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Times

A quarterly, independent, magazine from the world of English Table Tennis

Issue 13 Editorial Winter 2018

As 2018 draws to a close we hope you have a happy and peaceful Christmas and that the festive season leaves you with a little time to read our latest magazine.

Our guest contribution is the first of a series from the pen of Ken & Karenza Mathews, this time detailing how they began their careers in Table Tennis. It makes a fascinating and enjoyable read which we are sure you will enjoy. We cannot wait for their further recollections and memories.

You will recall that in the last issue Peter Charters wrote a very erudite piece on Junior Table Tennis and we have had several positive comments on this. Thanks once again Peter.

There was an interesting article in The Boys’ Brigade Heritage Magazine, which we reproduce with their permission, which refers to the formation of their internal Table Tennis Competition and the fact that presented the prizes. When the author, John Pritchard, was researching his article he contacted this magazine to verify his facts. Why? Because Diane is his sister – small world once again!

It must be something in the genes to have brother and sister involved in producing magazines in their respective fields of interest.

Once again I have to say that our In Memoriam section records the loss of too many great servants of our sport:- Derek Tremayne, Alan Shepherd, Cyril Villiers, Les Greswell, and John Heaton have all passed. Their memory lives on in all of us.

Diane’s research on “What was Happening” this time recalls 1953 – won the Swaythling Cup – nothing more to be said!

Diane’s research, but this time more modern, elicited a fantastic quote from Charlotte Bardsley, who said that her proudest moment in Table Tennis came when she was awarded the Swaythling Club Fair Play Trophy at last year’s National Championships. A remarkable sentiment from a young lady with a bright future.

Best wishes

Harvey Webb Diane Webb ETTA Honorary Life Member ETTA Vice-President 1 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 European Championships 2018

This year the individual events in the European Championships commenced on Tuesday, 18th September 2018 in Alicante, Spain where the World Veterans Championships were held in 2016. A wonderful location.

The entry criteria were changed this season with the ETTU inviting players based on rankings - plus a few wild cards thrown in the mix. Previously, countries nominated the players they wished to represent them. The change did ensure the best players in Europe participated. However, it also meant that a country could not send a younger, less experienced player, perhaps lower down the ranking list who would benefit from the experience. Whether the change is beneficial or not and whether a country should be able to make the decision as to whom represents them is a matter open for debate.

In the Men’s Singles England had three players, who was seeded at number 10, plus and Sam Walker. Tin-Tin Ho was an automatic entrant in the Women’s Singles and Maria Tsaptsinos received a wild card entry. The Men’s Doubles saw Paul Drinkhall and Liam Pitchford team up as Number 6 seeds whilst Sam Walker was paired with Tobias Rasmussen of . In the Women’s Doubles Tin-Tin Ho partnered Charlotte Carey of Wales whilst Maria Tsaptsinos played with Turkey’s Betul Nur Kahraman and in the Mixed Doubles Liam Pitchford and Tin-Tin Ho were seeded at Number 9 whilst Paul Drinkhall paired up with Charlotte Carey.

The Championships started with groups in the singles events. Sam Walker won his group and so went through to the Preliminary Rounds where he was knocked out in the Round of 64. Paul Drinkhall finished second in his group. The number of entrants meant that not all players who were group runners-up went through to the Preliminary Rounds. It was pot luck as to whether players went through or not. Names were drawn to decide who went into the preliminaries. Unfortunately, Paul Drinkhall’s name wasn’t drawn so he was out of the event. It seems a strange way to decide whether a player proceeded or not by the luck of the draw and not by winning. As Liam Pitchford was seeded he went straight through to the knock-out rounds and had a good run before he faced in the last 16 and Respect from Timo Boll for Liam Pitchford. Timo, the eventual winner and for the seventh time, proved a step too Photo courtesy of the ITTF. far.

In the Women’s Singles both Tin-Tin Ho and Maria Tsaptsinos got through their groups. Tin-Tin Ho proceeded to the last 32 before being defeated whilst Maria went out in Preliminary Round 1.

The Women’s Doubles also saw the two English ladies leave the competition at the Preliminary stage, Tin-Tin with Charlotte Carey of Wales and Maria with Betul Nur Kahraman of Turkey. The men fared much better with the seeded Englishmen of Paul Drinkhall and Liam Pitchford reaching the Round of 16 whilst Sam Walker with his Danish partner, Tobias Rasmussen, reached the Quarter-finals. A considerable achievement when you consider the last English players to reach this stage were Desmond Douglas and Alan Cooke in 1990. It seems Sam is becoming something of a doubles specialist as this follows Tobias Rasmussen and Sam Walker. Photo courtesy of the ITTF. 2 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 on from his excellent performance when he reached the Quarter-finals of the World Championships in 2017 with David McBeath.

Each country was allowed a maximum of two players in the Mixed Doubles and as could be expected the frequent partnership of Liam Pitchford and Tin-Tin Ho achieved the best results before being knocked out in the Round of 16. Paul Drinkhall with Charlotte Carey got as far as the Round of 32, this was the first time they had played together so it could be considered a fair result. Similarly, Maria Tsaptsinos, also partnering a Welsh player, Callum Evans, could not have been expected to reach much above the 2nd Preliminary Round match where they were defeated. The pairings with Welsh players would appear to have the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in mind where a combined Great Britain Team rather than an England Callum Evans and Maria Tsaptsinos. Team will participate. Photo courtesy of the ITTF. Overall, a mixed set of results and fortunes for the English squad. It will be interesting to see what feedback there is on the new system of allocating places at this tournament.

