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KENT COUNTY TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION ************************************* THERE ARE LOTS OF EXCELLENT SUMMER TRAINING CAMPS BUT NONE LIKE THIS! THE CHINESE ARE COMING Many of the world's top players have been to the Far East to experience the training regime of the oriental players at first hand. A training system that has developed the magical skills that we have all so long admired. now YOU can have the same opportunity Ten of CHINA'S top players and coaches have accepted an invitation to coach in KENT FOR 2 WEEKS DURING AUGUST 1993 WORLD CLASS PLAYERS - WORLD CLASS COACHES WANG DA ZHI - Head Coach Institute of , MA MING HONG - Former Chinese No.1, LI HAO SONG­ Former Chinese No.3, MENG QING YU - Current Team champion in China, XU KAI - Current Team champion in China, WANG LE QI - Current Chinese Youth champion, LI ZHEN BIAO - Coach & Doctorate in PhYSical Education, WU CHUN JIAN - Current Tianjin Junior champion now in Chinese Team Squad, WANG CHEN XI - Current Tianjin Cadet champion, WANG DA YaNG - Former World Team champion, Chinese champion and now Belgium national Coach. * COST £160jweek, 2 weeks £300 * 32 tables * AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME * Cost covers all main meals, prepared and served by professional caterers, accommodation, Coaching Chinese style, Multiball, Tournament entries, Prizes Dates 1st week 7th - 14th August • 2nd week 14th - 21st August Venue: Howard Grammar High School, Derwent Way, Gillingham, Kent. For more information contact Reg Thompson, KENT C.T.T.A., 14 Maryland Court, Rainham, Kent. I ME8 8QY Phone 0634 235865 HURRY SPACES WILL BE ATA PREMIUM HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS Players of the Month MONTH'S TABLE TENNIS NEWS ISSUE February 1993 Issue 212 The official magazine of The English Table Tennis Association Third Floor, Queensbury House, Havelock Road, Hastings. TN34 IHF Tel: 0424722525 Fax: 0424 422103 President J A Leach MBE Chairman A E Ransome Alex Perry and Nicola Deaton are this month's choice for Editor John F A Wood winning five trophies between them, and for both being Editorial Office: selected to represent the English Senior teams for the first time 5 The Brackens, Hemel Hempstead, I Herts. HP2 5JA Tel/Fax: 0442 244547 Advertisement Offices: Jim Beckley, Sports PR POBox 8, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, Cheshire. SK8 7RG Tel: 061-4884002/ Fax: 061-488 4126 Table Tennis News is published 8 times a year September to May/June Subscription rates - £11.20 £16.32 Sea Mail/Ireland Air Mail Zone 1 £21.36 Zone 2 £23.04 Photographers: Geoff TWIss John FA Wood TABLE TENNIS Subscriptions and distributions: Bethan Davies NEWS 1992/93 ETTA, Third Floor, Publishing dates: Queensbury House, Havelock Road, HASTINGS. SEPTEMBER Tel: 0424 722525 1st September 1992 Printed by: (Copy date 15th July) E.W. Publicity Limited, OCTOBER 15 King Street West, 1st October 1992 Stockport, Cheshire. SK30DT (Copy date 1st September) NOVEMBER Unsolicited articles are welcome for possible 1st November 1992 publication, but the publishers will accept no M"",::',"'':":'''::''='==:O=::::'::~r.=': responsibility for return of manuscripts and/or :::,M (Copy date 1st October) photographs. Whilst every effort is taken to r;Ta'"'Y"' DECEMBER/JANUARY ensure reports and facts are correct at the time 'U/" ./ of going to press, no responsibility will be L..:.:.",""'.:.:'-"";,.;;;;;==.;:..;..,;....;.;;;.."­ 15th December 1992 accepted by the Publishers should errors be published, either for errors or matters arising (Cop:' date 15th November) as a result. FEBRUARY The views expressed in Table Tennis News are those of the contributors and are 1st February 1993 not necessarily official ETfA policy. (Copy date 1st January) Sintilarly TTN accepts advertisements in good faith, but C3lUlot accept responsibility MARCH for the goods or services described in 1st March 1993 advertisements. If you have any queries these should be addressed directly to the (Copy date 1st February) advertiser. APRIL No part of tltis magazine may be reproduced without written pennission 1st April 1993 from the publishers. (Copy date 1st March) Front cover: Report on the Cleveland MAY/JUNE Alex Perry the new National 1st June 1993) Junior Boys champion 5 Star Championships (Copy date 30th April) (Picture John F.A. Wood

PAGE 3 Prean wins EURO 94 Butlins title CARL PREAN won the UPDATE Butlins Holidays challenge match when he beat Chen by Richard Hobgood Xinhua, the current No.1, WHEN the 19th European Table 21-17,21-17, to decide who Tennis Championships come to Birmingham in some thirteen or so on the night was the best months time. player in England. Do you know? Prean was in control most ...... that a record number of of the match, and in the end competing countries are expected to enter. ran out a comfortable winner ...... that for the 10 days of competi­ in front of a packed audience tion over 11000 beds have been at the Bletchley Leisure reserved for accommodation Centre, on Friday 8th purposes...... that to date over 70 countries January 1993. have indicated that they are prepared This match was covered to receive TV transmission or by BBC TV Grandstand and coverage of the Championships and televised the following week. that Via satellite, 25 countries in Asia alone are most anxious to secure Packedl coverage of what will be the biggest table tennis event in the World in WELL over a 1000 spectators 1994. watched the two matches ...... that over 300 people. again from between England and all over the World, and representing France, firstly at the South the Press and other forms of Media. will be in daily attendance. each Kesteven Table Tennis haVing their different needs and Centre, Grantham, on 7th requirements. January 1993 and the ...... THAT ADVANCE TICKET following night at the PURCHASE WILL BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSNELY TO ENGLISH TABLE Bletchley Leisure Centre, TENNIS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS Milton Keynes. BETWEEN THE 1ST SEPTEMBER Butlins Holidays winner Carl Prean AND 31ST DECEMBER. 1993 ­ Super Thereafter tickets will be available to ENGLAND's men earned a 4­ all other National Associations and! or their members and available to the 2 victory over Hoiland at St. general pUblic. Austell in January, ensuring ...... that play will involve 17 purpose their place in the Super built courts within the National Division of the Joola Euro­ Indoor Arena (excluding practise pean League. facilities)...... that the climax of the Individual Alex Perry made his events and the playing of all of the England senior debut in this major singles matches will be stage match, and teamed up with on four show courts. Carl Prean in the doubles, ...... that these four show courts will be surrounded on all four sides by but sadly it wasn't to be a 5000 seats. fairy tale beginning for the ...... that the Individual event will in boy from Devon, they lost to the main be played over the Easter the Dutchmen Danny Heister Saturday, Sunday and Monday. the 2nd. 3rd and 4th April 1994. and Trinko Keen -14, -13...... that when the tournament is over Results: Chen Xinhua beat in excess of 40.000 meals will have Peter De Virina 19, 14; Alan been consumed by players and Cooke lost to Trinko Keen spectators alike. Carl Prean beat Danny ...... that when we stage the -14, -17; "Europeans' in Birmingham next Heister 15, 17; Doubles: Carl year, it will be exactly 17 years since Frean and Alex Perry lost to the 34th World Championships were Danny Hesiter and Trinko Keen staged in England. also in Birming­ -14, -13; Chen Xinhua beat ham. between the 26th March and 5th April 1977. Trinko Keen 11, -17, 11; Alan How is that [or a coincidence? Cooke beat Danny Heister -19, 13, 19. J:L'RO 94 ESTTA ban COCSTJ)Oll'N COMMITTEE agreed unanimously to adopt ETTA regulations concerning "Harmful solvents in adhe­ Ell sives" (use of "Fast" glue and WEEKS TO GO re-rubbering of rackets) for all events/activities under Helping out on the door at the England v France match at =~:UR~_ ESTTA jurisdiction. the Bletchley Leisure Centre was 18 year old Julie Oakman -~-\ ­

PAGE 4 The glue problem was discussed for some five hours at National Council, longer than any other single issue at one meeting Fast glues banned that I can remember. The decisions were:­ THE last six weeks or so have been 1. To ban all fast glues in events under dominated by the glue situation which is the control of the ETTA. (Not to apply regarded internationally as one of the most to adhesives applied to the bat before important issues facing the sport for many 24 January 1993). years, and not dissimilar to the drugs issue 2. To increase the period of time that in other sports. It came to a head in the rubber cannot be glued to a bat Manchester when the International Table prior to an event from 24 to 48 hours. Tennis Federation Executive Board, hosted The combination of these two measures make by the Manchester Olympic Bid, decided on it far easier for abuse to be detected. the advice of Prof. Dolinar, the ITTF's 3. No glues may be taken into table Medical Committee Chairman, to ban the tennis venues - possession will be use of Aromatic and Chlorinated sub­ against ETTA regulations. stances in glues used to fix table tennis This removes the opportunity for bats to be rubbers to blades. Tony Chatwin and I repaired with any glue in the hall and removes were both in Manchester assisting the the need for a separate gluing room and an Olympic Bid as hosts of the meeting official having to suffer the discomforts of the although not actually attending the glue to supervise the operation. Executive Board meetings. We were In addition, according to Dr. Powell, the informed of the ban immediately after the use of these glues in public buildings is not session at which it was decided. permitted under the new COSHH regula­ Recognising that this had enormous tions, without assessment of their risks by a qualified competent person. ramifications for the sport, we decided to Alan Ransome seek advice on the medical and technical If the facility owner, say a local author­ ity, was aware that gluing was taking place aspects and spoke to Dr. Keith Powell of The ban stayed in place for the Cleve­ the Scottish Table Tennis Association. Dr. land 5 Star Open a week later including in their venue without the proper care (as per manufacturers data sheets) they would Powell had advised me a few weeks earlier additional regulations which were issued to either introduce the ban themselves or of his concerns following an incident at a all competitors and which clearly outlawed cancel the booking. Scottish event when a youngster passed all fast glues. out after using the glue. Since then. Dr. At the Cleveland event a coach pro­ 4. The English Junior Open Champ­ Powell had himself carried out investiga­ duced an advance copy of a section of the ionships will be glue free, so that tions into the subject and was convinced ITTF bulletin which showed that the ITTF all teams and players participating that the only solution was to ban com­ had approved a less harmful fast glue. The II will only have their entry accepted pletely the fast glues. This advice from Dr. Tournament Committee discussed this provided that they agree to this Powell co-incided with the advice from Dr. development and decided themselves, that regulation. Kahn, the President of the European Table in the interests of fair playas well as 5. No use of fast glues by English Tennis Union's Medical Commission, who health, to maintain the regulations sent to players when playing for England had advised the ETTU meeting in in all competitors beforehand that the in events outside the control of the September of the dangers. At that meeting, Cleveland Open would be a "glue free" ETTA. . which I attended, the ETTU had agreed to tournament. An announcement to this 6. ETTA representatives to campaign lobby the ITTF to introduce the appropriate effect was made by the Referee, Stuart for a complete fast glue ban by measures as soon as possible. Sherloqk, and met with applause from all both the ETTU and ITTF. Professor Dolinar's advice to the ITTF around the hall. 7. Management Committee to have meeting in Manchester confirmed that of The ETTA ban stayed in place up until the flexibility to react to new both Dr. Powell and Dr. Kahn and since the National Council meeting on Saturday situations and to permit the intro­ then, Dr. Rufford Harrison, the Chairman of 23rd January with no further breaches duction of other methods for fixing the ITTF Equipment Committee, has being reported. the rubber to the blade, ie adhesive confirmed to me that he is also of the same The arguments in favour of a total ban rubber sheets or double sided glue opinion. With all the experts saying the on fast glues are overwhelming. The same thing, it was obvious to us that firm reasons are:­ sheets. action was the only course to be taken. 1. All the medical advice is that After Manchester we waited a few days regular exposure to the glues is a The penalties for breach of the ETTA for the ETTD's statement which we knew serious health risk to people in the regulations would be disqualification from was going to be issued before Christmas. sport, not just the players but also the event in which the breach took place We wanted, as far as possible, to be in the coaches, officials and specta­ and report to the ETTA Generai Secretary harmony with both the ITTF and the ETTU tors who come into contact with it. within 48 hours. A new set of regulations containing the I in our procedures. The ETTU confirmed the 2. The danger to health will discour­ ITTF statement and added the 24 hour rule age the parents of young players to above points is currently being prepared so that, if this was observed, the majority of allow them to continue playing and will be issued very shortly. the benefits of using the fast glues would table tennis. Why should a young­ The ITTF in their attempt to reduce the have evaporated. With great assistance ster have to risk damaging their glue problem have actually brought in from Tony Wickens, of the ETTA Rules health just to compete at table regulations that attack the glue product and Committee, staff members Robert Sinclair tennis? U the players don't use the have at this stage, in our opinion, not and Doreen Nightingale, we were able to fast glues when they are allowed attacked the main problem which is the introduce regulations in time to advise to, then they are at a distinct frequency of use of any glues. Manufactur­ participants in advance of the National disadvantage. U they do use the ers have been advised to produce glues for Ranking Trials at Hereford which were due fast glues, then they are risking ITTF approval that have the most harmful to be played on 2nd and 3rd of January. their health. (Use of the ITTF substances removed, thereby effectively With the exception of one small incident, approved glues do reduce the risk.) encouraging them to produce the fastest the ban worked well at Hereford, but an 3. Ridicule of the sport by the general possible glues without the inclusion of anomaly appeared in that the regulations public who have no hope of under­ these most harmful substances. This still could be interpreted to mean that fast glues standing the issue. leaves the regular gluing up as part of the could be used as long as the gluing was 4. Withdrawal of funding by the table tennis scene and exposure of players undertaken 24 hours beforehand. With Sports Council who wish to support to other dangerous chemicals as explained clarification from the ETTU we re-issued the healthy and safe sports and not by Dr. Powell elsewhere in this magazine. the regulations making it clear that the fast one which has a major downside of The effect of the I'ITF directive has not just glues were completely banned. a health risk.

