Table Tennis Official Magazine of the English Table Tennis Association Edited by W. HARRISON EDWARDS Published by Walthamstow Press, Ltd., Guardian House, 644 Forest Road, London, E.17 Vol. 14 OCTOBER, 1955 No.1 LEAG,UES UP : TOURNAMENTS DOWN WELCOME to a new season, a season which Remember, this is your magazine and it is up to we confidently hope will bring to light new you to support it. Do your friends take a copy, stars, see a further improvement in the general or do they just borrow yours? Many copies, we standard, and perhaps see the return of a world know, go through six and seven hands, and even title to this country when our team goes to Tokio more. in April. If every club in the country took one copy per Already the season has made an encouraging month it would assure the financial success of the start, and reports from the leagues show that the magazine. Why not persuade your club to take game is more popular than ever. Increased out a subscription now? entries mean that many leagues have had to extend FITNESS WINS their programmes, while the first tournament, the Table tennis has come a long way from those East of England, saw entries take a junlp of far off " ping-pong" days. It is no longer a gentle around 50. This is a good sign, particularly as pastime to be played on the dining room table, but many of the newcomers were younger players. has developed into a highly athletic sport, requir­ 'fwenty-six "open" tournaments are scheduled ing the physical fitness of the boxer or footballer for the season, but six of the big ones have dis­ as well as playing skill. appeared. The Grimsby, North Midlands, Ponte­ It is not good enough merely to go down to the fract, Metropolitan, Thameside, Central London, club and practise on the table. Go out into the and Merseyside have all been cancelled due to open and work out a schedule of physical jerks increased costs or difficulties over finding a suit­ and running to increase stamina and breathing. able hall. And don't forget that all-important footwork. "Table Tennis" will again bring you full re­ Physical fitness will pay its dividends in the ports of the various tournaments and inter­ end. Many is the time I have seen players lose nationals, the Around the Leagues and Area matches they have appeared to have in their News features will look after the lesser activities, pocket, merely because they became weary and and we plan to give you more articles of a wider lost their zip when going beyond three sets. variet~: One of the reasons Johnny Leach became a GOING UP world champion was that he paid just as much At the request of nlany readers, "Table Tennis" attention to fitness as to stroke production. He will be bigger than ever., but increased size means trained both with Crystal Palace and Tottenham increased eosts, and we regret that the price will Hotspur. also have to go up ... to ninepence. Richard Bergnlann is another with a similar The new price will conle in with the January outlook. Just watch him dance his way through a issue, when the size of the magazine will be tough match. Many players have envied his increased to at least 28 pages. It will still be fantastic speed of recovery, and it all comes from among the cheapest nlagazines in the sports field. being perfectly tuned up. To avoid complications with the accounts, all As you go forward to the season's tournalnents, subscriptions received before January will be at make certain that you are not going to be beaten the old rate of five shillings for eight issues, post through lack of fitness. free. HARRISON EDWARDS. One given to the iiDaily Mirror" National L. S. Woollard, to consider the ques­ Official News: T'able Tennis Tournament to be tion of publicity for the game, and played during the Season 1955/56. As to make a' report to the National in previous Seasons arrangements Executive 'Committee. Since the Annual General Meeting, were made to cover unaffiliated en­ E.T.T.A. Badge: Approval was two meetings of the National Execu­ trants. tive Con1mittee have taken place both given to the production of all official in the Council 'Chamber of the Royal " Eagle" / "Girl" Clubs Table badge with the letters E.T.T.A. on a En1pire Society, the first being held Tlennis Tournam( It: Sanction was blue background for sale to members. on June 18 and the other on Satur­ given to the "Ea~le" and "Girl" These are available from the Admin­ day, September 17, 1955. Many mat­ Clubs National Table Tennis Tourna­ istrative Secretary at a cost of 2/3d. ters were discussed, the most interest­ ment to be organised during the com­ each, post free, or 24/- per dozen. ing being:­ ing Season. County Umpires Scheme: Mr. W. Television: With the introduction Victor Barna Award:' The "Victor G. Goldfinch, 11, Colebrook Close, of independent and commercial tele­ Barna" Award for the season 1954/ Worthing, Sussex, has been appointed vision it was felt desirable to draw 1955 was made to Miss Diane Rowe I-Ionorary Secretary to the National the attention of all organisers and for her two wins in the match against lTmpires Committee. players to the E.T.T.A. Rule conoern­ Roumania in the World Champion­ ing 'television. ships in Utrecht. "Rule 25.