The final results were: Men’s Singles: Timo Boll (Ger) beat Ovidiu Ionescu (Rou) Women’s Singles: Li Qian (Pol) beat Margaryta Pesotska (Ukr)

Singles Champions: Timo Boll and Li Qian. Photo courtesy of the ITTF.

Men’s Doubles: and (Aut) beat Mattias Falck and (Swe) Women’s Doubles: Nina Mittleham and Kristin Lang (Ger) beat Sofia Polcanova (Aut) and Yana Noskova (Rus) Mixed Doubles: and Ying Han (Ger) beat and Sofia Polcanova (Aut)

Daniel Habesohn and Robert Gardos Ruwen Filus and Ying Han Kristin Lang and Nina Mittleham All photo courtesy of the ITTF

It was certainly an interesting tournament with many surprises and one where experience won over youth. Only one winner was younger than 30 years of age with Robert Gardos the oldest at 39 followed closely by Timo Boll at 37.

3 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 Events Update Grand Prix Crawley Grand Prix The first of the TTE Grand Prix tournaments took place at K2 in Crawley over the weekend of 22nd/23rd September 2018.There was a good entry with 156 men and 39 women competing for the various events over the two days.

Top of the seedings in the Men’s Open Singles event was the Chinese player, Jiawang Song, and he justified his position by winning the title with England’s David McBeath in Runners-up spot. The Women’s Open Singles title also went according to seeding when former England international, Hannah Hicks, defeated the young Welsh international, Anna Hursey, in the final.

Hannah Hicks. The new format for the Grand Prix this season meant both winners took Jiawang Song. By Diane Webb. home £500.00 whilst the Runners-up received £250.00 and the Semi- By Diane Webb. finalists £100.00. The larger prize fund for each tournament does mean, however, there is no end of season winnings. It will be interesting to see how this change will affect the number and type of entries. The number of Grand Prix has also been reduced this season from eight to five and the Satellite Grand Prix are down to two from three.

Preston Grand Prix

The Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre was the venue for the second Grand Prix of the season in Preston on 3rd and 4th November 2018 and there was certainly a different mix of players compared to previous seasons. The Men’s Number 1 seed was again Jiawang Song and he took the honours in both the Men’s Open and U21 Men’s Singles with a win over Tian Yuan Liu in the main event and against Sing Wong in the U21s.

In the Women’s Open, Anna Hursey, was victorious defeating Haoyu Liu in the Semi-final before her win against Dirqui Yang of in the final. Dirqui Yang reached the final courtesy of her Semi-final win against Hui Tay. There was a good win by English Junior, Mollie Patterson, in the U21 Women’s Singles when she beat Welshwoman, Anna Hursey. Anna Hursey. Cardiff Satellite Grand Prix By Michael Loveder.

Mollie Patterson was the star of the England players at the Cardiff Satellite Grand Prix on 16th and 17th December 2018. She took three titles, Women’s Band 1 and 2 and the U21 Women’s Singles. In all three events she beat Hui Li Tay who was the Runner-up in the main event which was won by Yao Tang. These wins build on Mollie’s success at the Finlandia Open where she finished in the highest English position of 14th. Mollie Patterson. Congratulations Mollie. Darius Knight reached the final of the Men’s By Michael Loveder. Singles but lost to Jiawang Song, his third victory of the season.

4 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 A Table Tennis Life – The Early Years By Ken and Karenza Mathews

The Fifties

Ken: I went to a school in Central . During the winter months I started playing Table Tennis in the school hall at lunch times. They had about four tables and I found that I had a bit of a talent for the game. Soon there was only one boy in the school that I couldn’t beat - he had a bat with sponge rubber, a new innovation in the mid-Fifties, which made the ball go a lot faster. The boy’s name was Adams; the world champion at that time was a Japanese player, Tanaka, and so Adams called himself Tanakadams.

My friends and I lived a busy social life which left little time for school work. My form master, wrote: ‘He is not without ability and might pass in several subjects next June - but only with very hard work - I suggest therefore that he will not have time for his Dancing Clubs, Skating, , Table Tennis, Youth Clubs etc’. The Head Master counter-signed the report adding: ‘I thoroughly endorse his Form Masters strictures.’ (I mentally noted that he had omitted the apostrophe from ‘Masters’ but didn’t think it was a good idea to mention it.) Nearly ninety per cent of the boys from the school went on to university. Three per cent of us didn’t. Instead I went to work in the London docks.

The best part of working there was the Surrey Commercial Docks Staff Club. There was a bar, two snooker tables and three table tennis tables. Magic! I would play table tennis for hours after work and I actually got some coaching there from a chap who knew how to teach all the basic strokes of the game. We do not have many stunning action shots of me playing table tennis. This is another one that isn't. It was taken in the Staff Club. I soon started to play in a team in the London Business Houses League with a couple of other keen players.