PAGES been to continue the constant exposure to with this problem urgently. The alternative Equipment Chairman of the ITIF, has been harmful substances, but actually to would have been to allow this danger to our most supportive of our action and feels that increase the exposure to players who people to remain for a further period of time, our attempts to date have been the best so far want the fastest effect as they now, using possibly five months up to the World to deal with this very difficult situation. We the ITIF approved glues, need to glue up Championships in . are keeping both the ITIF and the ETTU fully even more often than before to achieve a Whilst this action was necessary for the informed of all developments. similar speed, as happened in Karlsruhe. overall good of the sport, we must take into OD a more positive Dote - Without the glue The policing of the situation is virtually account that the removal of the opportunity problem there would have been more than impossible if fast glues of !illY type are to use fast glues is a big problem for some of sufficient for me to have filled this column with allowed. It is possible, however, to be able the players who want to maintain their ,positive news about what has happened in to tell the difference between abat with playing standard. They have developd their England over the last few weeks. Both of our normal glue and a bat with fast glue by both game with the use of these glues completely England teams have retained their places in the the sound in most cases and the speed off within the rules of the sport as they applied European Super League and we have had a the rubber, and certainly the players know if at the time. Whilst there can be no compro­ very successful television event with the "glue one of their opponents is using the glue. It is mise with the implementation of the new free" England vs France match at B1etchley and not possible without the use of a sophisti­ rules, all those concerned, Le. coaches, team the Carl Prean vs Chen Xinhua Challenge, both cated Breathalyser (Which is not yet managers, tournament organisers etc., are televised on separate occasions by the BBC. available) to tell the difference between one requested to adopt a helpful and Further progress has been made in both the type of fast glue and another, so it is possible understanding attitude and encourage the 1994 European Championships organisation with the ITIF approval of some fast glues players to improve their techniques to and a sixth Development Officer, Melonie for a player to use one of the very harmful recover their playing standard and make Carey, is now in post for the South West. glues not included on the ITIF list without progress once more in the sport. Sad news was received this month of the any real chance of being caught so long as I would like to particularly thank Dr. Keith death of the ETIA Honorary Life President,BilI his gluing up was carried out in private and Powell for his diligence in this matter and Vint, O.B.E., whose service to table tennis as then exposing himself to the worst Tony Chatwin, Vice Chairman of Competi­ one of the pioneers of the Association, was dangers. I believe that we have taken the tions for the ETIA for the lead that he has enormous. Our sincere sympathy is extended to only route available to us to get to grips taken. In addition, Dr. Rufford Harrison, his widow, Nora. Bill Vint A man of vision TABLE TENNIS lost one of its finest - from 1970-1973. It was not until 1977 administrators when Arthur Kingsley that Bill decided to vacate the last VINT. affectionately known as Bill. IN MEMORIAM by Ron Crayden office he held as Hon. General passed away in 'The Laurels Nursing Secretary of the ITTF, after giving 46 Home'. Hastings, on Thursday years of continuous serVice to the evening, 7th January 1993. His death sport as a top serving administrator. at the age of 86 comes as a shock to His unique contribution to the sport those around him, perhaps more of table tennis was immediately poignantly than usual, as only that recognised by the ITTF and he was morning he had been busily engaged made both a Life Council Consultant with personal correspondence. Sad and a Personal Hon. Member. In though it is for those he left behind, 1988 he was given the First Merit some consolation can be drawn from Award of the ITTF. the fact that he died quickly and was To measure Bill's contribution to spared the suffering and indignities the sport by merely cataloguing his achievements would perhaps satisfy that so frequently befall the frail and elderly. the statistically minded but it must One of the misfortunes associ­ be said that his life's work could not possibly be evaluated by statistics. ated with the passing of time is the difficulty in conveying to those of a As an individual he epitomised all different generation the qualities of a that is to be admired in a sportsman, person such as Bill. I was most whether a competitor or administra­ fortunate to have been around to tor; namely, unwavering loyalty, fair­ experience those qualities and to Nora and Bill Vint mindedness, compassion and a benefit from them. It was he and a totally absorption to the job in hand. handful of other men of Vision who for the rest of the world to follow. It is hard to exaggerate the role He was an inspiration to all and broadened the horizons of table Ivor and the two Bills made a Bill has played since those far off gained the respect of the table tennis tennis and masterminded its commanding triumvirate and worked days when he assumed the financial world. development from the drill-hall into tirelessly behind the screens responsibilities of the English His interests were not entirely the stadia of the world. promoting what was originally a Association. Not only has he confined to table tennis particularly languid parlour game into an exciting converted the sceptics, directed the as a large part of his life revolved The Administrator International sport. In 1950 when Bill energies of the enthusiasts and been around his occupational background. Bill was a Sussex man, mild of Pope, the Hon. General Secretary a force for good in a sometimes In October, 1973, he received the manner, remarkably tolerant and died, Bill (Vint) expanded his work troubled sport, but with foresight and Order of 1066, an award presented to totally unflappable. He possessed a rate by taking over the Secretariat, judgement he has carried the gospel him as an outstanding citizen of of table tennis to the far corners of clear, analytical mind and other thus combining the two demanding Hastings. It was for the immense the world. creditable attributes that made him offices of Hon. Treasurer and Hon. amount of work he did during his such a distinguished administrator. It General Secretary. Unbelievable years of Office for the town's though it may seem, Bill successfully A further impulse was in 1931 that this quietly spoken publicity and public relations. The managed these two posts for six When Bill retired as Chairman of the man became the Hon. Treasurer of table tennis fraternity and Hastings years as well as continuing as Hon. ETTA in 1962, it was thought by the English Table Tennis Associa­ Treasurer of the International Table many that he would be seeking a owe Bill an incalculable debt of tion, a post he was to hold with Tennis Federation and holding down quiet life although still continuing to gratitude. notable distinction for more than a an important full-time occupation. In serve as Treasurer of the ITTF. It was It would be remiss of me not to quarter of a century. When he joined 1956 he relinquished the post of Hon. not to be however, for he simply mention his charming wife Nora, the Association, England was in the General Secretary but remained as could not be restrained from taking who supported him throughout his enviable position of haVing at its Treasurer until 1958 when he further Administrative duties and in long life with loyalty and devotion. helm the dynamic pairing of Ivor became Chairman of the ETTA. 1967 he added the Secretariat of the Our sincere and heartfelt condo­ Montagu and Bill Pope. Together Deservedly he was awarded the OBE ITTF to his other assignments. For lences therefore go out to you Nora these three changed the face of table in 1957 for outstanding serVices to good measure he somehow found for the grief that has suddenly come tennis in England and set a pattern table tennis. time to be PreSident of the ETTA your way. PAGE 6 England crush France ENGLAND's table tennis team Kesteven Table Tennis Centre in crushed the French 4-2, in an Grantham. international at the Bletchley Player of the match was .Leisure Centre, on Friday 8th England's Matthew Syed for his January 1993. scintillating victory over This international match, Olympic silver medalJist Jean­ which was sponsored by Philippe Gatien Manchester 2000 and supported In front of 450 spectators at by Milton Keynes Marketing, this international, Syed found bought the capacity crowd of the early going tough, but over 700 to its feet, with its produced a performance that highly charged atmosphere was to win him this award from created by an enthusiastic South Kesteven District Council. audience and top level table Matt pulled back from tennis,. watched by millions on behind in both legs to majesti­ BBC 1V Grandstand on cally win 21-19, 21-18. Saturday 9th January 1993. With the first leg standing at England's gladiators were 19-19, the two players played Chen Xinhua, Carl Prean, the best rally of the night which Matthew Syed and Lisa Lomas. The opening game was gained Syed the edge before he between England's No.1 Chen took the game with a forced Xinhua and the World No.2 from error from Gatien. France Jean-Philippe Gatien. Syed trailed 11-14 in the Xinhua dominated this clash, second but with determination and even had time for a couple he overtook the French ace to of cartwheels, much to the take the match 21-18. delight of the audience, ~g Chen Xinhua powered out a 21-15,21-13. convincing 21-14, 21-12 win Next on the table was against French teenager England's No.2 Carl Prean, who Christophe Legout. was far too experienced for the Then it was the tum of French youngster Christophe England ace Carl Prean, as Legout, winning 21-10,21-14. things hotted up in this East Matthew Syed lost the third Midlands Electricity sponsored game 18-21, 19-21, to the international. French No.2 Nicholas Chatelain. . Prean carved out an impres­ Then Luton's star Lisa sive 21-14 first game against Lomas lost narrowly to the Nicholas Chatelain, and French No.1 lady Wang followed it with an overwhelm­ Xioaming 14-21, 22-20, 21-23, ing 21-8 to give England a 3-D after a tremendous battle advantage. featuring the backspin defence Lisa Lomas had a promising of Lomas and the attack of 8-1 lead against Wang Xioming Wang. wltittled away by a string of Prean won back the initiative winners as the French No.1 took with a big win over the World No.2 Gatien, brushing aside this the first 21-16. highly talented Frenchman 21­ But it was much closer in 11,21-11. the second actually standing at It was left to the Oxford 19-19 before Wang won with a student Syed to take the final flurry 21-19. honours for England, beating Gatien returned to the table Legout 21-18, 14-21, 21-16, for a hoping to carry on where Wang truly memorable victory. had left off, but Prean had other ideas as he totally dominated Victory in the French ace, wrapping up the match for England 4-1, by Grantham winning with the amazing 21-7, England also beat France on the 21-14 scoreline. previous night, 4-1, at the South

(Top picture) Jubilant England with the winners trophy Oeft to right) Lisa Lomas, Jill Parker, Paul Day and Chen Xinhua. (2nd from top) Matthew Syed. (3rd from top) Carl Prean. (Bottom) Wang Xioaming PAGES Perry &Deaton take five

DEVON'S Alex Perry and Nicola Don Parker taking a keen Deaton rewrote the record interest. books after collecting all five But this was a championship titles between them at the where form went very much as English Junior National Champi­ expected. The organisers got it onships at the Armitage Centre, right and they also got the Manchester. timing right starting on time There was no stopping the and finishing early. talented duo who after success Exactly how much credit the in the singles went on to grouping system can take for dominate the doubles finally that is unknown. But it seemed linking up to win the mixed. It to work well and referee John sent officials thumbing through Jermyn was seen leaving with a the record books to see how smile on his face. long it had been since a similar "I was quite pleased with the feat. The general opinion was way things went. If the entry that it was a very long time and had been much greater it may of course impossible to beat have pushed us but 1feel anyway. everyone felt it was satisfactory. Perry came back from behind Certainly all the players had to win the boys singles beating more games to play and that the holder Richard Hyacinth, in must have been appreciated." three games while Deaton beat So the system that has the NO.2 seed Sally Marling also already been adopted in other in three. It was Perry's second sports looks like getting another singles title at this level, he won try. it in 1991. But the weekend certainly For Derbyshire's Nicola belonged to Alex Perry and Deaton, one of several talented Nicola Deaton who went home young girls coming through the laden with trophies and for ranks, it was a first singles title Nicola at least another chance at this tournament and followed to do the same next year. a win in the Cadet U14 event RESULTS: two years ago. Junior Boys Singles Perry was in a class of his A. Perry (Devon) bt R. Hyacinth own as he cruised to the final (Middlesex) -13, 13, 20 without dropping a game. That Junior Girls Singles success was briefly halted by Alex Peny (above) and Nicola Deaton N. Dea~on (Derbys) bt S. Marling Hyacinth who took the first (Yorks) 16, -16, 16 game in the final before Perry, Junior Mixed Doubles using a new service technique, A. Perry/No Deaton bt R. Savill :::::::::: eased home in three. (Essex) & L. Heyward (Devon) 10, 16~?~r Deaton's win was equally Junior Boys Doubles r~~r impressive if not more so having A. Perry/R. Hyacinth bt E. Hatley :{:::~: to beat NO.1 seed Sally Marling (Surrey) & A. Vincent (Devon) 15, 18 ::r?: 16, -16, 16. The young Chester­ Junior Girls Doubles :II:: field girl who has matured and N. Deaton & M. Martin (Staffs) ::rr: improved her game in the last bt S. Marling & G. Schwartz trr twelve months, will clearly (Berks) 11, 18?r~~ remain a threat to Marling for Cadet Boys Singles ~rr~ some time to come. S. Meddings (Warks) bt T. :~:~{:~ The Cadet events also Young (Berks) 14,20 ~?~r produced a wealth of talent. Cadet Girls Singles :~rr Kathy Woodward from Stockport K. Woodward (Ches) bt N. Smith ~{:~:~: winning the singles in a close (Yorks) -17,19, 16 ?r~~ encounter with Natalie Smith Cadet Girls Doubles :~:~{:~ -17, 19, 16 and then sharing the K. Woodward & N. Smith bt T. ~tt~ doubles with the same girl. Davies (Essex) & V. Cleminson :If~ Steven Meddings won the (Essex) 17 19 }:::::: singles and David Purdy and Cadet Boys Doubles fit: Akash Kapoor lifted the doubles. D. Purdy (Derbys) & A. Kapoor :r:?: But while most seedings (Mer) bt D. Herbert (Berks) & T. J?::: went to form with all the Young 13, 13 ::::::::::: expected winners winning three out of four titles, there were also some bright individual perform­ ance from unknowns. Terry Young, a 15 year old from Berkshire came from nowhere to reach the final of the Cadet singles losing to Steve Meddings and then teaming up with Darren Herbert to reach the final of the doubles. It was a performance that didn't go unnoticed with England manager PAGE 9 Isupported by. sChildkrotl Without tasting defeat

