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Icounty Table Tennis Championships FINAL TABLES

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Icounty Table Tennis Championships FINAL TABLES IEditorial I That WAS a crisis season! I AM not a follower of the theory that because there is a considerable amount of controversy in table tennis at this time, sponsors will not look at us. One of the more pleasant aspects of journalism is that in general reporting, one is continually pitchforked into the inside of all sorts of organisations, inside and outside sport. In very many instances in my experience there is a "war" going out, so my view is that it could indicate a more healthy state with more people coming forward with differing viewpoints. It, WAS, a crisis season in which as I see it, table tennis people have divided into three camps, just like politicians in Parliament. In camp 'A' we have the ardent followers of the chairman John Prean, who believe that a change was necessary or even essential and that they will continue to follow him, come what may. In camp 'B' we have those who have revolted or resigned from high posts and those who are adamantly voting against him especially at National Council. In camp 'C' there are those who for a variety of reasons will not commit themselves in either direction. I will admit to being in Camp 'C' because as a journalist I am committed to writing and publicising many points of view. I have written and will continue to report situations that look anti-Prean and others that will be pro-Prean. We have voted in a controversial chairm~n, twice. At least to the end of next season he is in a seat that I believe is hotter than he imagined when he was sharpshooting from the rear trenches. Now he is leading the troops over the top himself and no-one envies him the task. Also leading the troops fighting for the ETTA will be the new Chief Executive Ted Wallbutton whose presence on board and on the bridge is more than welcome. The chairman has succeeded in appointing four vice-chairmen. The contest for deputy chairman has brought forth a powerful candidate to fight Alan Ransome· Tony Chatwin from Derbyshire whose claim to fame is that he supports no person, just the ETTA, and another worker for table tennis is Brian Spicer. Ransome and Spicer both with marketing backgrounds, circulated election manifestos, the Ransome offering running to four pages, but Chatwin was left at the start believing he was only allowed 40 words. I disagree with John Prean when he says that table tennis can become a front-rank major sport, but I do say that as in other coun­ tries (West Germany and France are two examples I have seen personally) it can be in the front-rank of the other sports - 3,000 fans at Wurzburg and all shouting and stamping for the home side proved that. So whilst Messrs Yates, Drapkin, Charters are on the sidelines - and they may return -let those of us who are left, work to produce a climax to next season - a promotion-clinching match at home to Holland with a 2,000 crowd. OCTOBER 12 is the next publication date for this magazine. The editor will be unchanged, the aim is for another extra four pages, so order your subscription now! JOHN WOODFORD FRONT COVER ... DUNDEE photographer Brian Webster took the photograph of the England girls junior squad. Left Contents Page to right, Andrea Holt, Debbie Toole, captain Jackie Bellinger, Courtside - some but not all of the latest gossip 2 Claire Potts and Kerry Hall. European League - John Woodford in Wurzburg with a distressing tale 3 The official magazine of the The late, late story from Newcastle, the English Junior Open 5 English Table Tennis Association. More European League by George Yates 6 Fleet Street journalist Richard Eaton's last thoughts on the season 7 The Sports Council - Grant Aid Explained by Albert Shipley 8 The Chairman meets the Minister of Sport and Politics 9 Schildkrot British League, a three-page season round-up by Mike Loveder 10,11,13 IJ Stiga Grand Prix Finals at Milton Keynes 14 Editor: JOHN WOODFORD Carl Prean wins at Luton 14 Advertisements: The Chinese Tour of England by John Woodford 16 Chris Wilkes The Chairman sums up the season 17 Subscriptions and distribution: Beth Davies County Championships,' comments by Doug Moss and final tables 18, 19 ETTA, 21 Claremont, County Notes in six pages 20-25 Hastings TN34 1HF. Tel: 0424433121 The Sports Foundation - by Roy Moor, former staff reporter Daily Mail 27 COPY DATE President Joe Veselsky retires by Ron Crayden 28 September 12 1987 Delhi's only British umpire by Geoff