1959

Sometime in late March the English Open Table Tennis Championships were held at The Empire Pool, Wembley. By now I had been playing for a couple of seasons in a team in the London Business Houses League. We decided that we would like to see some top class players and so we went along to the finals night. The first game we saw was the first semi-final of the Men’s Singles between Harangozo of Yugoslavia and Berczik of Hungary. Neither of them seemed to want to attack and so it turned into a long drawn out match which was pretty tedious. Was this what world class table tennis was all about? Then the second semi started! It was between Ogimura and Murakami, both of . They went to the table and started their ‘knock-up’. They played way back from the table and started belting the ball backwards and forwards at high speed. The place went mad! After the first slow and dismal game – this was how table tennis should be played! I think it was that match that sealed my interest in the game. I would never be able to play at that level – but I wanted to see more of those who could.

5 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 I noticed that, in the October issue of Table Tennis, the national magazine of the game, the new England senior ranking list was published. For the first time, Ian Harrison, a player from Gloucester, went to number one. Ian was a very fine all-round player who could combine defensive play with attack; he would go on to represent England many times. He was also a really nice guy who would become a friend in years to come.

1960

Although I didn’t go along to see it, the first English Closed Table Tennis Championships were held at Greenwich Baths from the 8th to the 10th of January this year. Bryan Merrett won the Men’s Singles and Diane Rowe won the Women’s Singles.

During the years that I worked at the docks (and even after I left there) I continued playing table tennis in the London Business Houses League. At about this time I decided that I ought to try to improve my game and so I started playing at the Putney International Table Tennis Club.

I went there for the first time with a great deal of trepidation which was hugely increased when I went in through the door. The hall was a large one on the first floor of a building; I think there might have been a Territorial Army hall downstairs. The table tennis club had about six tables and all of them were occupied by players, many of whom I had seen on visits to some of the major tournaments. Most of them were county players and several had represented England. Feeling completely out of my depth, I stuck it out and managed to get one or two games. Harry Venner, himself a former England player, ran the club.

Harry was an excellent coach and Mary Shannon, who was then a top junior and playing for Surrey, (she had just won the Girl’s Singles at the English Open Championships), was a regular player at Putney. The cutting about Mary is from a local paper at that time. Although I didn’t know it at that time, Mary was to become a life-long friend.

I also had private coaching sessions with Harry; as a result I certainly became a better player - but I knew that I would never get to the standard of most of the other players at the club.

6 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 One evening as I was getting changed for a coaching session, another chap was getting changed having just had an hour playing Harry. He was very interested to know who I was and how long I had been playing etc. etc. I had no idea who he was and so afterwards I asked Harry. 'Victor Barna', he replied. Barna had been World Men’s Singles Champion five times in the 1930's! I had been in very exalted company!

Karenza: It was in the summer of that year that I went on holiday with Mum and Dad to a holiday camp. This was a Butlins Camp and it was at

Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. For the first few days I think that we walked Harry Venner. about and did the kind of things you do at holiday camps, swim a bit, eat a bit, watch the Redcoats entertaining the kids and going to the Redcoat shows in the evening. After a few days I probably got a bit bored and noticed that there was a hall with some table tennis tables set up. There were some children playing and there seemed to be someone, a woman, who was giving them some instructions about how to play. Mum and Dad asked me if I would like to have a try - and so I did.

The lady doing the coaching was called Joyce Fielder. I had no idea at the time but she was a very experienced coach and had played regularly for the Kent County first team. I seemed to be able to get the ball back on the table fairly well and I think that Joyce realised that I might have some talent for the game. I really enjoyed playing and I think I spent a good bit of the rest of that holiday in the table tennis hall. As the end of the holiday approached, Joyce spoke to Mum and Dad and must have told them that they should think about getting some more coaching for me. She asked where we lived and recommended a club at Bethnal Green in East London.

The holiday ended and I reached the dizzy age of ten years on the 7th September. I returned to school and, probably in mid-September, went with Dad to the club that Joyce had suggested. It was called the Albion Table Tennis Club and it was run by Jack and Elsie Carrington.

I was really looking forward to going to the club. When we got there the playing hall was bigger than I thought it would be - there were six green tables down the length of the hall and they were all brightly lit. All the tables were in use - and the players seemed incredibly good - I had never seen the game played properly and these players were hammering the ball backwards and forwards - a bit daunting for me, a little ten year old!

Anyway Dad spoke to a lady who came forward - it was Elsie Carrington - and told her that the coach at Butlins, Joyce Fielder, had said that she thought I might be able to play a bit. I have to confess that Elsie did seem to be a bit intimidating! She was polite of course but very clear about the fact that Wednesday nights was beginner's night - I could come back then; I would have to be properly dressed with plimsolls (which had to be white and would have to be kept white), white socks and a tracksuit. I also would need a bat!

.... to be continued.

7 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 European Table Tennis Union Athletes Commission

England has a presence on the ETTU Athletes Commission when Paul Drinkhall was elected by his fellow players in Alicante at the European Championships for a two year period. Paul’s vast experience at international level since the age of 10 years old will be invaluable. He has played at every level across the globe and I am sure he will be a big asset to the Commission.

Ronald Kramer (ETTU President), Galia Dvorak, Paul Drinkhall, Jose Manuel Ruez, Zoltan Primorac

Other members of the Commission are Galia Dvorak of Spain, Adrian Crisan of Romania, Zoltan Primorac of Croatia and a para representative, Jose Manuel Ruiz, from Spain.