AT the half way stage in the season acquisition this season, and Edison's there were still two teams boasting David Goode. 100% records and both of these came Sedgefield District II and City of from the NFD Grove club at Market Sunderland were level on points at I Drayton. Their first team had won all the top of the second division North of their matches in the Premier with Sedgefield taking pole position Division and the seconds had done by virtue of a better set difference. likewise in Division 1 North. In Burslem and Levi's Westfield were additional their fourth team in locked together at the foot of the Division 3 North and their Colts team table. City of Leeds were lying third in Division 3 Midland were both from bottom, but did boast the unbeaten. outstanding player in the division in But Grove were not the only club Dave Indricks, the only player to that had unbeaten teams in the receive the match award on three Friendly Hotels British League. City occasions. The division's leading set of Sunderland (2 North), Linda winner was John Crawford of Farrow (2 South East), Jolliffe Poole Sedgefield (eleven Wins, three (3 South) and WSIHE Lennox House losses). Group (3 South), had all gone Linda Farrow were leading the through the first half of the season way in the Second Division South without tasting defeat. East but only just, Rejects Lambeth NFD Grove's unbeaten run in the being only one point behind them. Premier Division included victory The best indiVidual record in the over their arch rivals Team Peniel division belonged to Mark Brown of which put them two points clear at Kleinworth Benson Gillingham who the top of the table. In addition the had won thirteen out of the fourteen Grove Club had only lost one set in sets that he had played. However, six matches. Nicky Mason topped the player to get the 'Player of the their averages with twelve victories Match' award on most occasions was to his credit and their only loss was Alan Close of Rejects Lambeth. when Desmond Douglas was beaten OLOP Table Tennis Club of by Stuart Palmer. To make up for it Sedgefield's Eddie Smith Reading lost the opening match of the season in Division 2 South West Desmond had taken the 'Player of the to VRS Fareham, but then proceeded Match' award on three occasions. to win their next five to head the Sedgefield District were doing ,table at the halfway stage. Chan When you're best of the new boys in the top flight Construction II were languishing at having won three and lost three of the foot of the table, but Tony Isaac their matches. Eddie Smith with nine had gained the 'Player of the Match' victories and only four defeats had award in three of the four matches in on business, stay their best individual record. which he had played. The most Apart from Douglas two other successful player in the division was players had receive the 'Player of the .Nigel Thomas of VRS Fareham who Match' award on three occasions, had won ten out of ten. Friendly. Stuart Palmer of Confederation Life Di'l'ision 3 East is the most St. Neots and Andrew Eden of Team fiercely contested With only two Penie!. points separating the top five teams. You know the feeling. You're away on NFD Grove II had already busin.ess. you've had a long day and now Fellows Cranleigh II had their noses established a three point lead at the all you want is to be sure of a relaxing in front on ten points, Ashford (Kent) evening and a good night's sleep. top of the table with the Midland and British Gas CMK II both had nine Enter Friendly Hotels. sides Chan Construction and West whilst Team Peniel II and BSG You'll find us in most of the major Warwickshire battling out for second Brentwood II were both on eight business centres in England and Scotland, place. Both had won five times in points. It was equally close at the as well as in Denmark and France. You'll their seven outings but Chan had bottom with the remaining three, ---"""'Cl] also find us easily. No more mystery tours gained one draw which put them one Chelmsford League, Brent Juniors '" ::~ ~:\.:.'. /3 of strange towns trying to spot your hotel. point above the West Warwickshire and Norwich Foxwood II all having Because ours are in prime locations that outfit. Euan Walker and Steve Ward four points. The division's leading "CrltlNl .'..-'" make coming and going simplicity itself. of Grove were unbeaten With ten players were Rik James of Chelms­ ---- Talking of which we've r-:-:--..,..,---,----, victories to their names, but the got checking in and out down to a fine art too with a streamlined ford League and Ian Musk of British ..::===.. leading set winner in the division system. whenyou use our instant check out method. ..:,-=-.==. CMK who both had won thirteen out Rooms have all the comforts you'd expect in a premier 3 star :..::'"-==­ was Richard Tilford of Ruston of fourteen sets played but the only hotel. And, ifyou wish, you can add a few more fora modest .~-'-'ftoUI' Marconi Lincoln who had won player with a 100% average was supplement by upgrading to 'Premier Plus', whereby you get the ~~= twelve and had been beaten on only Vince Avery of Team Penie!. finest room complete with miOibar, teletext TV, trouser press and a ~~..::."=' two occasions. Unbeaten NFD Grove Colts had host of other little extras. - ...... ­ The battle for promotion from opened a two point gap at the top of Prices start from just £48.50 0 a night and you can book by calling .:-.=.:. Division 1 South was developing in ::-~=-- Division 3 Midland With DML Jane Parker FREE now on 0800 591910 .. to a three horse race With NFD Grove Whitehart Launceston III lying °Corrut attinu ofgoing to pre."". nnn III on twelve points, Edison Table second. However, the top players IT PAYS TO STAY FRIENDLY Tennis Club on eleven and Horsham came from two of the other teams in Angels on ten. Edison had helped the division, Pat McCabe of their cause With a 5-3 victory over Kinghurst Bribar and Hugh Dalton of Fri~~ly Grove. Three players had received Bathwick Tyres sharing the leading the 'Player of the Match' award in player of the match. P~mier House. 112 SI&lion Ro;ad. E,dgwilre. Middlesex HAS 7BJ. 1--..,., OBI-90S 6217_ this division on no less than three Three teams were level on points Enalandl Birmine:ham, Burnley. Eutbourne, Hull. london. Milton Keyne•. Newc.a.t1e-Under.lyme. occasions. They were Elena '!'imina, at the top of the Third Division North Northwich, Norwich. Notlif1!:ham. Scotch Corner, Tyne & Wear, Walsall. Welwyn. Scotland: Ayr. Edinburgh, falkirk. GlalJ8ow. Perth. Francel Caen Normandy. Denmanu Copenhagen. Grove's Russian lady player, Mike - Uxbridge Burton, Senior Thermal Hammond, Horsham Angels new Derwent, and NFD Grove IV. It was PAGE 10 nice to see Senior Thermal Derwent as they headed the Third Division up there with the leaders in their first South. Here again newcomers in the season. The player mainly responsi­ shape of WSIHE Lennox House ble for their high position was Group had already made their mark Andrew Nicholls who had been and had the division's leading set ~ beaten only twice in his six matches. winner in Rob Falconer. Uxbridge Burton's success was The stage, therefore, is set for largely due to four times player of the a lot of exciting tussles in most of II~~~~jj match Junior Stoddart. Fri~~slly the divisions but it already looks Jolliffe Poole looked set for a as though the Premier Division title qUick return to the Second Division is, once again, going to NFD Grove. LEAGUE TABLES AS AT British L@ague 20th DECEMBER 1992 PREMIER P W D L F A PTS DIVISION 2 SOUTH WEST P W D L F A PTS NFD Grove 7 7 57 1 14 OLOP 7 6 1 35 31 12 Team Peniel 7 6 1 50 18 12 VRS Fareham 7 4 1 2 35 21 9 Sedgefield District 7 4 3 43 41 8 Horsham Angels II 7 4 1 2 32 24 9 Bathwick Tyres 7 3 1 3 34 48 7 Amith Gen. Fareham 7 2 2 3 25 31 6 Con. Life St. Neots 7 1 2 4 33 51 4 Leckie TTC 7 2 1 4 27 29 5 DML White Hart Launceston 7 1 2 4 33 51 4 Chan Construction II 7 2 5 20 36 4 Vymura International 6 6 15 49 DML White Hart Launc. II 6 1 4 18 30 3

DIVISION 1 NORTH DIVISION 3 EAST

NFD Grove II 8.' 7 50 14 15 Fellows Cranleigh II 8 5 2 1 37 27 12 Chan Construction 8 6 1 41 23 13 Ashford Kent 8 4 3 1 38 26 11 R.M. Lincoln 8 5 2 41 23 11 Team Peniel II 8 4 2 2 41 23 10 West Warwickshire 8 5 3 34 30 10 Brit. Gas CMK II 8 3 4 1 36 28 10 Cheltenham Saracens 8 2 2 4 20 44 6 BSG Brentwood II 8 3 3 2 33 31 9 British Gas CMK 8 1 3 4 25 39 5 Chelmsford League 8 1 2 5 30 34 4 I :::::::::::: Well Connected Menswear 8 1 2 5 25 39 4 Brent Juniors 8 1 2 5 22 42 4 Bribar Humberside 8 8 20 44 Norwich Foxwood II 8 1 2 5 19 45 4

DIVISION 1 SOUTH DIVISION 3 MIDLAND NFD Grove III 8 7 1 49 15 14 NFD Grove Colts 7 6 39 17 13 Edison TTC 8 6 1 40 24 13 DML White Launceston III 7 5 1 37 19 11 Horsham Angels 8 6 2 46 18 12 Kinghurst BOOar 7 4 3 36 20 8 Ellenborough 8 3 2 3 31 33 8 P.D. Newport 7 3 1 3 23 33 7 Larkhall 8 3 1 4 28 36 7 Hawbush C.C. 7 1 3 3 22 34 5 BSG Brentwood 8 2 1 5 24 40 5 Bathwick Tyres III 6 2 4 20 28 2 Bribar Colley Toyota 8 1 2 5 22 42 4 OLOP II 7 2 5 15 41 2 Bathwick Tyres II 8 1 7 16 48 1

DIVISION 2 NORTH DIVISION 3 NORTH Sedgefield District II 8 6 1 45 19 13 Uxbridge (Burton) 8 5 2 42 22 12 City of Sunderland 8 5 3 40 24 13 NFD Grove IV 8 3 5 37 27 11 Leicester Lions 8 4 3 1 38 26 11 S.T. Derwent 8 4 2 2 37 27 10 Vymura Int. II 7 2 2 3 26 30 6 City of Sunderland II 8 2 4 2 33 31 8 D.H.V.R. Warrington 7 2 2 3 23 33 6 Sedgefield District III 8 1 5 2 30 34 7 City of Leeds 8 1 3 4 27 37 5 AALCO Leeds 8 2 3 3 27 37 7 Levis Westfield 8 1 3 4 27 37 5 Crusaders Lincoln 8 1 3 4 24 40 5 Burslem 8 3 5 22 42 3 Ormesby 8 2 6 26 38 4

DIVISION 2 SOUTH EAST Linda Farrow 7 5 2 41 15 12 DIVISION 3 SOUTH Rejects 7 5 1 1 36 20 11 Jollitfee Poole 7 6 1 43 13 13 Norwich Foxwood 8 4 2 2 37 27 10 Lennox House Group 7 5 2 38 18 12 K.B. Gillingham 7 3 2 2 32 24 8 Linda Farrow II 6 3 2 1 28 20 8 PA Croydon 8 2 3 3 31 33 7 Larkhall II 7 3 4 24 32 6 Fellows Cranleigh 7 3 1 3 26 30 7 Rejects II 6 1 4 18 30 3 JAGS 8 2 1 5 26 38 5 Ellenborough II 7 1 6 20 36 2 Britannia Ipswich 8 8 11 53 Adeyfield N.a. 6 2 4 13 35 2 Schildkr6t distributed by Butte'rfly • • PAGE 11 I Waldner - once again master of the sport

