NEWSLETTER SPRING 2024
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our first newsletter of 2024
Firstly, apologies for the enforced break at Teign School while gas works were undertaken during mid February. I really don’t like breaking the continuity as you begin to wonder whether it’s on or not! It is always on unless the school is not open. Which brings me to Easter when unfortunately we will not be able to hire the school, so there will be no club sessions on Good Friday (29th March) or Easter Saturday (30th March)
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 60 members playing in the South Devon and Torbay Table Tennis League in 13 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 standard at the top of the First Division is again exceptional. Torbay Academy 1 are battling it out at the top of the table with both our NA Batmen and NA Buzzards who are both in with a shout this season. NA Eagles are again the best of the rest with the new inexperienced NA Parrots emerging as a real threat to the top teams. NA Condors who it seems no one wants to play (several matches postponed) will comfortably hang on to their first division status.
The second division is as strong and competitive as it was last year. The NA Raptors lead our challenge in this division with the NA Falcons not far behind. The NA Kestrels who moved up from Division Three last year have struggled at the higher level.
In season signings have again disrupted the third division with a strengthened Torre team heading the table. Again, our NA Hawks have not reached their potential and although they have the ability to beat the top sides they will again finish mid table. Our NA Harriers were always going to find it difficult having lost their star man from last season but have battled away well.
Our NA Merlins and NA Ospreys have both had their moments but are a little off the pace this season. It’s very encouraging to report that our youngsters in the NA Vultures are going from strength to strength with some excellent performances.
Each season Newton Abbot TTC make every effort to place all our players in divisions 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 Falcons, Condors, Parrots and Hawks have all made it to the quarter finals. The Dyment doubles is a bit further behind the singles competition, however the Kestrels and Harriers have made it to the quarters already while the Hawks and Condors play each other to see who will join them.
EARLY SEASON TOURNAMENT
Although a few months ago now our league’s early season tournament took place in November after our last Newsletter. There are three events that usually take place, The Collins Cup (Handicap Singles), Handicap Doubles and a Hard bat competition (Excell shield). There was a decent entry from our club although I would still like to see a few others give it a go.
The main event is the Collins Cup where pretty harsh handicaps are given to the top players, despite that the Buzzards’ Kevin Nicholls won the event, there were also fine performances from the Parrots’ Dan Webster-Hall and Rhys Lush as well as Curtis Sage, also a Parrot, who won the consolation event.
The doubles event pitched some excellent pairs together. The Hawks’ Pete Sercombe joined forces with the Condors’ Jim McIvor and reached the final but were beaten by the Parrots’ Dan Webster-Hall who played with the Academy’s Peter Moretta.
Going back to the old days the hard bat competition is scored up to 21 and only bats supplied by the league may be used. Newton Abbot TTC dominated this competition with all 4 semi-finalists. Kevin Nicholls defeated Curtis Sage in one semi final while Rhys Lush defeated the Batmen’s Naomi Jackson in the other. Kevin Nicholls rounded off an excellent day for him defeating Rhys lush in a very close final to lift the Excell Shield.
CRAIG BRYANT COACHING
Most of you, I’m sure, were aware of an excellent coaching session run by top coach Craig Bryant at the start of this season at Teign School. Craig lives fairly locally and is available to help anyone who wants to improve their game. If anyone would like more details of what can be arranged have a chat with our Parrots, who visit Craig quite regularly, and our Buzzards who have also taken advantage of Craig’s coaching in recent months.
SOUTH DEVON & TORBAY ANNUAL CLOSED TOURNAMENT AND FINALS NIGHT
Our local league’s Closed Tournament for league players is on Sunday 14th 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 16th 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.
Entry Form:
https://www.tabletennis365.com/SouthDevonAndTorbay/Pages/Closed_Tournament_2024
SENIOR BRITISH LEAGUE & VETERANS BRITISH LEAGUE
The British League is Table Tennis England’s premier club competition and is open to entrants from across the Home Nations (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, and Isle of Man) and Newton Abbot have representation in the Seniors (SBL) and Veterans (VBL) competitions. Kevin Nicholls reports:-
Senior British League
With one round of matches (April 6th & 7th) still to be played Newton Abbot are comfortably placed in the middle of the Division C5 with 5 wins and 5 defeats. A special mention to Rhys Lush (who has played every match) and Mark Burridge who have both made their debuts this year making valuable contributions to the team alongside fellow squad members of Kev Nicholls, Mike Hugh, Simon James & Wim Faassen.
Veterans British League
Our VBL season has certainly been a game of two halves. Following 2 successive promotions to Division 2, we always knew that this was going be a tough first season with six evenly matched teams competing for 2 promotion spots and hoping to avoid the 2 relegation spots. After the first round of matches with only 1 victory and 1 draw, we were sitting in 5th place 2 points behind 4th place, and we were under no illusion that we had to perform at our very best in the second round of matches to avoid going back to Division 3.
On the weekend of Feb10th/11th the team of Kev Nicholls, Mike Hugh, Simon James, and Kevin Taylor travelled up to the iconic Derby Arena and Velodrome determined to maintain our Division 2 status. We had a great first day as we secured a draw against Norwich and followed that with a magnificent 4-2 win against top side Horsham Spinners (the only points they dropped during the campaign) and a 6-0 whitewash against Graham Spicer 1. However, this meant that we still had to secure victory against our closest rival Crawley (who also had a good 1st day) on Sunday morning to avoid relegation and we demonstrated great grit, resilience, and no little skill to claim a fantastic 5-1 victory. Our only defeat was in the last match of the day against a strong Foresters side who beat us to secure the 2nd promotion spot. In the end we achieved a very creditable and pleasing 4thplace with only 3 points separating 2nd and 5th place. Well done TEAM Newton Abbot. Kevin Nicholls
DON BLATCHFORD CUP 2023
The 2023 much postponed Don Blatchford Junior Cup was eventually held last month. Congratulations to James Kitchen who defeated Fin Humphries in an excellent final. 6-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-7.
SINGLES SHIELD 2023
Also much postponed, we will be hoping to find an opponent for Dennis Gibbs, who reached the final last year, in the next week or two and complete this competition.
PARKHOUSE PAIRS 2024
The Annual Parkhouse Pairs competition will go ahead again in the Spring / early Summer of 2024. I am hoping to start the competition on Friday 26th April 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 quick. April is not far away!!!
Last years finalists with sponsor Fred Wakefield
2024 Parkhouse Pairs entry form:
https://www.tabletennis365.com/NewtonAbbot/Pages/Parkhouse_Pairs_24_Entry_Form
NEWTON ABBOT TTC CLUB COMPETITIONS 2024
The Singles Shield, Albany Florist’s Cup, Don Blatchford Cup and the new Doubles Cup competitions will all take place during September 2024 within our club sessions. Exact dates to follow.
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
If you haven’t watched the VX3 promotional video that they filmed at our club last month you can check it out here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/7hH8s829NsjHPdQG/?mibextid=WC7FNe
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.
TEIGN AFTER SCHOOL CLUB
We 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
It’s been a very busy time for the skipper, arranging her flowers, over the last month or so but prior to that we had an evening out at Glow Wild, Paignton Zoo just before Christmas with a meal at nearby Harleys. Caught up with Show of Hands at the Beehive in Honiton following an excellent meal at the Greyhound Country Inn and finally celebrated Kev’s birthday at the new Social Bar & Kitchen adjacent to the clock tower in Newton Abbot. We are now working on our plans for Rome 2024 when for the first time Table Tennis will be played on a Buzzards week away!
Best of luck to all of our teams for the rest of the season and don’t forget the end of season tournament and finals night.