Rankings

After a tremendous year Liam Pitchford has reached the dizzy heights of 16 on the World Ranking List, well deserved after some incredible results during 2018. This also raises Liam to Number 5 in Europe.

Sam Walker has become England Number 2, World 95 and European 44 replacing Paul Drinkhall as the second English ranked player. This is the first time Paul has been out of the top two for over a decade.

The top players in the ladies game at the end of the year on the ITTF list leaves Tin-Tin Ho at 113, Maria Tsaptsinos at 218 and Denise Payet at 303.

The end of year Team placings on the ITTF Ranking List has England Men at 11 and the Women at 34.

Table Tennis England Have Moved

A change of address but still in Milton Keynes. now reside in a section of the offices. The new address is Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge, Milton Keynes MK8 9LA. Telephone numbers and email addresses remain the same.

8 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 European Championships Qualifiers Stage 1

Second Leg – Third Round Men: The second leg of the Qualifiers against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo saw a relatively easy victory for the Men’s team of Tom Jarvis, David McBeath and Sam Walker who all had straight 3-0 victories against their opponents on 2nd October 2018.

Women: Thursday, 4th October 2018 was the date for the fixture away to Norway for the ladies squad of Charlotte Bardsley, Tin-Tin Ho, Denise Payet and Maria Tsaptsinos. Maria Tsaptsinos led the evening with a 3-1 win which was followed by a similar scoreline by Tin-Tin Ho. Denise Payet who is still gaining experience at senior level couldn’t keep the wins going and lost in three straight. Tin-Tin Ho was back on the table to ensure a victory for England with another 3-1 result. Overall score 3-1 to England.

Second Leg – Fourth Round Men: England Men played their second leg against Serbia at Gillingham on Tuesday, 20th November 2018. A double header with the ladies playing Greece on a second table. It was imperative that the men had a clear 3-0 result to top the group. Without England Number 1, Liam Pitchford, it was going to be a difficult match. However, the evening started well with Tom Jarvis first on the table who defeated Ivor Katic 3-0. Next up was Paul Drinkhall who faced Zsolt Peto but despite fighting valiantly it was the Serb who took the match 3-2. Sam Walker then had the challenge of meeting the very experienced Aleksandar Karakasevic to try and get the match win for England but again a titanic struggle resulted in a Serbian victory. Tom Jarvis played his second match of the evening which swung first one way and then the other but it was Peto who came out the winner in the fifth game which gave Serbia the win for the evening and meant they finished top of the group with England in second place.

Paul Drinkhall Tom Jarvis in front of a full house Sam Walker All photos by Michael Loveder

Women: The other match at Gillingham was the ladies who faced Greece once again and this time the score again favoured England. Tin-Tin Ho, now firmly established as England’s Number 1 female player, came blasting out of the starting blocks to have a comfortable 3-0 win against Aikaterina Toliou. Next up was Maria Tsaptsinos who, although dropping one game, never looked like losing the match and so England were 2-0 up.

9 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 Charlotte Bardsley then came on court for her senior England debut and made it a victory for England winning a consistent 11-7, 11-7, 11-7. An excellent start to what is likely to be a long England career. The 3-0 England victory meant England topped their group.

Tin-Tin Ho Maria Tsaptsinos Charlotte Bardsley All photos by Michael Loveder

European Championships Qualifiers Stage 2

It is now known who England’s opponents will be for Stage 2 of the qualifiers. To recap on the process: countries were in groups according to their positions in the 2017 European Team Championships where England men finished in 25th place and the women in 23rd place. This meant that both teams were in the B tier of groups. The first two teams in the A tier of groups went through to the finals of the Championships. The third placed team in the A tier of groups plus those who finished first and second in the B tier of groups went through to the second stage of the qualifying competition. Got it so far!

The draw for the second stage took place on 18th December 2018 with one team from stage 1 who finished third in the A tier and one each from the teams who finished first and second in the B tier. England’s men finished in second position in the B tier and the ladies in first position in their B tier group so they both qualified for Stage 2 of the Qualifying event.

England’s groups in Stage 2 which will be played over the weekend of 18th/19th May 2019 will be (figures in brackets denote the European rankings of the top three players in each country as at December 2018):

Men: England (5, 44, 54), Estonia (191, 273, 273), Italy (35, 37, 93), Ukraine (16, 70, 82).

Women: Belgium (66, 74, 112), England (51, 95, 127), Spain (19, 29, 45).

Teams who have already qualified for the finals, 14 per event:

Men: (host country), (holders), Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Belgium, , Spain, Poland, Croatia, Belarus, Slovakia, Greece, Russia.

Women: France (host country), Romania (holders), Germany, Luxembourg, , Croatia, Sweden, Belarus, Hungary, Czech Republic, Portugal, Austria, Ukraine, Poland.

There will be an additional ten teams per event from the Stage 2 Qualifying matches in the finals. So, in all 24 teams per event which means there will be many countries not represented at these Championships. It could possibly be that England has no participation.

10 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 Spotlight on the Boys’ Brigade National Championships and Table Tennis By John Pritchard.

