friday night sessions in June will continue to finish at 10pm.
Friday night sessions in July will finish at 9:30pm.
Friday night sessions in August will finish at 9pm
All Friday sessions will commence at 6:30pm
Saturday morning sessions are not affected, 9:30am to 11:30am
VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
As a number of the club committee are off to Rome for the World Table Tennis Masters in July we require a few members to help set up, collect session fees and ensure everything runs smoothly on Saturday 6th July (tables will already be set up), Friday 12th July (tables will require setting up) & Saturday 13th July. Please speak to me if you are able to help, your assistance would be most appreciated.
SOUTH DEVON AND TORBAY LEAGUE
In an incredibly competitive first division any one of three teams could have been champions going into the last week of the season. In the end NA Buzzards just pipped NA Batmen to the title by 3 points with Torbay Academy 1 finishing third, just a point behind the Batmen. NA Eagles finished fourth with NA Parrots in fifth giving the club four of the top five sides in the league. Our fifth first division side, the NA Condors, struggled with availability and injury issues but stayed well clear of relegation. Congratulations NA Buzzards – Sonja Ryland, Kevin Nicholls, Herbie Sage and Simon James.
The second division was again very strong and competitive. Our NA Raptors & NA Falcons were not too far off the pace finishing fourth and fifth. The Kestrels climbing up a division struggled at the higher level and will have another shot at winning division three next time.
There were two strong teams at the top of the third division which dominated throughout. Our NA Hawks, always capable of winning against the best at this level, finished fourth while our Harriers ended up in seventh.
The fourth division was quite open and our NA Merlins and NA Ospreys were not far off the pace finishing fourth and fifth but not too many points off the top. The NA Vultures were improving all the time, and show great potential, finished in seventh.
Individuals with averages over 66%:
· Div 1 - Herbie Sage 92%, Rory Harries 90%, Mark Burridge 81%, Shaun Gibbs 78%, Simon James 78%, Kevin Nicholls 77%, Bryan Birkbeck 73%, Naomi Jackson 77%, Dennis Gibbs 69%
· Div 2 – Paul Hine 72%
· Div 4 –Ken Ramsden 79%
HANDICAP TEAM CUP COMPETITIONS
Singles Team Handicap Cup – There were great performances from many of our teams in the cup competitions. NA Condors and NA Hawks reached the quarter finals, both NA Parrots and NA Falcons reaching the semi-finals. Unfortunately they met in the semi final, the Parrots winning through to defeat Brixham Sharks in an excellent final which was only won by the Parrots in the last game of the final set. Congratulations NA Parrots - Rhys Lush, Ben Hoare and Dan Webster-Hall.
Doubles Team Handicap Shield – The NA Kestrels, NA Condors and NA Harriers all reached the quarter finals with the Condors and Harriers progressing to the semis. The NA Harriers team of Dale Fabian, Ivor Copley and Chris Baron reached the final but found Brixham Sharks too strong so they finished as runners up.
SOUTH DEVON & TORBAY ANNUAL CLOSED TOURNAMENT AND FINALS NIGHT
There were 66 competitors who entered the Closed Tournament held at the Torbay Leisure Centre on 14th April 2024. A good contingent of Newton Abbot TTC players took part. One major title was played to a conclusion on the Sunday while the rest were held back for finals night. Dennis Gibbs retained his Super Veterans title with a victory over Clive Banham.
On to finals night where the veterans title went to Kevin Nicholls who defeated his Buzzards’ team mate Simon James. The Ladies Doubles saw Naomi Jackson & Issy Brown defeat Sonja Ryland & Jackie Whitehorn. The mixed doubles title was won by the Batmen pair of Shaun Gibbs & Naomi Jackson who beat the Buzzards’ Kevin Nicholls & Sonja Ryland. The men’s doubles saw the Buzzards’ Kevin Nicholls & Simon James get the better of the Batmen’s Dennis & Shaun Gibbs. The ladies champion was Naomi Jackson who defeated Sonja Ryland in an excellent 5 set match which could’ve gone either way. Shaun Gibbs lost out in the men’s singles final to Ross Saxby.
DEVON VETERANS – NA Buzzards pair crucial to securing promotion for Devon Veterans ‘1’
The final round of the county championships took place at Matravers School, Westbury, Wiltshire and we travelled hopefully looking to gain promotion from Veterans Division 2D. At the start of the day, we were joint top with Hampshire with identical records, 4 wins and 1 draw and the same ratio of games won to games lost.
In the morning, we took on Wiltshire 3 and comfortably secured a 9-1 victory whilst Hampshire beat Dorset 7-3, however this meant that we only needed a draw to secure promotion when we played Hampshire on the afternoon in the final match of the season. After the first 3 men’s singles, we were 2-1 down with Paul Laverty winning our only match, however Sonja Ryland and I won a vital mixed doubles followed by us both winning our singles which took us into a 4-2 lead. Mike Hugh secured the vital victory in his next singles match to take us into a 5-3 lead and promotion secured, however Hampshire did win the final 2 matches to earn a deserving draw.