AT THE tum of the century in seven of the season as he increased the years from now, Jan-ave Waldner pace of his drives. not relying' all the will be 34. It will be interesting to time on top-spin from half-distance. see if when the year 2000 comes Meanwhile shocks were along, he is still regarded as he is happening - Fetzner took out Erik now. as the most talented player in Lindh 10, -16. -12. 15, 19, whilst history. In my view. his talents Zoran Primorac dismissed a very exceed those of the legendary era of disappointed Jean-Michel Saive Victor Barna and Richard Bergmann (Belgium) -12. 16. 18. 15. 19. an and he is therefore the most gifted incredible fight-back by the Croatian player in the history of the sport - at player. least that is my view, those more Saive seems to look worn-out senior than even me, might not almost before he starts his games, agree. but it is an illusion. He does have His final round victory 17. -14. staying power. but such a physical 16, -17, 16. a repeat of the Olympic· game has its limitations, as he found final over Jean-Philippe Gatien. was to his cost against Primorac. in the same class as in . There is a saying in the Press when Waldner admitted that. was his Centres - never rule out Grubba. The finest hour. Polish artist came through despatch­ The long battle. over 90 minutes ing Chila in four and Didier reached the highest standards of the Mommessin in three 12. 11, 13 after sport. There were many outstanding Fiona's husband eliminated Zhang points. Two of the best - Waldner was forced back to the barriers Lei (World No.33) at 12 in the fifth. defending with lobs of 20ft high ­ Grubba's next move that will keep up seven or eight returns. So ferocious the European and world rankings were the Gatien drives that Waldner was a win over Peter Karlsson 11, 18, had to jump in the air to get any sort 7 to reach the semi-finals. of return; eventually Waldner's last Swedish Power return fell just over the end of the table, to enormous applause from the Where is the Swedish power after 3,000 crowd. Waldner and Persson? The answer could be Karlsson - in the second round he accounted for no less than WORDS: the European champion Jorg JOHN WOODFORD Rosskopf -18. 19. 14.21. Rosskopf Sweden's Jan-Ove Waldner (above) and Jean-Philippe Gatien of did not seem quite at his best - he PICTURES: France recovered not long ago from haVing a JOHN WOOD cyst removed from his wrist. That left a semi-finals line-up of The second outstanding point Waldner to play Grubba and came when Waldner was again Primorac to take on Gatien. Waldner lost the first 8 to Grubba. but forced back. Like a goalkeeper, he went the wrong way. saw his error, majestically recovered the lost dashed to the other comer of the ground to win 10. 14. 17. whilst in huge court. Instead of lobbing - most. the bottom half Gatien was almost players would have not reached the stretched to five games by Primorac, but with more help from the crowd, spot - he hit a screaming cross-court Winner! He almost received a went through 17, -16, 19. 18. standing ovation in the middle of the Large Chinese match. but such was the quality of play. Team Waldner's path to the final was THIRTY F1VE nations entered the peppered with lost games, but of French Open, which made it almost course, his skills are so complete that a European Championships plus he can cope with five game matches added interest with teams from better than any other player. He took China. Taiwan and some huge teams five games to beat Samsanov (EUN). from Europe - England's tiny team of 13 in the fifth. despatched Ding Yi five looked small. There were 15 rather easier 10, 8, 18 but needed four games to remove England's players from Czechoslovakia. nine from Poland. 10 from Sweden. 10 Chen Xinhua 18. 19, -10. 9 as the Chinese player ran out of steam. from Belgium. 13 from Germany. six That was in the quarter-finals. Before from Canada, 11 from China, five Xinhua went out, he had Waldner trom Denmark. eight from Taiwan making plenty of errors. although the and eight from Luxembourg. result never seemed in doubt. Most of these nations sent Gatien's road to the final included batches of younger players, some 3-0 against Korbel and then a classic juniors, to gain experience at that battle with Alan Cooke. The French level. The question has to put - how idol spurred on by 'Allez Philou' from can all these nations afford to send ):lIS fans. managed to subdue the these large teams? The host country Chesterfield player 18. -15, 13. -19. fielded 20 players. The total number 13. one of Alan's best performances of players at Lievin was 2721

PAGE 12 Martin Bawden, managed to find a How the England modest hotel some five minutes quintet fared... away in the town centre, so the principal problems for the journalists CHEN XINHUA: He started with a were the lack of telephone, the 3-0 win over Massimo Costantini absence of operators to get collect (Italy) followed by a long battle calls and at times four hours before before he finally overpowered Xiong scores of matches could be squeezed Ki (China) 17 in the fifth. Chen won out of the administration. The only the first two. relaxed against the real plus was a fine media Viewing young Chinaman and then sweated gallery nearer the roof of the stadium out the fifth. That brought hime to than the floor. the classic battle with Waldner. the Verdict overall: Nice to be only world's two best servers. an hour from the ferry at Calais. but ALAN COOKE: Apparently seeded the tournament in organisation No.15, the Malmo No.2 was excused terms. was well below previous groups going straight into battle with venues for the French Open, like the Sascha Kostner. the young Lyons and Paris. And, I draw the line German from Frankfurt who is the at filing for the Daily Telegraph from holder of the English Junior Open Italian restaurants. title. Cooke reduced Kostner to the score of 12, 15, 15. In taking the Doubles second and fourth games from IN line with modern practice. there Waldner. the Derbyshire player who were no team events, but a mixed is now doing well in Sweden, doubles event was included. Alan produced a satisfying performance. Cooke was paired with the Danish LISA LOMAS: Seeded 12. Lisa No.1. Allan Bentsen - they overcame missed the groups and had to go the Dutch duo De Vrind-De Bruyn straight in to play Holland's Gerdie 21, 16 but lost a third round clash Keen, emerging with honours 15, 10, with Jorg Rosskopf and Stefan 13. Then disaster struck as the Fetzner20, -17.12. Bedfordshire defender was unable to The "Double Dames' saw a first produce enough back-spin and lost ­ round defeat, but only by the 16, 19. 16. 13 to the vastly improved narrowest of margins -15, 18, 20 to Hungarian girl Kristina Toth, a result the Swedish pair Petersson and that hopefully will not have a too Erlman. The French Association disastrous effort on her European would it seems. have smiled on ranking. especially after her great Fiona Mommessin when they paired win over Wang Xiaoming at her with the eventual Winner of the Gateshead. womens singles Geng Lijuan of ANDREA HOLT: The young lady Canada. They went through into the from Bury, the only player in England third round after accounting for to "bury" Elena Timina this season Batorfi (Hungary) and Gieraga went through to the first round and (Poland) and Ozer-Billan (Belgium) took the first 19 against Mirjam 19, 12. A semi-final appearance Hooman. It was a splendid battle seemed ,on for Fiona but the palr with Andrea always in contention were thwarted 20, 11 by the German but the Dutch woman went through pair and . 19. 20. 18. proving that Andrea can There were no English entries "live" With players of this calibre. that I could spot in the mixed FIONA MOMMESSIN: Clearly doubles which was won by Zoran delighted to be back in the England Primorac and Csilla Batorfi against team and happy in her new country the Taiwan pair Chang and Xu. of residence, Fiona beat Sandrine Derrien (France) but lost to the Chinese-German Jie Schopp who went on to beat Olga Names, before losing in five to the winner of the womens singles Geng Lijuan of Canada. Splendid Arena THE Stads Couvert at Lievin is said to be the largest building of its kind outside Paris. although its main Womens Singles usage is for indoor athletics. Most of the permanent lighting is therefore Final Stages focused on the running track. leaving THERE was a distinctly Oriental look at least half of the 15 tables used in a around the womens singles semi­ poor lighting situation - a nightmare finals. After a shock defeat for Batorfi for photographers whose ranks on by Xu (Taipal) who also knocked out thiS occasion included TIN Editor Hooman. Another earlier shock that John Wood. seemed to help Lisa Lomas but He commented: "The lighting in didn't, was Toth stopping the the stadium was in some areas very European champion Bettine poor. even the English umpires Eric Vriesekoop. Pentland and Mick Strode said that Asa Svensson the Swedish pocket they had difficulty in seeing the ball dynamo who plays in the Japanese on certain tables. But on the majority Womens National League. was in great of the tables the lighting was form - she only lost at 16 in the fifth to adequate, two to three stops better Geng Lijuan. In the other semi-final than the others.' Top picture is Chen Xinhua, 2nd from top is Alan Cooke, Zheng (China) brought down Xu. In the Lievin is a small town with a fine 3rd from top is Lisa Lomas, 4th from top is Andrea Holt final it was a triumph for Canada -8 in stadium, but the players had to be and bottom is Didier Mommessin giving a cuddle to his the fourth. as Geng knocked out Zheng taken by coach to the hotels some providing some reasons why China did distance away - 10 to 15 kilometres. English wife Fiona Elliot-Mommessin not want immigrant Geng playing for The English media party plus coach Canada in the Olympic Games.

PAGE 13 Veterans champions Cheshire lead again TWELVE Veterans Premier Division expedite games. There was a close finished matches were played in Hyde, Cheshire. . when C. Gay (Ca) beat Dave Pountney 14, ­ Current champions Cheshire finished on 16,20 to give Cambs the 5-4 win over Bucks top with wins over Sussex, Lines and 2nds. At St. Neots T.T.C. Norfolk 2nds got a Dorset. It was a 7-2 win over Dorset but the 7-2 win over Hunts. Chuck Hewitt and David two losses were something of a surprise. Ashmore (Nk) were involved in 5 wins. Tony Clayton (Do), after losing to Roger Hampson, beat John Hilton 15, -17, 16 and VETS2C DIV: Joyce Coop (Do) had a 14, -13, 17 win over Oxford 2 2 Essex 3 7 Doreen Schofield. Surrey 2 4 Sussex 5 Surrey also finished with a 'clean sheet" Berkshire 2 4 Kent 2 5 after wins over Essex, Lanes and Yorkshire. It was a 5-4 win over Yorkshire with Derek Essex 3rd team got their win on their visit Holman winning both his singles matches to Oxford. Bob Murray and F. Mauthoor (E) and the doubles with Dave Weisman. Yorks involved in five wins. Gerry Batt-Rawden won their other 2 matches against Essex (Sx) won the final event against Surrey 2nds and Lines. The promotees Dorset and to give the Sussex team a 5-4 win. Jenny Lanes met with Dorset getting a 6-3 win. Gillam (Sy) beat Barbara Bayford 20 and 24. Tony Clayton and Joyce Coop were Kent 2nds, had to concede three events involved in 5 of the wins. Lanes lost their vital event was the ladies singles event against Berks 2nds but still got a 5-4 win. three matches and have to meet Cheshire which Janet Brown (Ox) won at 20 in 3rd The mixed doubles was vital with Tom and Yorks in the final series. game. At Norwich Mick Broughton (Nk) AdamslPam Butcher (K) beating Ian Essex, Lines and Sussex teams each was involved in three wins against Yorks Schwartz\Pam Spooner 21, -15, 19. had one win. Essex beat Sussex 5-4, with 2nds but the visitors got the other six Don McGilvray (E) winning his two singles events. VETS2D DIV: and Lesley Radford beat Pauline Steel and Devon 5 Hampshire 2 4 won the mixed doubles with Derek Wood. VETS tBDIV: Wiltshire 2 4 Somerset 2 5 Sussex did well to beat Dorset 5c4. A vital Kent 7 Hampshire 2 Avon 6 Dorset 2 3 factor was doubles wins by Keith Horton! Buckinghamshire 3 Middlesex 6 Pauline Steel and Roger ChandlerlRobin Essex 2 6 Wiltshire 3 Devon got their first win with the 5-4 defeat Stace. The Lines win was over Lanes (5-4) of Hants 2nds. Two doubles wins at 18 and with Brian Allison and Beryl Voss the Kent are going well with their 3rd win ­ 20 in 3rd games were vital for Devon. The successful players. Th~ only players to go score 7-2 over Hants, who did well to win match score stood at 4-4 in Wilts 21 through the weekend with 100% successes both doubles events. Terry Bruce (Wi) won Somerset 2 match. Mike Baker (So) then in singles were Joyce Coop (Do) and Lesley his two singles against Essex 2nds but the beat Mike Oxley -16, 8, 17 to give Somerset Radford (E). Essex team got a 6-3 win. Middlx beat the win. Avon got their 2nd win with the 6­ Berks 6-3. Gill Knightley (Bk) had a 17 and 3 defeat of Dorset 2nds. FULL RESULTS: 19 win over Mary Sawyer and teamed up Sx 3 Ch 6, Ch 7 Do 2, with Syd Montgomery to win the mixed VETS3ADIV: Do 6 La 3, E 5 Sx 4, doubles. Warwicks 2 4 Northants 2 5 Li 2 Y 7, Li 0 Ch 9, VETS2ADIV: Hartridge-4 6 Bedfordshire 2 3 Sy 6 E 3, Sy 7 La 2, Northumberland 3 Northants 6 Bedfordshire 3 9 Wiltshire 3 0 Y 4 Sy 5, E 2 Y 7, Warwickshire 7 Nottinghamshire 2 La 4 Li 5, Do 4 Sx 5. Cheshire 3 4 Staffordshire 5 Northants 2nds, had their 3rd consecutive 5-4 result - this time with a win over LEAGUE TABLE In the Ches 3/Staffs match three events Warwicks 2nds. Brian D'Hooghe (Np) beat P W L F A PTS were decided after deuce in deciding Chris Maiden 14, -17, 12 to secure the win. CH 3 3 0 22 5 6 games, and Staffs came out on top 5-4. At Keith Hartridge (He) won his two singles SY 3 3 0 18 9 6 match score 3-4 down John Riley (St) beat and the doubles, with Jim Felstead, in Y 3 2 1 18 9 6 Phil Luxon at 20 in 3rd game and John Herts 4th team's 6-3 win over Beds 2nds. DO 3 1 2 12 15 2 Taylor (St) followed by beating Roger Moss SX 3 1 2 12 15 2 11 and 20 to seal the win. Warwicks had a VETS 3B DIV: E 3 1 2 10 17 2 good 7-2 win over Notts. Pat McCabe and Berkshire 4 4 Sussex 4 5 LI 3 1 2 7 20 2 Brian Belcher (Wa) were involved in five Kent 3 4 Hampshire 3 5 LA 3 0 3 9 18 0 wins. Northants visited Blaydon and got a Surrey 3 7 Hertfordshire 3 2 6-3 win over N'berland. VETS tADIV: Two 5-4 results in this Division. In the Hertfordshire 1 7 Worcester 2 VETS2BDIV: Berks 4/Sussex 4 match the mixed doubles Cheshire 2 4 Oxford 5 Cambridgeshire 5 Buckingham 2 4 proved to be vital when Brian Keeley/Olive Norfolk 3 Yorkshire 2 6 Huntingdonshire 2 Norfolk 2 7 Beaumont (Sx) beat Allan and Sylvia Bruton Bedfordshire 3 Essex 4 6 -13, 16, 20. There was a tense finish in the Herts got their 3rd win with the 7-2 defeat Kent 3IHants 3 match. Norman Staff (Ha) of Wores. John Taylor and Stuart Seaholme Essex 4th team visited Dunstable and got beat Jim Bromley -17, 13,21 to give Hants won five events. Oxon got their first win of their 3rd win by beating Beds 6-3. Peter the win. Surrey 3rd team got their 3rd win the season on their visit to Ches. 2nds. A Ballard (E) beat Brian Mayfield 16, -17, 15 in with the 7-2 defeat of Herts 3rds.