Taylor 32 Issue 168, October 1987 Mailbox 34, 35 Printed by: Thomas Hill Print (1985) Ltd. Crossword by Eric Hall 36 Bishop Auckland Top Rankings, men and women Tel. (0388) 607511 37 WRONG ROOM? Hotel near Leeds. We saw the mark chester family associated with Chen ON TOUR Don was given the key to room 2. again the next morning when we Xinhua. The girl he is hoping to checked out, quite sober the leave China for and then to marry BEING courtside for eight days and As my room was No. I we walked nights in a row is an unusual ex­ upstairs together. Don rapidly previous night and the next was on the tour accompanied by her perience, certainly in England. Be­ returned to reception reporting that morning. mother, possibly as a chaperone to ing at different venues daily is in­ there was a young lady in bed in the Chen's lady love Sally, a very attrac­ teresting and allows· for many room! You may well ask what in PREAN SPEECHES tive young lady from Manchester. comparisons. heavens name was the key to Room Giving eight, or even seven thank­ Also in tow was her 12-year-old The Chinese tour, was a 2 doing down in its box in reception you speeches night after night is no brother Adam, whose knowledge of punishing and arduous affair devis­ when the lady was in bed! joke so chairman John Prean had football was extensive, especially on ed that way to save money. The answer was that her husband a few headaches during the tour, Manchester United. However, there were a number of was out late so she left the key in which incidentally totalled 2,000 amusing incidents, the best of which reception when she retired! But the miles according to mini-bus driver SNIFFING happened at Castle Combe, a story does not end at that point, Mike Watts. Also sniffing around on the tour delightful 12th century village not there is more .... But the chairman made the peo­ was a party of West Germans who far from Bath where Panoramic Parker must be one of the most ple laugh. On one occasion in his were seeking liaison with Chen (Bath) had made arrangements for common names after Smith, Brown dry humour, he told of his days Xinhua, no doubt interested in his accommodation for the teams, of­ and Jones. Incredibly, room 2 was when he was a footballer, a plans to earn money, should his pro­ ficials and others. booked by a Mr. and Mrs. Parker goalkeeper. "A number of my posed exit visa from China to At the Castle Combe Manor (no connection with Don and Jill), defenders resigned" he quipped, England be granted. House Hotel, one of the most at­ so the night porter in all innocence, tractive ancient hotels I have ever "like some of my officers and vice­ They d.ined and wined the Chinese looked up the names on the book­ chairman more recently!" star and there were a number of seen, started off by offering me a ing list, saw Parker and gave the room at £82 a night! That was The second big laugh was at Bath subsequent telephone calls from England supremo the key. Don of subsequently reduced after some Leisure Centre. The chairman said, Germany, so the rich Germans are .negotiations but it shows that the course, ended up yet again sharing "At one time we had ideas about already preparing to outbid for place was superb enough for people a room with another member of the coming to live in Bath, but now I Chen when the time comes. The to pay that sort of money out in the England team. expect many people are glad I stayed couple, we were told are not plann­ wilds of Wiltshire or was it Avon? on the Isle of Wight!" Huge ap­ ing to marry until next year. And That was not THE amusing inci­ WRONG DOOR plause at that one; not sure whether that is all your journalists were able dent, that came at 12.30 a.m. when Plain glass doors can be a menace. they agreed with him or just thought to find out, because, it is not that Donald Parker and myself arrived Who has not tried to walk through it was an excuse for a laugh. easy to get an exit permit from the back in reception at the Manor one at some time? Richard Eaton Accompanying the Chinese team People's Republic, especially if you House to pick up our room keys. had a go at the plush Ladbrokes were ieveral members of the Man- are a table tennis hero. ENTER THE English Table Tennis ~@\ID~fu ~~ ~~&illi\<ill NEW CHIEF 'TI"®Thlll@ 'TI"@~ ~ij)M@lfu~ Association EXECUTIVE South West Region Aven, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, TED WALLBUTION joined the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire TOURNAMENT ETIA as their new Chief Executive ORGANISERS on June 1st.
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