A very enjoyable and successful campaign for Devon, thanks also to Simon James and Penny Mann who both played a vital role in previous rounds in helping Devon achieve its objective of gaining promotion and looking forward to having another crack at Division 1 next year!
Kevin Nicholls
PARKHOUSE PAIRS 2024
Another excellent entry of 18 teams gave us two divisions of nine teams.
The competition only has a couple more weeks to run and is scheduled to finish by the end of June. Many thanks to all taking part and Fred Wakefield (PARKHOUSE Furniture restorers) for again sponsoring this event.
PARKHOUSE Pairs in full swing 2024
NEWTON ABBOT TTC SINGLES SHIELD 2023
With an excellent entry this event could not be completed during 2023 so was carried forward to 2024 when it was eventually played in April! Congratulations to Kevin Nicholls who defeated Dennis Gibbs in an excellent Singles Shield final.
CLUB ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Club’s AGM is a pretty informal affair usually held on the first Friday in July in the Sports Hall Foyer or Dance Studio, Teign School, Kingsteignton. However this year, due to a number of events taking place around this time, the meeting will be held later in July on Friday 26th @ 7pm, you would be most welcome to attend.
DENNIS GIBBS – Chairman and Lead Coach Newton Abbot TTC
It’s the end of an era as Dennis has decided to retire from competitive table tennis, it was either that or move house as he has won so many trophies over the years! If I tried to work out exactly how many I know it wouldn’t be correct but why not check out the records on the South Devon & Torbay TT League and Exeter League websites. He has been a leading player in the area for 50 odd years and has also brought through a number of excellent juniors as our lead coach. I was lucky enough to play in the same team as Dennis for the best part of 20 very enjoyable and successful years in the South Devon League, with many fond memories. A top, top player who always put in 100% and thoroughly deserved the success he had. Dennis, along with Don Blatchford, put down the foundations for the club at Dyrons over 25 years ago and has been Chairman since the club was officially founded in 2013. His contribution to local table tennis has been immense and his regular presence in our top team will be sorely missed. However, we will still see Dennis at the club as he will continue as our Chairman, lead coach and welfare officer and continue to help others enjoy their table tennis at our club sessions.
NEWTON ABBOT TTC TEAMS IN THE SOUTH DEVON & TORBAY LEAGUE 2024-25
While it is still early days to prepare teams for next season if you have any particular aspirations for the 2024-25 season regarding team, division and home night please let me know.
NEWTON ABBOT TTC CLUB COMPETITIONS 2024
All our Club competitions will be held during September 2024 and are open to those players who play for, or regularly practise at, Newton Abbot Table Tennis Club. Provisional dates below:
· Albany Florists Cup – Friday 6th Sept (New format, Handicap singles open to all players)
· Don Blatchford Cup – Saturday 7th Sept (Junior competition)
· Doubles Cup – Friday 13th Sept (New competition)
· Singles Shield – Friday 20th Sept & Friday 27th Sept
SENIOR RATINGS 1 STAR TOURNAMENT AT JOOLA PLYMOUTH TTC, SUNDAY 8TH SEPT 2024
Below is a link to the google entry form for a Senior Ratings Tournament scheduled for Sunday 8th September at Joola Plymouth TTC. This is an ideal tournament for league players, why not give it a go!
https://forms.gle/igvLthiBsfF2om6b8
ROBOT
Following the demise of our old robot we have bought a new one, together with a collecting net. This robot is more user friendly and is easier to set up than the previous one. Please let me know if you would like to use it and I will set it up during the club session.
CLUB KIT
We now have a club shop with VX3 where you can buy all manner of clothing, direct from the supplier, all carrying our club logo. Check it out here: https://vx-3.com/collections/newton-abbot-table-tennis
TEAM CHALLENGE MATCH
On Friday 19th and Saturday 20th July at Teign School we welcome Nick Howard and his team from the Northampton and Milton Keynes leagues who have challenged the might of Newton Abbot TTC to a couple of matches. These matches will take place simultaneously with our club sessions during that weekend and will feature some of our local league and national league players. Some excellent table tennis should be on show and anyone would be most welcome to come along and watch / support.
TABLE TENNIS BATS & OTHER SPECIALIST TT EQUIPMENT
I have a number of excellent new bats suitable for beginners and lower league players at just £18 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.
ITTF Approved 3* match balls are also available at vastly reduced prices.
NA BUZZARDS
It’s been fairly quiet on the social side of the Buzzards as planning for the World Table Tennis Masters in Rome next month is in full swing. Sonja had yet another birthday which was well celebrated with an excellent meal at the Turtley Corn Mill, South Brent. She has also hosted a couple of get togethers to plan Rome 2024, which was also discussed at a BBQ & Hot Tub evening in Chudleigh last week. Flights, hotel and attractions all booked just need to squeeze a bit of TT in on the odd day!
A link to this newsletter is sent to all those players who have attended 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 your summer, when it joins us, and don’t forget Friday night and Saturday morning sessions continue, so please come along and join us for practice, coaching, competitions and friendly matches throughout the holiday period.