PAGE 14 VETS 3C DIV: were beaten 8-2 on their visit to N'berland. JUNRDIV 1B: Hertfordshire 5 6 Wiltshire 4 3 Dawn Bromley got the two events for Glarnorgan 4 Gwent 6 Northants 3 7 Herefordshire 2 Warwicks. Devon 2 0 Kent 10 Sussex 3 7 Berkshire 3 2 Sussex 7 Essex 2 3 Surrey 2 2 Berkshire 1 8 In the Herts 5IWilts 4 match the mens SENR2BDIV: doubles was very close. Bill Wilson!Terry Cornwall 5 Somerset 5 The Gwent boys - Toby Eckley, Paul Parkins (Wi) beat Brian GaleslDave Wilson Worcestershire 9 Somerset 1 Hadley and Ryan Owen - won their six 21, -22, 18. But with Brian Gale (He) matches against Glamorgan to get the win. beating Ray Cordery 6, -19,21 Herts got a Somerset were 2-4 down on their visit to Janine Belby and Bethan Daunton (Gn) 6-3 win. Northants 3rd team got off to a 3­ Cornwall but came back well to get a draw. were undefeated. Kent won 10-nil on their Phil Payne (So) won both his singles nil start against Herefords, with 2 of the visit to Plymouth T.T. Headquarters with matches. Somerset visited Dudley to play wins at 19 in 3rd games. Northants just one event needing a decider. Sussex Wores and were beaten 0-1 but 5 events consolidated to win 7-2. Peter Woolven­ beat Essex 2nds 7-3. James Beale (Sx) beat went to a decider. Good to see Mandy Allen started Berks 3rds off with a 19 in 3rd Regan Nettleingham -9, 15, 27! Berks on Mytton back in action for Wores. Lee Sadler top With three wins after their 8-2 defeat of win over Keith Jackson but Sussex got on got the only Somerset win. top with five two straight wins for a 7-2 Surrey 2nds. victory. SENR2CDIV: JUNRDIV2B: SENR 1B DIV: Hertfordshire 2 3 Essex 2 7 Essex 3 5 Hertfordshire 2 5 Avon 6 Buckinghamshire4 Northants 6 Norfolk 4 Buckinghamshire 5 Devon 2 5 Cambridgeshire 1 Huntingdonshire 9 Middlesex 2 10 Devon 2 0 Essex 2nds another team to get their 3rd Norfolk 2 7 Buckingham 2 ·3 Avon 2 Middlesex 2 8 consecutive win. The Essex ladies - Alison Bedfordshire 2 Suffolk 1 9 Sussex 10 Avon 0 Gower and Shelley Ruocco - win their 4 Devon 2 1 Sussex 9 events. Norfolk were beaten 6-4 on their Ther eis no doubt that Hunts and Suffolk Devon 2 7 Surrey 2 3 visit to Northants despite Neil Pickard are the top teams of this Div and both got Surrey 2 6 Avon 4 winning his two singles matches. Donna 9-1 wins. Hunts/Suffolk meet on Jan 23rd. Berkshire 2 6 Surrey 2 4 Furness won Essex 3rd team came back from 3-5 down two for Northants. to get a draw with Herts 2nds. In the final Eight matches were played at Hove. Sussex event Jimmy Dove (E) veat Arun Dhar -13, got 2 more emphatic wins - over Avon and SENR3ADIV: 12, 17. Three events went to a decider in Hertfordshire 3 9 Clwyd 1 Devon 2nds - and dropped just one event. the Norfolk 2IBucks 2 match. Norfolk won Staffordshire 2 6 Lincoln 4 The one event lost was a surprise with each time and were good value for a 7-3 win. Gary Lambert (Dv) beating Adrian Moore at Herts 3rd team keep well on top with their 19 in 3rd game. MiddIx 2nds, nearest rivals 9-1 defeat of Clwyd. Mark Pugh (Cw) won of Sussex, also got two good wins but have the first event of the match but that was JUNR2D DIV: already lost 2-8 to Sussex. Devon 2nds did the extend of Clwyd's success. A very close Sussex 2 5 Middlesex 2 5 well to beat Surrey 2nds 7-3. Kevin Buddell match with Staffs 2nds and Lines. Two Sussex 3 5 Middlesex 2 5 (Dv) won both his matches at 19 in 3rd events were decided at 21 in 3rd games Hampshire 1 10 Hampshire 2 0 games. In Surrey 2nds 6-4 win over Avon and, according to the signes score sheet, Kent 2 Surrey 3 Jerome Jonah (Sy) beat Gary Baldwin at 18 Staffs won five other events two straight 9 1 in 3rd and Mark Butler -16, 18, 20. Surrey with the scores 23-21 in all 10 games! Oxford 8 Berkshire 2 2 2nds also visited Berks 2nds and were beaten 6-4 with Lisa Crick and David Middx 2nd team visited Hove to play the Reeves (Bk) winning matches at 18 and 19 JUNRDIV 1A: Sussex 2nd and 3rd teams and each match in deciding games. Northumberland 4 Cheshire 6 resulted in a draw. A. Jeyaraja (Mi) was Norfolk 4 Clwyd 6 involved in the final deciding event in each SENR2ADIV: match winning against Sussex 3rd team but Cheshire 1 2 Yorkshire 2 8 Cheshire got a 6-4 win on their visit to losing in the Sussex 2nds match. Hants 1st Cumbria 0 Nottinghamshire 10 N'berland. The match score stood at 4-4 team "whitewashed" their 2nd team. Kent but Clare Newns and Dean Appleton (Ch) Northumberland 8 Warwickshire 2 2 2nds beat Surrey 3rd 9-1 with James Furner then had two straight wins to get the (Sy) winning the final event at 17 in3rd victory. Clwyd girls - Natasha Williams and Another big "'{in for Yorks 2nds. This team game. Oxon won t}1e three events which Meinir Davies - again won their four events went to a decider and did well to get an 8-2 has dropped only three events from three and support from Paul Robertson and win over Berks 2nds. matches. Notts also doing well with 10 two Martin Hopwood earned a 6-4 win over straight wins over Cumbria. Warwicks 2nds Norfolk. (See page 16 [or League Tables) County Championship results will be given, as early as possible, on each Monday morning after the seven organised match dates FORALLCC• .._. •~NSHIPRESULTS TELEPHONE 0891 664300 Calls charged at 36p per minute cheap rate and 48p per minute at other times

PAGE 15 LEAGU ETABLES SEASON 1992-93 Compiled by Leslie Smith

SENIORS JUNIORS Premier Division P W D L F A Pts Premier Division P W D L F A Pts Devonshire 3 3 0 0 25 5 6 Surrey 3 2 1 0 24 6 5 Middlesex 3 2 1 0 17 13 5 Essex 3 2 1 0 21 9 5 Lancashire 3 1 2 0 18 12 4 Devonshire 3 2 1 0 20 10 5 Berkshire 3 1 1 1 13 17 3 Yorkshire 3 1 2 0 18 12 4 Essex 3 1 0 2 15 15 2 Middlesex 3 1 1 1 14 16 3 Surrey 3 0 2 1 13 17 2 Lancashire 3 0 1 2 13 17 1 Staffordshire 3 0 1 2 11 19 1 Hertfordshire 3 0 1 2 5 25 1 Yorkshire 3 0 1 2 8 22 1 Staffordshire 3 0 0 3 5 25 0

Division 1A Division 1A P W D L F A Pts No matches played yet Clwyd 4 3 1 0 27 13 7 Cheshire 3 3 0 0 20 10 6 Division 1B P W D L F A Pts Yorkshire 2nd 2 1 1 0 11 9 3 Sussex 5 5 0 0 40 10 10 buckinghamshire 2 1 0 1 10 10 2 Middlesex 2nd 5 4 0 1 35 15 8 Northumberland 3 1 0 2 14 16 2 Avon 6 3 0 1 24 36 6 Warwickshire 3 1 0 2 13 17 2 Berkshire 2nd 3 2 0 1 19 11 4 Norfolk 3 0 0 3 11 19 0 Surrey 2nd 6 2 0 4 25 35 4 Derbyshire 2 0 0 2 4 16 0 Devonshire 2nd 6 1 1 4 20 40 3 Buckinghamshire 5 0 1 4 17 33 1 Division 1B P W D L F A Pts Berkshire 3 3 0 0 22 8 6 Sussex 3 2 1 0 19 11 5 Division 2A P W D L F A Pts Kent 3 2 0 1 21 9 4 Yorkshire 2nd 3 3 0 0 27 3 6 Essex 2nd 3 2 0 1 19 11 4 Nottinghamshire 2 2 0 0 19 1 4 Gwent 3 1 1 1 14 16 3 Northumberland 2 2 0 0 15 5 4 Surrey 2nd 3 1 0 2 11 19 2 Cheshire 3 1 0 2 11 19 2 Glamorgan 3 0 0 3 10 20 0 Warwickshire 2nd 3 1 0 2 10 20 2 Devonshire 2nd 3 0 0 3 4 26 0 Leicestershire 2nd 2 0 0 2 5 15 0 Cumbria 3 0 0 3 3 27 0 Division 2A P W D L F A Pts Nottinghamshire 3 3 0 0 29 1 6 Division 2B P W D L F A Pts Lancashire 2nd 4 2 2 0 24 16 6 Wiltshire 4 3 1 0 25 15 7 Lincolnshire 3 2 1 0 19 11 5 Gwent 3 3 0 0 22 8 6 Warwickshire 2nd 3 1 1 1 13 17 3 Worcestershire 2 2 0 0 15 5 4 Staffordshire 2nd 3 0 2 1 13 17 2 Avon 2nd 3 1 1 1 16 14 3 Leicestershire 3 0 2 1 11 19 2 Somerset 5 1 1 3 19 31 3 Derbyshire 2nd 3 0 1 2 9 21 1 G10ucestershire 4 1 0 3 13 27 2 Cheshire 2nd 4 0 1 3 12 28 1 Cornwall 5 0 1 4 20 30 1 Northamptonshire 0 0 0 0 00 00 0 Division 2B P W D L F A Pts Division 2C P W D L F A Pts Suffolk 1st 3 3 0 0 28 2 6 Essex 2nd 3 3 0 0 23 7 6 Huntingdonshire 3 3 0 0 25 5 6 Hertfordshire 2nd 2 1 0 1 9 11 2 Hertfordshire 2nd 4 2 1 1 21 19 5 Northamptonshire 2 1 0 1 9 11 2 Suffolk 2nd 3 2 0 1 20 10 4 Bedfordshire 2nd 1 0 1 0 5 5 1 Norfolk 2nd 3 2 0 1 17 13 4 Norfolk 2 0 1 1 9 11 1 Essex 3rd 3 1 1 1 13 17 3 Huntingdonshire 2 0 0 2 5 15 0 Bedfordshire 4 1 0 3 13 27 2 Buckinghamshire 2nd 3 0 0 3 9 21 0 Division 2D Cambridgeshire 4 0 0 4 4 36 0 No matches played yet Division 2C P W D L F A Pts Somerset 4 4 0 0 32 8 8 Division 3A P W D L F A Pts Glamorgan 2nd 4 4 0 0 30 10 8 Hertfordshire 3rd 3 3 0 0 22 8 6 Avon 4 3 1 0 27 13 7 Worcestershire 3rd 2 1 0 1 14 6 2 Wiltshire 4 1 1 2 21 19 3 6 2 Lincolnshire 2 1 0 1 14 Dorset 4 1 1 2 16 24 3 Staffordshire 2nd 2 1 0 1 9 11 2 Cornwall 4 1 1 2 15 25 3 Suffolk 2nd 2 0 1 15 1 1 5 Devonshire 3rd 4 1 0 3 17 23 2 Clwyd 0 1 2 6 24 1 3 Worcestershire 4 0 1 3 16 24 1 G10ucestershire 4 0 1 3 6 34 1 Division 3B ~~ No matches played yet (Continued on page 17) PAGE 16 In the League Bristol Club B are the Christmas leaders following their nailbiting 6-4 win over title favourites Knowle and Brislington A. A Bob "County Notes" is for the publicity of county Murray hat-trick was supported by a double from Trevor Lloyd and they activities. The accuracy of what is published is teamed up to take the vital doubles. However, the K & B "A" squad of the responsibility of the County Associations, as Hugh Dalton, Eddie Roofe and Paul Hooper can be expected to be the Editor cannot possibly know what ''facts'' challenging for the title come April as they disposed of third placed may be incorrect. Copy containing libelous or Brigands 10-0. personally abusive matter or ''political'' comment will not be published.