The following is an article written by John Pritchard for the Boys’ Brigade Heritage Society Newsletter of which he is Editor. He has been a Member of the 2nd Sutton Coldfield Boys’ Brigade Company since 1964.

The start of National Competitions within the Boys’ Brigade can best be researched by looking back to the Stedfast Magazine and following the monthly reports in the issues from 1959.

The Stedfast Magazine of August/September 1959 (Issue 71) announced the start of a new competition. Details were to be sent with the next issue but the idea was to give a trophy to the champion table tennis team of the Brigade in the British Isles. Early rounds would be completed on a district basis. It was suggested that if the table tennis competition attracted plenty of entries and is a success that maybe an inter-company football contest would follow another year. In the October issue entry forms were enclosed with a brief description of the format of the competition. It would be open to all companies in the British Isles and the winners would be presented with the Stedfast Magazine Table Tennis Shield. Teams would consist of three boys of Boys’ Brigade age (not Staff-Sergeants) who were members of the competing Company. The matches would be on a knockout basis and there was even an offer from Brigade to assist with travelling expenses in the latter rounds when longer distances of travel would be required.

The response to this first ‘National Competition’ proved to be highly successful as 256 teams entered. This was a remarkably convenient number for those that know about organising knockout competitions. The December issue announced that Miss Diane Rowe a famous international table tennis player would be present at the final to award the trophy. Miss Rowe also agreed to answer questions thus becoming the honorary coach of the tournament. The January issue indicated that the final would take place on Sunday 4th June 1960. This issue also included an update on results and an article on how to improve your table tennis play from Miss Rowe.

By February the competition was down to the last 32 teams and there was another article from Miss Rowe on Dress and Appearance. The venue of Nottingham was disclosed in the March issue who would host the semi-finals and final. Further table tennis guidance appeared in the April issue confirmed the last four teams as – 2nd Bath, 8th Belfast, 1st Berwick-on- Tweed and 2nd Nottingham. The final column from Miss Rowe discussed an important topic ‘playing as a team’. The June issue covered the four finalists and their records on reaching the finals.

For the record the 8th Belfast beat 2nd Bath by 6 games to 3 in the final and the winning team was L/Cpl Denis Kelly, L/Cpl Norman Patterson and Sgt Robert Johnston.

The cover of the July Stedfast Magazine included a picture of Miss Rowe presenting the trophy to the 8th Belfast as first winners of the competition. A full three pages were devoted July 1960. Stedfast Magazine

11 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 inside with a report including pictures of the finals event and complementary comments about the competition.

Miss Rowe was already a highly accomplished and decorated player by 1960 having made her International debut for England in 1949 at the age of 16. She became England’s number 1 player and reached number 5 in the world in 1953. Amongst many of her achievements she became Women’s World Doubles Champion with her twin sister, Rosalind, on two occasions and held many National and International titles.

This new competition was certainly launched well and was supported with large entries over future years. The following year another World Champion and number 1 men’s player presented the trophies. He was a household name at the time and therefore gave even more prestige to this competition.

*The picture on the right shows Miss Rowe (now Diane Scholer) in 2017 making a presentation to Tin-Tin Ho (now England’s number 1 Ladies player) taken at the English National Championships. I am not sure that those taking the Stedfast picture above could have expected this picture nearly 60years later.

From the early days of the Stedfast Magazine Table Tennis Competition the Boys’ Brigade have developed many other competitions. The next competition open to all Companies was ’Top of the Form’ now known as ’Masterteam’. Today Companies can enter Badminton, Chess and both Junior and Senior 5 a side Football. Table Tennis of course continues whilst all of the above are now organised by Brigade since the closure of the Stedfast Magazine. 2017 National Championships. Diane Scholer (Rowe) with Tin-Tin Ho. Photo by Alan Man.

Additional note: There has been a strong association between the Boys’ Brigade and the ETTA and the Boys’ Brigade was an Organisation in Good Standing for many years. The photograph below shows Laurie Landry during a coaching session at Brigade House, Parsons Green in 1973 talking to Her Majesty, the Queen and the Boys’ Brigade President, Earl of Elgin & Kincardine.

12 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 In Memoriam

Derek Tremayne

The former ETTA General Secretary and Vice-President, Derek Tremayne, passed away on Saturday, 15th September 2018, aged 88 years. Derek was a man of great charm and warmth with a wonderful presence and the consummate professional. He joined the ETTA on 1st December 1966 and spent eight years in his post of General Secretary, with a staff of two, making a great impact during his time in office. His appointment had to be ratified by National Council which was the procedure at that time and there was a long discussion on Derek’s suitability as he did not have table tennis experience. Fortunately, for the Association his position was confirmed and the Association benefitted enormously during his tenure.

As well as his day to day duties Derek was a supreme negotiator and negotiated major sponsorship agreements including with Norwich Union Insurance and Coca Cola.

Derek forged strong links with the Sports Council and negotiated television agreements with BBC and ITV from 1966 onwards. On one occasion Derek was contacted on a Monday for a televised match two days later to fill in a blank programme slot – despite the exceedingly short time scale it was arranged.