-No affiliated player Approved Balls: The following ENGLISH RANKING LIST may take part in a televi!sed event balls were approved for season 1955/ in connection with table tennis un­ 1956: Villa "XXX" and "XX," Dun­ MEN less sanction has first been obtflined lop Barna "Three Crown" and "Two 1. J. A. LEACH (Essex) Crown," Halex "Three Star" and from one of the Officers of the 2. R. BERGMANN (Mddx) Association." "Two Star," Tema "Three Star" and "Two Star," Haydon "Three Star" and 3. B. H. KENNEDY (Yorks) It was also emphasised that the "Two Star". 4. B. MERRETT (Glos) same decision aris'es in the making of films: English Open Chanlpionships: In 5. H. T. VENNER (Surrey) view of the complications arising 6. D. BURRIDGE (Mddx) Rule 22 covers this point: "No C. affiliated player may p,erndt ~ 7. A. W. C. SIMONS (Glos) cinematographic record of himself 8. K. CRAIGIE (Surrey) or herself to be taken on standard 9. A. RHODES (Mddx) stock in connection with Table English Table 10. R. HINCHLIFF (Yorks) Tennis unless sanction has first 11. R. J. STEVENS (Essex) been obtained from one of the l~ennis Association Officers of the Association." 12. J. W. LOWE (Mddx) Equip,ment Advisory Panel: The Patron: Her M a j est y The WOMEN following were appointed members of Queen. 1. MISS R. ROWE (Mddx) an Equipment Advisory Panel: 2. MISS Messrs. T. Blunn, J. Carrington, N. President: The Dowager Lady A. S. HAYDON (Warwicks) Cook, G. W. Decker, with power of Swaythling, O.B.E. MISS D. ROWE (Mddx) co-option subject to approval of the Chairman: Hon. Ivor Montagu. 4. MISS C. K. BEST '(Yorks) National Executive Committee. Honorary Secretary/Treasurer: 5. MISS M. FRANKS (Essex) Swedish Juniors: It was announced A. K. Vint. 6. MISS J. WINN (Surrey) that the Swedish Table Tennis Asso­ 7. MISS B. ISAACS (Surrey) ciation did not wish to arrange a tour Administrative Secretary: Mrs. 8. MISS B. of their Juniors in England for the Kathleen Pegg. MILBANK (Essex) coming Season. Office of the Association: 214, . Honorary Assistant Secretary: In Grand Buildings, Trafalgar Square, London, W.C.2. (Tele­ VIew of the great increase in the TABLE TENNIS E.T.T.A.'s activities, Mr. D. P. Lowen phone: TRAfalgar 2165). has been appointed Honorary As­ Published on 'the 10th. of ea'ch month sistant Secretary. October to May inclusive. Postal Sub­ Co-option to the National Execu­ from the World Championships tak­ scription 5s. for eight issues. tive Committee: Mrs. F. A. Merry­ ing place in Tokio, April 2 to April Circulation: The Walthamstow Press weather (Lincoln) was co-opted to the 11, 1956, with the consequent ab­ Committee in accordance with Rule Ltd., Guardian House, 644, Forest sence of the players for about four Road, London, E.17 (LARkswood 12(a). weeks, it was decided to hold the 4301). Club Competitions: Approval was English Open Championships at Belle given to the organisation of Club Vue, Manchester, from February 28 Advertisements: E.T.T.A., 214, Grand ~ompetitions sit,nilar to thos'e arranged to March 2, 1956. Buildings, Trafalgar Square, London, In 1953/54 dunng the coming Season International Matches: International W.C.2. (TRAfalgar 2165). to assist in the raising of funds to matches have been arranged as fol­ enable teams to be sent to Tokio for lows: v. Wales'-Mixed Seniors, Wey­ News from all quarters is warmly the World Championships. The Offi­ mouth, January 27, 1956; v. France­ welcome. Please send direct to the­ cers were authorised to consider ways Men-Cheltenham, February 27, 1956. Ed,itor : W. Harrison Edwards, c/O' and n1eans of other fund-raising ideas. Sports Press, 149, Fleet Street, London, Publicity: A small Committee was "Daily Mirror" National Table set up consisting of the Officers and E.C.4. FLEet Street 9951). Tennis Tournament: Approval was C. Jaschke, S. Kempster, D. P. Lowen, Two England Wins SWAYTHLING AND CORBILLON CUPS in 1956? IF the above became a reality in cost of this venture will be in the be presented with a spe1cially designed Alpril, 1956, there is no doubt f,egion of £2,500 to £3,000, so we have and engraved plaque by the National to find ways and means of raising .t\ssociation.