AVON Bob Murray

HIGH DALTON SHOWED a welcome return to fonn in taking the mens BERKSHIRE singles title at the recent Avon Closed Championships. Having disposed of the dangerous Paul Hooper in the semi fmal. he ran out a reasonably John Cunningham comfortable winner in the fmal against Gary Baldwin despite losing the second game. MAIDENHEAD'S STRENGTH IN depth at Junior and Cadet level is starting to show through. They won their own Intertown tournament Bristol club pairBobMurray and Dave Price contested the fmal ahead of Reading and Newbury and were even able to field two teams of the Veterans singles with the former coming out on top 21-13, 21-13. after the late withdrawal ofGuildford. Star 01 the show was cadet Terry However, Dave had satisfactory consolation when teaming up with Bob Young who led the way to a creditable victory in the Stan Roper Cup. to take the mens doubles title. Reading, with its top stars unavailable, did well to fmishjoint second with The entry for the ladies singles event amounted to a paltry I! I Newbury. Reading girls represented by Jo Stone, Laura Davis and the hope Gillian Beer continues to support events in the county and that our Montgomery sisters Danielle and Vicki ran away with the girls event, a tournament organisers can think of ways of fmding her some opposition. creditable perfonnance with the top two girls unavailable. A topic for theMailboxI think. Thejuniorevents wereall extremely well contested and produced some of the best table tennis of the day. Results Carter Cup - BraekneU v Guiltlford in full: Bracknell junior boys had high hopes of emulating their cadet side, JBS B Fudge beating Guildford in the National Team Junior Championships. After JGS K Harris Edward Emptage had lost the first to Daren Hopkinson 21-19,12-21,9­ 10 B Fudge/J Beer 21, Robert Powles looked all set to square the match at 21-16, 20-17. CBS RMcDonald However a lapse of concentration let Chris Whitehead in to snatch a CGS LMcDonald dramatic 23-21 win and then goon and take the third 21-15. When an out BU12 LIles oftouch Stephen Robinson losttoIanGuess 21-11,21-8, itlooked allover GUl2 LMcDonald for the Bracknell trio. Powles started the fight back still smarting from that first set defeat, he defeated Hopkinson 22-20, 21-12. Even when Well, with barely half the season over, our senior lsts have already Emptage fell to Guess, Bracknell would not concede defeat, Robinson fmished their campaign. The unavailability of Paul Lewis and Andy surprised Whitehead, winning 21-19,18-21,21-17 and Powles took out Creed meant that we fielded a second string mens team in the fmal series Guess 21-18, 21-18 to make the match score 4-3 to Guildford. ofmatches atBrighton. in the circumstances a 6-4 win againstBucks was highly creditable and combined with the wins we had already secured, However, giving that 3 set early lead was to prove too much as meant that we finished in mid table. Let's hope that we can field our Robinson and Emptage went down to Hopkinson and Whiteheld respectively. strongest side in all matches next year and give ourselves a real chance The final score 6-3 to Guildford in a match thatBracknell could well have of reaching the Premier. won. However, a good game and team manager Cedric Dine must be proud of his team's fight back. Guildford now take on Reading on 3rd The scheduled series of matches for the senior 2nds failed to January and we wish them the best of luck against Ben Johnson and his materialise as I understand that Gloucestershire felt unable to honour the squad. fixtures in Cornwall. This means that we have now to rearrange home fixtures againstGwentand Cornwall. Another topic for theMailboxI feel having just read Andy Seward's Somerset notes in the latest News. Bromfield Trophy Last year's winner, Brighton visited the Our Lady of Peace Community The Veterans continued their winning sequence with a hard Centre to take on Bracknell Junior Girls in the National Team Champiooships. earned 6-3 win over Dorset 2nds. Two wins from Bob Murray were Sarah Steadman, ranked 11 in England, Joanna Bush Harris, ranked 22 supplemented by one each from Ernie Brown and Dave Price but it was and Clare Brown ranked 38 made up the crack Sussex team. Bracknell's the successes in both doubles which proved crucial. relatively inexperienced side of Joanne Stone, Vicki Montgomery and cadet Danielle Montgomery were in at the deep end and knew it. The Bristoluagru Brighton girls took no prisoners and despite some brave resistance the Bristol's two representative sides in National competitions both had Bracknell trio were whitewashed 5-0. To their credit, despite the heavy successful outcomes to their fIrSt round matches. The junior squad of defeat they did not lose heart and fmished with their heads held high. Barry Fudge, Jon Thorn and Graham Long returned from West Cornwall Danielle in particular, playing girls six years older will learn by the with an 8-1 win whilst the veteranside ofBrian Reeves, Bob Murray and experience and it will take a very good team to defeat the well balanced Ernie Brown won 5-1 against West Wilts. Brighton side. Berkshire Rankings 16-20 in the third. His second title was won with Richard over fellow Cadet Boys Junior Boys Devonion Adrian Vincent and Edward Hatley (Surrey). The triple was 1. Ali Subhan 1. Ben Johnson achieved with Nicola Deaton (Derbys) the national girls champion over 2. Terry Young 2. Ali Subhan Devonshire's top girl Lynsey Heywaid and Ryan Savill (Essex). 3. Gareth Herbert 3. Terry Young Three triple champions emerged in the Devon Junior Closed 4. Gareth Soden 4. Gareth Herbert Championships. Adrian Vincent (Plymouth) won the boys WIder 17 5. Andrew Grantham 5. Antony Rotunno singles title and shared the boys and mixed doubles successes with Jonathan May (Plymouth) and Lynsey Heyward (lpplepen). Lynseyalso Cadet Girls Junior Girls took the honours in the WIder 17 girls singles and the girls doubles with 1. Susan Johnson 1. Gemma Schwartz Lucy Perry (Crediton). Lucy completed her treble with wins over the fast 2. Danielle Montgomery 2. Helen Goatly improving Joanne Barraclough (St Mellion) in both the under 15 and 3. Laura Davis 3. Joanne Barratt WIder 13 singles. 4. Katherine Weller 4. Joanna Stone North Devon competitors had an excellent championship shining 5. Kim Matthews 5. Susan Johnson in the middle and lower age groups which augers well for the future. Bright prospect Peter Thomas (Bideford) beat Glen Goodall (Plymouth) in the under 15s. Torrington's fme prospect Robert Svensson took the under 13 title beating Mike Sherry (also from Torrington). Robert Broomhead won the under 11 final from his Bidefordrival David Labator. Two Bideford girls contested the under 11 fmal with Jennifer Blyth defeating Sarah Thomas.

CUMBRIA Gordon Brown

CUMBRIA ARE MISSING the on-table contributions of captain Julie Stitch this season. Unbeaten in her sets last tenn, she has to drop out for domestic reasons. GLOUCESTERSHIRE She has maintained interest as non-playing captain, butthe lack AlfPepperd of someone of her experience has had a marked effect. The team were pointless after three matches in Division 2a. Following defeats by THE 45TH ANNUAL County Closed Championships held at the new Warwickshire and Yo'rkshire second strings, Cumbria lost 10-0 at home Cheltenham Sports Centre saw Darren Griffm taking the men's singles to Nottinghamshire. title for the sixth time, and once again provebeyond any measureofdoubt The only pleasing thing about the season so far is the superb thathe is the best singles player in Gloucestershire since the halcyon day venue for home matches, kindly provided by their new sponsors, Whitbarrow of Bryan Merrett and Ian Harrison, and that goes back some few years. Village Time Share, free of charge. They have also kitted out the team. In the men's singles semi final Griffin, the defending champion: just got home against the No.3 seed Graham Slack, 22, 20 but made few AgainstNottinghamshire, Cumbria were inknots from the start mistakes versus veteran player Dave Harvey in the fmal whom he bea and did not even win a game. Only two-pointers were by Neil Yardley 14, -21,16, to run out winner for the fourth time in a row. The highl, against Tim Shepherd and Mark Temble against Paul Wood. controversial ANTON MAY, formerly from Surrey and now a Fores Cumbria names first: Mark Temple lost to Paul Wood 20-22, Green (Stroud) based player - prior to this championship made claiml 16-21; lostto Tim Sheppard 10-21,18-21; Neil Yardley lost to Sheppard through the medium of the local press that he was aiming to play fo 15-21,21-23; lostto Gary Pestka 7-21,12-21. Jimmy Cummings lost to England in the 1996 Olympics USA, and furthermore, cit Pestka 7-21, 12-21; lost to Wood 12-21, 14-21. Joanne Burgess lost to himself as a professional player - crashed out of the County Closed in th Sarah Smith 17-21, 18-21; lost to Linda Collins 15-21,11-21. Fiona flJ'St round to veteran Dave Harvey. Harris lost to Collins 6-21,13-21; lost to Smith 16-21, 13-21. The ladies singles was played under the group system with Jud) Nexthome game is against Leicestershire 2nd on Saturday 13th Morley, the defending champion once again retaining her title by beatinJ February when it is hoped as many local enthusiasts as possible will Cheltenham's Alison Cox 17, 13 in the fmal, Judy is another 11 attend to give some encouragement to those trying to fly the COWIty flag. phenomenon beating players half her age with the very minimum 0 Start is 2.30 pm. apparent efforts, not bad at all for a mother of two grown up lads. The Veterans singles saw a brand new memorial trophy, "TIl John Smith Memorial Cup", donated by Gill Smith in memory ofher la~ husband, who was a former Vice Chainnan of the COWIty, and it was w by Dave Harvey, the top seed for this Championship. He beat Denni Holland 19, 11 in the fmal. DEVONSHIRE The minor singles was an all Gloucester fmal, with Denni Oastler beating Alex Robinson 19,5 to take the title. In the U21 singh John Vincent it was pleasing to note a largeentry ofyOWIgerplayers - thepossiblestal of tomorrow. In this event Martin Elliot from the Crypt School i CONGRATULATIONS TO ALEX Perry (Crediton) on becoming a Gloucester beat Alison Cox of Cheltenham 17, 12 in the fmal. Elliot National Junior triple champion. Alex showed true champion qualities possibly one of the most improved juniors to come out of Gloucester ili to win the boys singles from Richard Hyacinth (Middlesex) after trailing season. In the mens doubles, the top seeds and defending champions N Herts 4 3 1 19 9 3 Darren Griffm and Graham Slack, had an easy two straight 10,13 victory Cheshunt 4 2 2 13 15 2 against Dave Harvey and Dennis Holland. In the ladies doubles, again Barnets IT 5 1 3 8 20 1 played under the group system, the eventual winners were Judy Morley StAlbans 4 0 4 2 26 0 and Angie Bristow and the runners up were Karen Harvey and Liz HemelIT 4 0 4 1 27 0 Johnson, a Cheltenham/Cirencester combo. I had hoped to mention the name or perhaps names of the new VETERANS Gloucestercitycoaching officers who would betaking overfrom George P W L F A Pts Novoth, but at the time of writing nothing is positive, should be by the Cheshunt 6 5 1 33 9 5 next issue, hope so. NHerts 5 4 1 24 11 4 Stan Johnsone is still doing sterling work upon Cheltenham's Watford 5 4 1 23 12 4 IT Newsletter, Stan Salisbury has brought out a mini newsletter for Hemell 6 4 2 27 15 4 Gloucester and the latter's preliminary championships I understand, will Welwynl once again be held at the Leisure Centre in Newent on Sunday March 7th. Hatfield 5 3 2 21 14 3 One more important dare and venue to remember is the Gloucester Barnets 6 2 4 16 26 2 Schools Event, these Championships will take place at St Benedicts St Albans 5 1 4 9 26 1 School, Arle Road in Cheltenham and the all important date is Sunday Hertford 5 1 4 8 27 1 28th February 1993. HemelIT 5 0 5 7 28 0

ISLE OF WIGHT HERTFORDSHIRE John Prean John Wood BOTH OUR JUNIORS and Cadets returned from the Hampshire Inter­ BARNETS SENIOR INTER-LEAGUE team took the Hertfordshire Town weekends with excellent result. The Juniors (Alex Rorke, Greg Senior Inter-League tournament by storm, brushing aside all opposition Burns, Stuart Dover) chalked up a couple of 10-0 victories, Lorna Dutch to take anearunassailable position at the top oftable at the halfway stage. contributing her usual two in the girls matches and the mixed doubles. Barnets triumphant trio of father and son John and Duncan Lornawas again in action in thecadetmatches in which thegirls Taylor and SylviaTylerevencrushed thehighly talentedNorth Herts side may play against boys. Here she won 5 out of 6 as did Danny Bums, of Mick Harper, Craig Millwood and Sandra Harper 7-0 when they another very bright prospect. Sonia Pointer won 3 out of 6. So our team clashed at the Barnet TTC on Sunday 3rd January. was riding high with two girls in the side! Lorna remains unranked in the Following their defeat by Barnet, North Herts have slipped to English cadet lists, even when these ARE published. This seems an fourth in the table. Hemel Hempstead lst team ofGlen Wilkes, Ian Black extraordinary state ofaffairs. Shehas beaten ranked girls, but apparently and EmmaHurling are insecondpositionwith the samenumber ofpoints inevents not onthe 'computer' but she has won 6 out of6 in Hampshire's at North Herts, but with a superior games difference. Junior County matches and the County Championships are on the Watford's foursome of father and daughter Dave and Sarah 'computer' andpay large sums for thatprivilege. In Lorna's case they are Seaholme, Chris Marlow and Justin Skinner are in third spot. Marlow, paying forsomething theydonotget. I shallnotdwellonothergrievances who lives in Hoddesden but plays for Watford, had the win of the day which players have aired to me with increasing regularity and which they when he beat North Herts' star Mick Harper -14,16,14. fmd discouraging to a point where they go to fewer and fewer junior Meanwhile, Cheshunt lead the Veterans Inter-League table, tournament. Here we have a highly promising young player who cannot withjust one Sunday left in the competition. Cheshunt's four stars Derek get on the computer at all! I have noted the explanations in Mr Twiss' Balding, Alan Lamprell, Tony Teff and Carl Nelson have dominated the latest article (TIN Dec/Jan) but the reality is sobering and sad. It was Veterans for the past two years, with Balding being their superstar who certainly different in the previous scheme when each win in the County created history last October by going two years undefeated. Championships was worth SOMETHING. I wish the theoreticians in the But even Balding proved to be a mere mortal when he lost his ivory towers would occasionally pause to think about the harm they are undefeated crown, losing in November to Welwyn and Hatfield's ex doing whilst they contemplate the mathematics and 'logic' of their actions. world veterans over 50 consolation champion Keith Hartridge 16,14,9. Welwyn and Hatfield went on to win this match 4-3 and inflict One young player who has managed to get 'on the computer' is the first defeat in two years on Cheshunt, when Welwyn's Dave Wilson Greg Burns - at No. 221 in the Junior Boys! He is a lot better than that scrapped a nail biting victory over Cheshunt's Alan Larnpre1l21, 21, in and I await his progress on the ladder with interest. the last game of the match. Our frrst division title race is the predicted one horse race with Sandown unstoppable, which makes it a case of "Who's gonna be SENIORS second?" to quote the late Walter Hagen from another sport. My guess P W L F A Pts is Newport Vics A (Greg Burns - again! - Mike Gallop and Chris Angus). Barnets 4 4 0 26 2 4 There is general agreement that overall standards are not as high as once Hemell 4 3 1 22 6 3 they were, butI feel that they soon will be as a number ofexcellentyoung Watford 5 3 1 21 7 3 players are coming through the divisions. The Vies Club.runs 11 teams [JTSP 0 nt-/' :I