Organising a major tour of the UK by the Chinese Team in 1972 following a visit to China by England after the World Championships in Japan, 1971, was another of Derek’s considerable achievements. This included the coup of arranging with Hawker Siddeley the provision of an aircraft to bring the Chinese Team from Sweden for a tour and take the players and officials around the country to the various venues, London, , Cardiff, Edinburgh and Dublin. (Hawker Siddeley were trying to sell Tridents to the Chinese at the time). During the tour the Chinese had requested a meeting with the Prime Minister and royalty. Again a successful outcome at No. 10 Downing Street meeting Edward Heath and meeting HRH Princess Anne.

Derek produced the booklet ‘Spotlight on Table Tennis’ in 1968 which set out where English Table Tennis was and plans for the future. An interesting read with much relevance today.

On another occasion Derek prepared a report on the World Championships in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, which was used as a blueprint for the very successful World Championships in Birmingham, 1977.

On the playing front Derek was the Organiser for both the English Closed and the English Open for several years and was involved with the European Junior Championships in 1970. Derek was a member, Secretary and Chairman of a plethora of committees including the World Championships Steering Committee in 1974 all of which benefitted from his wisdom and expertise.

Derek moved on to become the Director of Lilleshall National Sports Centre but still kept in touch with table tennis mainly through his links with the 100 Club. He last attended their dinner three years ago in 2015; Derek also attended the TTE AGM that year.

A good and valued friend and former colleague has been lost to the Association.

Our thoughts and condolences go to Maureen and all the family.

13 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 Alan Shepherd

Another long standing and respected member of the Association died on 21st October 2018 aged 89. Connected with two counties, Essex and Middlesex, Alan’s table tennis roots went back many years. Alan was a former Chairman of Essex County TTA amongst many roles and received their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Alan became a Life Member of Middlesex County TTA and also received a Platinum Award for over 55 years of service. The London Federation of Sports & Recreation also honoured Alan with a 50 Years of Service to Sport Award. Alan was not only involved with table tennis at local and county level, he served on several ETTA Committees including their Regional Committee for over 20 years and a member of the Board of Appeal for nearly 20 years. He received the ETTA Leslie Forrest Memorial Trophy in 1970 and the Merit Award in 1985.

As well as his committee work Alan qualified as an International Umpire in 1975 and was a National Referee qualifying in 1972. He put his knowledge to good use with the various tournaments he worked at including Essex Opens and the Maccabiah Games between 1961 and 2005. Alan also umpired at two World Championships in England, in 1977 and 1977. A solicitor by profession Alan was known to give advice to players who needed some professional assistance.

A man of great dedication who will be much missed.

Cyril Villiers, MBE

There was another loss to the Association when Cyril Villiers passed away in November 2018 aged 86 years. A Vice-President of both the ETTA and English Schools TTA Cyril’s table tennis history revolved around Yorkshire despite being born in London. Both a player and an administrator Cyril made a big impact through his role as Chairman of the ETTA Regional Development Committee and through his work with SportsAid in Yorkshire and Humberside where he was Regional Director and Honorary Chief Executive and also the Sports Council where he was Regional Director.

Additional positions were held both at national level and within the county and local level where Cyril was President of Yorkshire County TTA and Leeds TTL. For the latter he received an award for 25 Years of Service in 2000. Cyril was honoured by Leeds Metropolitan University in 1991 with an Honorary Fellowship and the Roy Moor Award for service to British Sport in 1994.

A gentleman who was well respected by all. Cyril will be missed by all who knew him.

We wish to remember the passing of Les Gresswell, former junior international, ETTA coach and mastermind behind several coaching videos.

We have also recently been informed of the death of John Heaton, former ETTA Vice-Chairman of Development and former Chairman of Sutton Coldfield Table Tennis Club where he took Diane under his wing when she first started playing. John was a director of the Eagle Star Group and the link between the two positions resulted in the production of table tennis coaching videos in the late 1980s.

Our sympathies go to all the families of those who have died.

14 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 ITTF Open Tournaments

Belgian Open

There was a strong English presence at the Belgian Open which ran from 23rd-27th October 2018 with Andrew Baggaley, Tom Jarvis, David McBeath, Sam Walker, Emily Bolton, Tin-Tin Ho and Maria Tsaptsinos all playing. Unfortunately, David McBeath had to concede during his Men’s Singles due to injury which also meant with partner, Sam Walker, they had to pull out of the Men’s Doubles, a great pity as they are such a strong pairing. It was only Sam Walker who reached any of the later stages in the Sam Walker in action. tournament when he reached the last 16 in the Men’s Singles. Photo courtesy of the ITTF.

