NEWSLETTER - FEB 2016

Club Sessions

A big welcome to a good number of new faces at our club in recent months. We have seen several ex-players who had almost forgotten how to play! and many taking it up for the first time, with an encouraging number of youngsters getting involved.  Our club’s ethos is just to get folk of all ages active and if we can help them enjoy the sport and improve, so much the better. We have a good number of coaches and volunteers happy to help new players learn the game and existing players improve.

South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League

Division One - Following 2 big wins, NA Batmen currently lead the First Division of the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League.  It is very close at the top and Batmen have played more games than their rivals, however it is a fantastic effort to be challenging at the top in what must be the strongest First Division in decades. Dennis Gibbs is near the top of the averages with 81%.

  

Dennis Gibbs

Division Two - In the Second Division NA Buzzards are only 2 points off the top with a game in hand, and NA Eagles are also challenging near the top. The Buzzards’ Ed Crawford currently leads the averages with 87%, With Buzzards’ Mike Dummett & Eagles’ Jim McIvor tying in 3rd place with 81%.

   

Mike Dummett,  Jim McIvor

Division Three - NA Hawks are challenging towards the top of the Third Division, currently 3rd just 2 points away from the runners-up spot, but trail a long way behind the runaway leaders Marldon Tykes.  Mike Coxhead leads the averages with 90% and David Doxsey has a creditable 73% in his first season in the league.  NA Falcons are finding the step up to Division 3 tough, following their promotion as champions, however they should consolidate their status as a Third Division team with a mid-table finish achievable with a couple of good wins.

 

Mike Coxhead

Division Four - With the youngsters from Torbay Academy running away with the Fourth Division title, the fight is for the runners-up spot, which looks like a battle between Newton Abbot sides Kestrels and Kites. The Kestrels currently have a 7-point lead over the Kites, but the Kites have played one game less. NA Owls are just off the pace, but should pick up if Mark Halse, still unbeaten, can shake off his injury. The Kestrels’ Peter Tarjan 88% and Luke Robins 72% are having fine seasons, as too are Kites’ Richard Salt 75% and Kevin Salt 62%. Mention should also go to youngsters Archer Snow, Lewis Short & Harry Usher who all have averages over 50%.

        

   Mark Halse,  Lewis Short,  Peter Tarjan,  Luke Robins,  Richard Salt

Challenge Cup – Both the Buzzards and Kestrels have fought their way through to the quarter-finals in the Team Handicap Singles Tournament. The Eagles and Hawks are hoping to join them when they play their 2nd round matches.

Dyment Doubles – NA Owls reached the quarter-final of the Team Handicap Doubles with a stunning 5-0 victory over runaway leaders of the Third Division, Marldon Tykes.  They are hoping to be joined in the quarters by the Buzzards and Eagles who are both still involved.

A terrific season so far for the Newton Abbot Table Tennis Club. Well done!

Best of luck to all our teams and players challenging for titles at the end of the season.

League Table Tennis – Is it for you?

For those new to the club and hoping to progress to play league table tennis, we are in mid-season at present with our 8 league teams generally having plenty of players signed on, however, occasionally teams struggle to get a side out, so please let us know if you could be available to help out, often at short notice.

League table tennis matches are all on weekday evenings Oct - Apr. A team consists of 3 players each playing 3 singles sets with 2 of the players also playing one doubles; the evening’s table tennis is usually about 3 hours long, starting at 7 o’clock. At present, most matches are on Thursdays and Fridays. All home fixtures are played on Friday nights at Teign School, other venues at present are at Torquay Academy, Brixham Community Centre, Torre, Dawlish Leisure Centre, Marldon, Denbury, Bishopsteignton, Combe Pafford School & Halwell.

While there is no cost to join Newton Abbot Table Tennis Club there are fees for League players who must join Table Tennis England (currently Seniors £10, Juniors £5) and pay team & individual league fees (currently Seniors £12, Juniors £8).  In addition there is a £5 match fee payable for each home match to cover the cost of the venue.  League fees are reduced if joining after the start of the season, with no league fees for temporary membership (2 matches only) although Table Tennis England membership is compulsory for all league players.  These fees will be further reduced / waived if you are helping the club out at short notice and are unlikely to play very often.

National Governing Body – Table Tennis England

As a Table Tennis England Premier Club all our regular players should be affiliated to Table Tennis England.  As mentioned above all league players MUST join Table Tennis England as player members to enable them to play league table tennis.  We are fortunate in our club to have a good number of social players and youngsters learning the game who attend our sessions regularly and should therefore be registered as affiliate members of Table Tennis England – this membership is free and does have some benefits – see the attached link for details or speak to Tony who can sign you up.   

http://tabletennisengland.co.uk/membership/become-an-associate-member/

Sessions open to all  - We continue to attract players from other clubs to join us at our sessions at Teign, to benefit from our excellent facilities, and gain some extra practice.  The cost of 3-hour sessions remains at £3.50 for adults and £2.50 for juniors with further reductions for families.   There is no membership fee and absolutely everyone is welcome to come along and join in.

Give it a go, for free – Come and join us, we are particularly keen to encourage beginners, females and those just wishing to get more active, at our Saturday morning sessions from 9.00 – 12.00.  See who you can bring along!   Remember your first trial session is free.

Lost Property - Any equipment / clothing left behind after a session will be picked up rather than left at the school.  If required urgently items can be collected from 76 Palace Meadow, Chudleigh, TQ13 0PJ (ring prior to collection 01626 852007) otherwise any items found will be brought along to the next few sessions. I have a purple drinks bottle, black sweat pants and towel which I have had for quite a while if anyone would like to claim them, and a juniors grey sprayway top left last week.

Club Shirts - We still have a number of quality Joola Newton Abbot TTC shirts for sale in various sizes at a bargain price of £25, These are available from Tony or Nick at our Club sessions

SOUTH DEVON & TORBAY ANNUAL CLOSED TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Make a note in your diary and keep Sunday 24th April free.  Junior events, divisional events, doubles etc. Many competitions to enter, open to all registered league players, further details to follow........

A link to this newsletter is sent to all those players who have attended our 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

Link to South Devon & Torbay Website for all fixtures and results in the local League  www.tabletennis365.com/southdevonandtorbay 

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