,4~41'4:*.... -""'"

HER1FORDSHIRE'S Champions at this season's annual closed championships were (top picture) 18 year old Duncan Taylorand17yearoldSarah Seaholrne, in MensandWomensSingles. Whilst therealsurprise winnersin theMensDoubles were 60 year old GeoffBax and 61 year old Jack Baxter (bottom picture), who beat all the rising stars en-route to their unexpected victory. this season as wen as offering coaching and encouragement to the young. Bromfield Trophy A special word of thanks to the guiding spirit of the club; Bill and Joan In a match where Maidstone did not make the most of their chances Rossi and Gordon Burns who have moved mountains and the best is Hastings had a comfortable 8-1 victory. Sara Coggon, Nicola Evans and probably still ahead. Tma Beaney performed well for Hastings with Crystal Hall gaining Maidstone's lone win with a win over Evans. Alison Smith and particularly Rachel Woollven put in fme performances without any luck.

Kent Reliance 3 year Sponsorship Deal A year ago Kent Reliance Building Society accepted an invitation to sponsor the County SeniorChampionships - the partnership proved such a success that the Society has agreed to sponsor the Championships for a further three years - ourgrateful thanks are given toIan Robinson (MD) for his support. KENT Kent Juniors in National Elite Squad Adrian Hall We arepleased to hearofthe initiative taken by ETTACoaching Director Donald Parker to create an elite squad of talented young players and Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Closed particularly pleased that Scott Friday and Christian Thompson of Kent have been given two of the boys places - word hard lads and justify your Paul Crisp successfully defended his open singles title at the Teen and selection - well done the ETTA. Twenty Club on 22nd November but he had to survive a desperate ba~tle with Dave Butler in the quarter fmal coming from 4-11 down in the third before getting home 21.18 and then went onto beatMichael Cripps in the semi fmal. Martin Llewellyn defeated Paul Whit in the other semi fmal but then proved no match for Crisp in the fmallosing 6-21, 8-21. Paul White went on to complete a hat-trick of titles when in partnership with Llewellyn he won the open doubles against John NeallDavid Butler and again had the best of Neal in a three set struggle to win the Veterans singles. White/Neal then teamed up to take the Veterans Doubles against last season's champions Albert Crisci/Mike Sefton. HAMPSHIRE Brian Lar:nerton Hal Trick ofWins for Kent I

Lesley Hollingsworth remained unbeaten on a long tiring day that took in TIlE "AGELESS" RAMESH Bhalla is the new Hampshire senior champion three matches over a ten hour period and non playing captain Phil Cox after comfortably holding off all challenges in Southampton on 29th askedmetoexpresshisthanks to thewholeteam for theirefforts and team November. Comfortable until the fmal against Mark Bleakley but even spirit. then a wide marginseparated them in the thrid game after they had shared Dorset 1 - Kent 9: Dorset's Martin Hughes win over Paul two 'deuce' games. Rainford was the only blemish on what was otherwise a comfortable Sara Coster (Hammond) retained her ladies title as did Gill viclory. Oxford 2 - Kent 8: A splendid win here for Hollingsworth Larking the Veteran Ladies and JeffGiles the intermediate. History was againstDawnBamettparticularly whenBamett thendida demolitionjob made in the men's veteran event when Chris Shetler became the ftrst on Houghton. Kent 8 - Hampshire 2: Hampshire's Graham Toole beat player to win Junior(1968), Senior(l975,1978)andVeterans titles. Two Justin Goodall and Andrew Cunningham for Hants' only successes. bright sots in the Championships were the performances of the county's CunninghamP6W5,GoodallP6W5,RainfordP6W4,HoughtonP6W5, two leading juniors Jeremy Wilson and Kevin Macken; they both took Hollingsworth P6 W6. Kent next meet Sussex and Bucks on 3rd April­ runner-up Bleakley to close third games and are also shining in other well done team. areas, leading the junior 'A' teams quest for honours; current record, played 3 won 3, sets for 36 against nil and are also setting alight the Two Good Wins for Juniors Basingstoke League where their Hannington club are carrying all before them and are almost certain to end Portals 6 year reign as champions. Kent Junior 1 made the long trip to Devon and came home with a comfortable 10-0 win. Craig Hastie, Chris Hall, Glen Ritchie and the The success of these two lads is well deserved and it was Barham sisters Natasha and Joanne did the business. noticable that only these two made the long trek to Manchester for the Kent Junior II beat Surrey m 9-1 but the match was generally Junior Nationals. closer than the score suggested. Heidi Steers came back from the dead Hampshire were also represented at Manchester by one senior against Surrey's Sarah Lane for a 21-18,16-21,26-24 win afterbeing 6­ and two 'over the hill' (according to current ITTF rules) umpires! 12 down, 20-18 up and down all the way through the deuces until the Mention ofBasingstoke must include comment on their improved winning points. James Furnerbeat Paul Smith for Surrey's lone win. For format newsletter - an excellent production and 6 copies promised this Kent. Jason Cheeseman, Christian Thompson, Crystal Hall and Steers season. Will they however match Boumemouth's "21 up" which editor were unbeaten. harold Pearce is now producing for the 19th season. Vets a Man Short and Win Basingstoke's ftrst edition of the season includes details ofthe twinning trip which 33 members made to Euskirchen in Germany. With Ray Tilling failing to turn up, Kent Vets II did well to achieve a 5­ Hampshire second team eventually opened theiiseason, travelloing 4 win against Berks II. Tom Adams (2) and Pam Butcher were the to High Wycombe to meet Dorset, winnint 8-2 but losing to Sussex and backbone ofthe win being unbeaten in the singles and combining for the Kent Graham Toole was in outstanding form, winning 5 out of 6 and next doubles with John White also chipping in with a singles victory. BarbaraSavagereturned a 50% average. Eachofthe3 veteranteamshave now won 2 out of 3 matches - a satisfactory situation - whilst the senior SUSSEX 'seconds' still have many weeks to wait for thier first action. John Woodford Mter the opning round of Inter-town Junior fixtures, the promotedIsle ofWightlead the way with Greg Bums, StuartDover, Alex Rorke and Lorna Dutch all returning 100% individual performances. WITH A RECORD number of 13 Sussex juniors and cadets reaching the Southampton B lead a shortened second division. Hereford fmal trials, two Sussex teams heading for promotion in the County Championships, including a return to the Premier Division and new Chairman of the County Dennis Reed, keeping county meetings down to three hours, the prospects for 1993 seem bright. Tournament organiser Derek Elphick and Keith Jackson have resigned as Haywards Heath representatives of that league on the county management committee, one can only assume as a protest against the running ofthe all-Sussex senior championships on a Saturday in October. SURREY But there could be better news ahead on that controversial area Terry Vance - it is possible that if the Worthing ITA decide with their sponsor to run the all-Sussex tournaments in 1993, a new plan could see both events run together on 16 tables at the larger Worthing Leisure Centre on a Sunday. It IS WITH deep regret that I report the death of Don Smith from the Skilful planning would be needed, but I would hope that this Chessington TIC. He suffered a heart attack immediately after playing idea ofnmning the seniors and juniors together \Dlder first-class conditions a match in the Thames Valley League during October 1992. There was would suiteveryone, although I cannotrecall in thepast, any plan thathas nohintofany illness buthedidtell teammates he wasn'tfeeling too good. pleased one and all. Don was an active member of the Chessington Club from its formation Hopes are also soaring in the British League, with its valuable in the early 70's. Latterly he had been helping in the development of the Friendly Hotels sponsorship, that the two Sussex clubs Horsham Angels youngerplayers in.the club. I am sureeveryonewhoknew Donwouldlike and Lennox House will win promotion. me to pass on their condolences to his family upon his early death. Angels have not only got a new male Angel- Nigel Tyler from The Surrey action Coaching is a Surrey County Council and Wales and points east - but they have a new female Angels team for the Sports Council joint scheme assisting different sports. Table tennis has British Women's League comprising Sally Weston, Claire Hunter (the been approved and a coaching scheme will take place in Guildford. 25 South East Development Officer) and Carole Hewitt. That is a side that girls from selected middle schools will benefit from a 6 week coaching might just be strong enough for the Premier Division. session. Mter this is complete, Surrey will host a champion Coaching The male Angels however cannot afford to lose any more Scheme with table tennis again involved. During the school spring and matches, apart from Grove. If they do fall to the other teams, Edison, summer terms 2 x 8 coaching sessions will take place in Warlingham. based at Haringey could go up. But on paper Tyler, Hammond, Venner, The Inter-League tournaments entry forms have gone out and Elphick, Bartram is a quintet strong enough for the highest division. matches will commence in the new year. In the South of England Junior tournament Anna McNamara won the U12's title beating Susan Johnson ofBerks inthe fmal. Stephen Lampkin was runner up in the UI7's when he was surprisingly beaten by the fast improving Neil Bigrave ofBucks. Stephen won the U17 doubles in partnership with Dean Wanbon of Yorks. In the U17 girls doubles Glenda Ashison partnered Shelley Ruocco of Essex to the title. Stephen went one step further in the Kent Junior and won the UITs title. The Senior Premier Weekend was very successful. Playing against the leading counties we came away with 1 win and 2 draws out of the 3matchesplayed. The team captainMikeHammondis convincedthat we can win the title at the next weekend as we are due to play 3 of the weaker teams. Unfortunately, the other team we have to play is the unbeaten champions Devon. Let's hope that Mike's optimism proves justified! Leatherhead, Epsom and District League have 11 teams in the one division. The closing date for the individual championships is 15th February 1993. Entry forms are in the handbook. The tournament date is Sunday 7th March 1993. Haslemere and District League have 2 divisions of 10 teams. The individual championships will take place at the Grange Centre, Midhurst on Sunday 28th February 1993. Besides being League match secretary, I see that Neil Westmore won 3 trophies at the League Championships. The Croydon League Championships will take place at Monks Hill Sports Centre on Sunday 25th April 1993. Roger Holmes has passed his umpire's written paper and now to try and fit in his practical tests. Nigel Tyler of Horsham Angels, Sussex WORCESTERSHffiE A bewildered phone call to Hastings eventually sorted out the Steve Horton position - the copy had obviously made its way from my base in Hull to Hastings via the 'scenic route' possibly taking in Halifax and that other location linked in Yorkshire folklore with my own fair city on its way. WELCOMEBACK TO all ofourreaders after the Christmasbreak. First I hope that, GPO pennitting, the remaining notes in the current of all an important date for your diaries - 7th February for the Senior season will be back to nonnal, beginning with the present copy, penned County Closed tournament for the January edition. The JWliortournamenthasbeenplayed witha record 62entries. Tun Evans of Kiddenninster was the most successful player winning the Good to hear from the Sheffield League where things are very Cadets and JWlior singles and the JWlior Boys doubles with Robin tight at the top of the Super Division with only two points separating top Sedman-SmithalsoofKidderminster. Carriehunt ofWorcesterwon the placed Wadsley-Bridge from Fletchers in fifth spot. JWlior Girls title for the third time beating Stephanie Price of Dudley in ButCrookeswho,in their60yearhistoryhave won thetitleonly a three set final. Hunt and Price combined to take the girls doubles. once, back in 1961, sent the leaders (Andrew and Steven Horsfield and Fifteen girls contested the cadet singles with Jennie Poosfool ofKiddenninster Alan Battye) crashing to defeat after an 80 match unbeaten run. beating Clare Garness ofWorcester in the final for her first success. Ian Crickmer, a founder member of the County Association, presented the Architect of victory, achieved in Wadsley's own clubroom, trophies on the day. was 15 yearold Derbyshire starNicola Deaton, the England No.2 Junior, Worcestershire Cadets and Juniors were involved in the Regional who returned an unbeaten card. GeoffGill and Neil Marples each added Trials at Market Drayton alongside top players from Herefordshire, and singles and, with a big squad of no less than 17 top division players, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire who were competing for the Crookes have thrown down the gauntletThe race hotted up even further few places at the fmal of the National Trials. Carrie Hunt won all 11 whenCrookes fell to DialHouse (CliveGuest. DaveRayner - 11 Sheffield games to ensure the No.1 JWlior Girls ranking. A tremendous victory singles titles between them and Billy Grant) while Vulcan (Keith Whittaker, from 15-19down in the third againstVicky Fox ofStaffs did the trick and Gary Firth and Shaun Bibby) cannot be taken lightly. put Vicky into second spot. Zoe Evans of Kidderminster played well to And, on a more humorous note, Wadsley with two sides in fmish at No.3 with Stephanie Price No.6 and Julie Palmer ofWorcs No. Division 3, were involved in matches with Greystones B and C on the 8 togiveus4 girls in theregionaljWliortop 8. InthecadetboysTim Evans same evening in the same hall, Yes, you've guessed it - Greystones B was No. 3, Tim Morris ofWorcsno. 5 and Ben Winter, alsoofWorcs at (Division 3A) played Wadsley G (3B) while, on the other side of the No.8. curtain Greystones C (3B) were doing battle with Wadsley F (3A). Both In the cadet girls Jennie Ponsford fmished 3rd and Rosalind matches were completedbefore the error was discovered - my sympathies Sedman-Smith No.7. The jWlior boys were unable to secure a place in to the Sheffield results secretary. the top 8. in the County Championships the senior flfSt team played well Long service Alan Senior: won Dewsbury's Jim Brown to beat Somerset 9-1 at home. Most of the games were very close and competition, beating Tony Ackroyd in the fmal. Not particularly could have gone either way. Eric Hardmanremains unbeaten for the team noteworthy,youmay think,butAlan won themens singles and theBurton this season. Cup in 1953/4 and it has taken him 38 years to make up the set of three As expected, the second team were involved in a very close, titles. competitive match at home to Hertfordshire. With the match balanced at Transfernews is that Richard Lightowler(Harrison A)has been 4-4 the last two games involving Sue Horton and Adrian Totley went joined by Nicky Ryder and Darren Page and this trio are likely to take against the home side by the closestofmargins. Bothplayers had rallied some stopping in Division I, particularly in view of the absence ofStuart superbly butfull creditmustbe given to Herts for taking theirchances and Milnes from Moorend WMC. winning the match 6-4. In the long term, possibly the most important news from the League, which suffers from the proximity of powerful competition in Leeds and Bradford, is the emergence of a number ofnew jWlior players - a vital ingredient ifDewsbury is not only to survive, but to expand as an independent League. Despite the demise of CEGB who have lost their clubroom, Harrogate can still line up five division,s with all the Northern Power YORKSHmE players still involved, having joined St Georges TIC - the inevitable Rea Balmford expansionofthe largerclubswhich is the modem trend as thechurchhalls and works venues close down.