Swedish Open

The Swedish Open followed on running from 29th October to 4th November 2018. Again there was good representation from English Players with Andrew Baggaley, Paul Drinkhall, Tom Jarvis, Liam Pitchford and Sam Walker participating. In the Men’s Singles Liam Pitchford was the only player to reach the main draw knockout stage of the competition but fell to Dmitrij Ovtcharov in the round of 32. However, Paul Drinkhall partnered by Liam had a brilliant run to reach the Semi-final in the Men’s Doubles. A little fortuitous perhaps in that the seeded and were unable to play due to injury and Paul and Liam should have met them in last 16. The Quarter-final match was against the Japanese pair of and Yuto Kizukuri which the English men won 3-2. They then went on to face Taipei duo of Cheng-Ting and Yun-Ju Lin, a match they lost 3-1. However, it did mean they picked up some useful ITTF points which go towards the Grand Tour finals and gave them some well earned prize money. In the

Liam Pitchford and Paul Drinkhall. U21 Men’s Singles Tom Jarvis reached a creditable last 16. Photo courtesy of the ITTF. Austrian Open

Hardly time to breathe before the Austrian Open commenced on 6th November 2018 in Linz. A very strong entry which saw England’s Andrew Baggaley, Paul Drinkhall, Liam Pitchford, Tin-Tin Ho and Maria Tsaptsinos amongst the players. Again, Liam was the only player to reach the knockout rounds of the main draw but what an excellent run he had before he met the Chinese, Xu Xin in the Semi- final. He left behind him, Robert Gardos (Aut), Koyo Kanamitsu (Jpn) and then revenge against Timo Boll (Ger) in the Quarter-final before Liam Pitchford. falling to World number 2, Xu Xin in his Semi-final match. Photo courtesy of the ITTF.

15 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 What was Happening 65 Years Ago? 1953

 England wins the Swaythling Cup in Budapest beating the Hungarian team in the final. The England players in the final were , Johnny Leach and , Brian Kennedy was also in the squad. Adrian Haydon was the npc and showed his delight by saying “Thank you Johnny, Richard, Aubrey and Brian for that one supreme moment in my Table Tennis life”. It cost £6 to fill the World Champions - Richard Bergmann, Brian Swaythling Cup with champagne. Diane and Kennedy, Aubrey Simons, Adrian Haydon (npc), Rosalind Rowe were Runners-up in the Corbillon Johnny Leach. Cup losing to Rumania. Diane and Rosalind both reached the Semi-finals in the Women’s Singles whilst Bergmann and Leach just lost the Men’s Doubles 21-19 in the fifth. Unlucky Diane and Rosalind also succumbed in the final of the Women’s’ Doubles. The Mixed Doubles saw Victor Barna (aged 41 years) and Rosalind Rowe, Johnny Leach and Diane Rowe and Brian Kennedy and Kathy Best all go out in the Quarter-finals.

 Annual turnover of the ETTA was £12,000 and the recorded number of players in England was 150,000.

 Diane and Rosalind Rowe toured and Australia. A 41 day, 12,000 mile journey. The shipping company had kindly installed a special practice table for them. The banner headline read “PEOPLE CLING TO WINDOW SILLS TO SEE ROWE TWINS”.

 Its Coronation year and Her Majesty, The Queen, followed her father by becoming Patron of the ETTA. Lady Swaythling received A welcome by the New Zealand government at the Parliament an OBE in the Coronation honours. Buildings in Wellington.

 Three junior players, Geoff Pullar, Ray Dorking and David House, toured Sweden with non playing captain, Leo Thompson. The boys played 19 matches and tournaments in 23 days including one international match where they beat the Swedish Juniors 5-0 in Malmo. Captain, Leo Thompson said “It was a grand tour and we made lots of friends everywhere. Our boys made a grand team. Full of

Leo Thompson, Geoff Pullar, David fun and high spirits but always well disciplined, considerate House, Ray Dorking. and well behaved”.

 The Daily Mirror Table Tennis Tournament attracted 12,000 entries. The eventual winners were MS Billy England, WS Ann Haydon, BS Gordon Lumsden and GS Joyce Fielder.

16 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018  The Birmingham League won their first J M Rose Bowl with the team of Marjorie Cumberbatch, Pam Mortimer, Jean Mackay and npc Pam Baird beating Manchester 6-3 in the final and Woolwich in the Semi-final. The South London League won the Wilmott Cup for the fourth consecutive year with Ron Crayden, Jackie Head and Harry Venner. They defeated Huddersfield in

Birmingham ladies: Marjorie Cumberbatch, Pam the final and Gloucester in the Semi-final. Mortimer, Pam Baird (npc), Jean Mackay.  Ann Haydon won the French Junior Open aged 14 years, Diane Rowe was victorious in the Women’s Singles, Brian Kennedy and Aubrey Simons were Men’s Doubles champions, Kathy Best and Diane Rowe took the Women’s Doubles title whilst Brian Kennedy and Joyce Roberts were the Mixed Doubles winners.

 The Chairman () said that “the AGM was the occasion when members had the constitutional right to express opinions, to criticize, to air any sense of grievance. He hoped everyone would relieve themselves frankly and freely before they left. They would all have the opportunity to do so”.

 Aubrey Simons received the first Victor Barna Award which was introduced to mark the most notable performance by an English table tennis player.

 At the English Open, Frenchman, Michel Haguenauer beat Johnny Leach in the Men’s Singles final, Rosalind Rowe defeated Linde Wertl of Austria to become the Women’s Singles Champion, David House was Runner-up in the Boys’ Singles, Ann Haydon won the Girls’ Singles, the Men’s Doubles was won by Richard Bergmann and Johnny Leach and the Women’s Doubles by Diane and Rosalind Rowe and finally the Mixed Doubles title went to Victor Barna partnered by Rosalind Rowe who beat Johnny Leach and Diane Rowe in the final.

 Three stalwarts of the Association who gave many years of service passed away. Thomas Brandreth: ETTA Vice-President, Chairman of Liverpool & District TTL and also Chairman of South West Lancashire & Cheshire Federation. Ralph Emdin: ETTA Vice-President, Honorary Life Member of St Albans TTL and father of two England internationals, Dora and Doris Emdin. Harold Oldroyd: Former ETTA President, also President of Cheshire County TTA, Lancashire County TTA, Manchester & District TTL and North Western TTA.

Harold Oldroyd Thomas Brandreth 17 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 World Para Championships

We can celebrate a new World Champion in 23 year old Ross Wilson of Kent in Men’s Class 8 at the World Para Championships in Celje, Slovenia in October 2018. The final was a very close match with the score in Ross’s favour 12-10, 7-11, 10-12, 14-13, 12-10. He beat double Paralympic Champion Zhao Shuai from China, a very impressive result but a match which had the GB bench on tenterhooks as Ross saved three match points before converting his first for the title. A wonderful year for Ross who also became the Champion earlier in the year.

A bronze medal was won by Fliss Pickard in Women’s Class 6, Fliss had an excellent tournament but lost in the Semi-final to the World Number 2, European Para Champion and 2012 Paralympic Champion, Russian, Raisa Chebanika. Welshman, Tom Matthews, also won a bronze, in Men’s Class 1. He faced the tough challenge of the World Number 1 and Paralympic silver medallist, Korean, Young Dae Joo, in his Semi-final match who proved too tough an opponent to overcome.

Congratulations all round.

Tom Matthews Fliss Pickard Ross Wilson with coach, Greg Baker

Table Tennis England Governance Update

The implementation of a Members Advisory Group (MAG) was one of the key recommendations of the Independent Review Panel which was set up after the TTE AGM in 2017 to undertake a review of our sports Governance.

The main role of the MAG is to provide strategic advice to the Board and to create a path that the table tennis community can use to raise strategic issues.

The next phase of the review is now underway and an Appointment Panel has been created consisting of nine experienced table tennis volunteers and it is this group that will interview and appoint the members of the MAG.

Applications for the 12 roles on the new Members Advisory Group have been invited, and interviews were scheduled for December 2018, so it is hoped that the new group will come into effect early in 2019.

18 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 In Remembrance

Sunday, 11th November 2018 marked 100 years since the armistice which brought World War I to a close. Two minutes silence was observed by players, parents and officials at the Junior British League in Derby.

Graham Rollinson, centre, one of many paying respect at the Junior British League. Photo by Chris Rayner.

Can You Help?

With the European Championships and their Qualifying Events we thought we would see if anyone has any programmes from previous Championships to help fill gaps. The years that programmes are missing are: 1960, 1962, 1964, 1970, 1972, 1978, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

A big thank you to everyone who has provided copies of programmes and also photographs and videos over the past year. They have added to our records to help build up a bigger picture of English table tennis since its beginning.

19 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 Old Photographs

1937/38 Merseyside Open. Victor Barna and Mrs Lena Booker (Miss Henocq)

November 1952. Merseyside Open. Richard Bergmann and Aubrey Simons with Liverpool General Secretary, Bill Stamp

20 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018

24th October 1947 Surrey v Essex. Back: Ken Merrett, Ron Sharman, Jack Carrington, G Wheeler, Johnny Leach. Front: Ron Crayden, Vera Dace (Thomas), Harry Swetman, Doris Rivett, Gladys Patterson

1955/56 Surrey County Champions. Tony Miller, Harry Venner, Jean Head (Winn), Jill Rook, Peggy Piper, Ron Crayden, Betty Isaacs (Bird), Ken Craigie

21 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018 Forthcoming Events

International Events European U21 Championships: 7th-10th March 2019 – Portugal. World Championships (Team Events): 21st-28th April 2019 – Budapest, Hungary. European Championships Qualifiers Second Stage: 18th/19th May 2019. Venue to be decided. : 21st-30th June 2019 – Belarus. European Veterans Championships: 1st-7th July 2019 – Budapest, Hungary. European Youth Championships: 12th-21st July 2019 – Ostrava, Czech Republic.

European Championships (Team Events): 3rd-8th September 2019. Nantes, France.

Domestic Events Bath Grand Prix: 12th/13th January 2019 Wolverhampton Grand Prix: 6th/7th April 2019 Jersey Satellite Grand Prix: 19th-21st April 2019 London Grand Prix: 25th/26th May 2019

*National Championships Qualification: 19th/20th January 2019, Preston. National Championships: 1st- 3rd March 2019, Nottingham. Cadet & Junior National Championships: 11th/12th May 2019, Nottingham. U10-U13 National Championships: 15th/16th June 2019, Wolverhampton.

Cadet National Cup: 9th/10th March 2019, Corby. U12 National Cup: 13th/14th April 2019, Blackpool. Junior National Cup: 22nd/23rd June 2019, Plymouth.

*The closing date for this has been extended to 2nd January 2019. At the time of writing there were almost 60 entrants from men and fewer than 20 from women. The top 10 men and top 10 women from the Qualifiers go through to the National Championships in March 2019.

Our Contact Details Diane and Harvey Webb Email: [email protected] Pine Edge [email protected] 12 Salvington Crescent Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN39 3NP

Telephone: 01424 216342

22 Table Tennis Times 13 Winter 2018