I MUST OPEN with apologies, not only for the absence of notes in the Three new additions to the list of umpires - Nancy Scruton October edition, but also for the dated nature of those which have (Harrogate), George Greensill and Roger Watson (Hull) while Phil appeared since. Jacobs (Harrogate) is back on active service. FOR ALL COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS TELEPHONE 0891 664300 Calls are charged of 36p per minute cheap rate and 48p per minute at other times LEAGUE TABLES SEASON 1992-93 (Continued from page 16) Division 2D P W D L F A Pts Division 2B P W L F A Pts Hampshire 1st 3 3 0 0 30 0 6 Essex 4th 3 3 0 19 8 6 Kent 2nd 4 3 0 1 27 13 6 Hertfordshire 2nd 2 2 0 17 1 4 Sussex 3rd 3 2 1 0 17 14 5 Norfolk 2nd 3 2 1 13 14 4 Oxfordshire 4 2 0 2 18 22 4 Bedfordshire 2 1 1 10 8 2 Sussex 2nd 3 1 1 1 17 13 3 Cambridgeshire 3 1 2 12 15 2 Midcllesex 2nd 3 0 2 1 12 18 2 Buckinghamshire 2nd 2 0 2 5 13 0 Surrey 3rd 2 1 0 1 7 13 2 Huntingdonshire 3 0 3 5 22 0 Hampshire 2nd 3 1 0 2 10 20 2 Berkshire 2nd 5 0 0 5 12 38 0 Division 2C P W L F A Pts Essex 3rd 3 3 0 19 8 6 Kent 2nd 3 2 1 13 14 4 VETERANS Surrey 2nd 3 1 2 15 12 2 Premier Division P W L F A Pts Midcllesex 2nd 2 1 1 8 10 2 Cheshire 3 3 0 22 5 6 Sussex 2nd 2 1 1 7 11 2 Surrey 3 3 0 18 9 6 Oxfordshire 2nd 3 1 2 11 16 2 Yorkshire 3 2 1 18 9 4 Berkshire 2nd 2 0 2 8 10 0 Sussex 3 2 1 13 14 4 Dorset 3 1 2 12 15 2 Division 2D P W L F A Pts Lincolnshire 3 1 2 7 20 2 Hampshire 2nd 3 2 1 19 8 4 Essex 3 0 3 9 18 0 Gloucestershire 2 2 0 11 7 4 Lancashire j 0 3 9 18 0 Avon 2 2 0 11 7 4 Dorset 2nd 2 1 1 12 6 2 Division 1A P W L F A Pts Devonshire 3 1 2 12 15 2 Hertfordshire 3 3 0 20 7 6 Somerset 2nd 3 1 2 7 20 2 Lancashire 2nd 2 2 0 12 6 4 Wiltshire 2nd 3 0 3 9 18 0 Yorkshire 2nd 3 2 1 16 11 4 Leicestershire 2 1 1 8 10 2 Division 3A P W L F A Pts tt~~~ Worcestershire 3 1 2 11 16 2 Bedfordshire 3rd 3 3 0 20 7 6 Cheshire 2nd 3 1 2 11 16 2 Hertfordshire 4th 2 2 0 11 7 4 Oxfordshire 3 1 2 10 17 2 Northamptonshire 2nd 3 2 1 14 13 4 Norfolk 3 0 3 11 16 0 Wiltshire 3rd 3 2 1 12 15 4 Warwickshire 2nd 2 0 2 8 10 0 Bedfordshire 2nd 3 0 3 10 17 0 Division 1B P W L F A Pts Huntingdonshire 2nd 2 0 2 6 12 0 Kent 3 3 0 23 4 6 Midcllesex 2 2 0 12 6 4 Division 3B P W L F A Pts Essex 2nd 3 2 1 13 14 4 Surrey 2nd 3 3 0 23 4 6 Hampshire 3 1 2 14 13 2 Hampshire 3rd 3 2 1 13 14 4 Wiltshire 3 1 2 12 15 2 Sussex 4th 3 2 1 11 16 4 Somerset 2 1 1 8 10 2 Kent 3rd 2 1 1 9 9 2 Berkshire 2 0 2 4 14 0 Hertfordshire 3rd 3 1 2 11 16 2 Buckinghamshire 2 0 2 4 14 0 Berkshire 4th 2 0 2 8 10 0 Dorset 3rd 2 0 2 6 12 0

Division 2A P W .L F A Pts Division 3C P W L F A Pts Northamptonshire 2 2 0 12 6 4 Northamptonshire3rd 3 3 0 18 9 6 Warwickshire 3 2 1 17 10 4 Sussex 3rd 3 2 1 20 7 4 Staffordshire 3 2 1 13 14 4 Hertfordshire 5th 2 2 0 13 5 4 Clwyd 2 1 1 12 6 2 Gloucestershire 2nd 2 1 1 9 9 2 Northumberland 3 1 2 12 15 2 Berkshire 3rd 3 1 2 11 16 2 Nottinghamshire 3 1 2 10 17 2 Herefordshire 3 0 3 7 20 0 Cheshire 3rd 2 0 2 5 13 0 Wiltshire 4th 2 0 2 3 15 0

Roden who together with Jill The format will be that tried, Womens British League Harris made a great success of trusted and highly successful organising the recent Junior in previous seasons; five THE fifth season of the studded @rove the shock Nationals and now off crutches divisions, six teams in each, waves should they not retain Womens British League opens lines up with Graham Spicer. all play all each weekend with their title will be felt far at Bletchley over the weekend Saclly seven existing teams sessions at 11, 1.30 & 4 on 20/21 February and with new beyond Market Drayton but have fallen by the wayside Saturday and 10 & 1 on teams including Irish Ladies, with runners up position also including Premier Division Sunday - 15 tables all action Scottish Ladies and Dumfries offering a passport to Euro­ Fellowes Cranleigh and Bristol highly competitive table joining the already established pean competition there is tennis for a total of some 12­ Welsh Ladies together with 26 much to play for. Ladies of Division 1, but in English based teams the event Linda Radford has moved addition to those already 13 hours. is truly British. to Hull Sandhill, Jackie mentioned we welcome The second, and conclud­ With European silver girl Bellinger makes a welcome re­ newcomers White Hart ing, session will be at Lisa Lomas and Russia's Elena appearance to competition Launceston, Gonerby, Eddison Stourbridge over the weekend Timina joining an already star play for Grove 2 and Sandra and Bramhall. 24/25 April. PAGEl? Coaching positive play

HAVING attended several Junior & pressure. If it is a short serVice, it A player who has just come off transfer this ability back to match Cadet Tournaments recently I would could be pushed short, pushed long the table having lost but having situations is very difficult as the like to make one major observation. an fast into the body or Wide, or it played positive. should be encour­ negative play they adopted when In many cases coaches/parents could be flicked fast into the body or aged. It should be pointed out that they were younger has been both during and after a game are wide. If it is a long service, the with a little more practise, the shots grooved in. It is much easier to unwittingly encouraging negative attacking player should make a he went for that just missed will very coach a player with a positive play. Feedback given to the player is strong topspin return and the shortly become winners. The approach the necessary techniques. based on the outcome of the point defensive player should made a deep important thing is that he went for than it is a player who has all the and not how the point was played. In other words an attacking player may return always varying the amount of the shots. I have worked with players strokes, but a negative approach. play safe and his opponent make a backspin, or indeed treat it like an who would not play positive under Once a negative approach has been bad error which is then applauded by attacking player would. pressure. however, in practise grooved in. then it is my experience the coach thereby reinforcing By playing positive, some players situations, they do all the right that this is very difficuit, if not negative play. Likewise the same have the incorrect idea that this things. Unfortunately to get them to impossible, to change. player may attack the right ball but means hitting each ball as hard as make an error to the obvious possible which of course is not the displeasure of the coach. Hereby case. Basically a positive shot is one VIDEOS - SPECIAL OFFER discouraging positive play. The net that increases the percentage chance It has been possible to fit both the E.L. Match v Sweden and the result of this behaviour by the ooach of a player winning the point. A is to produce instinctively negative E.L. Match v Holland on one three hour tape. This tape is avail­ player serving should have a seventy able from Sid Fryer at the same price of £12. Anyone who has players who rely on the opponent to percent chance'of winning the point, make a mistake. already purchased the Sweden match may retum the tape and and therefore if the opponent can have the Holland match added at no charge other than post­ If a lot of attacking English push the return short and tight it will players are surprised by a sudden age. reduce the servers percentage to fifty The tapes of the various events are proving very popular long fast chop service to the percent making the receipt a positive backhand they instinctively react however it must be remembered that it is a domestic video one. Once the rally becomes evenly with a push. I would ask you to camera with the quality you would expect from such a camera. observe what their counterparts in matched. a player going for a smash Sweden and Germany would do? or a strong topspin that only has a To clarify this question of what is twenty-five percent success rate is positive play I wrote an article some not playing positive. However. going REGIONAL SPORTS AND years ago that is still most relevant for the same percentage shot when today. the rally is looking very much as it it is going to be lost. is playing FOUNDATION GRANTS positive. The following players have been successful in obtaining POSITIVE PLAY Quite often under pressure in a grants from their Regional Sports Aid Foundation:­ WHATEVER style of playa player game, a player will revert to negative LONDON REGION - Linda Radford, Darren Blake. adopts to be successful at senior play, playing not to lose instead of SOUTH EAST REGION - SCott Friday National and International level. it is playing to Win, and needs to be essential to play positive. It is worth encouraged to play positive. The pointing out at this early stage that above phenomenon is more cadet and junior table tennis are commonly referred to as 'bottling' Forthcoming Coaching Courses regarded by the vast majority of and can be seen on numerous 6/7 February people as only stepping stones to occasions at all the tournaments. Sports Leaders, Teaching. Assistant Coaches Course senior table tennis. 1would therefore Unfortunately, some players to prove Venue: Sutton Community Leisure Centre. Eltonhead hope that any aspiring young players they are not 'bottlers", will attempt a Road. st. Helens and their coaches are trying to very difficult smash at deuce. lose, Contact: J. Tattum Tel: 0744'612737 ext. 148 develop a style of play that will and they tell everyone 'well at least 1 Regional Coaching Chairman: Campbell Eaton Tel: 0606 871117 enable them, should they have the didn't bottle.' Unfortunately by my 6 • 13 February other necessary abilities, to become 'percentage definition' they did Sports Leader, Teaching. Assistant Coaching Course successful senior internationals. A bottle just as much as the player who Venue: TAV.R. Ashew Crescent. Shepherds Bush. positive player is always doing did not go for the winner when the London something constructive as opposed opportunity arose. Contact: .Terry Lee Tel: 081-7483020 ext. 3553 to the negative player who simply It is very pleasing to see on the Regional Coaching Chairman: Phil Gower Tel: 0277 383174 tournament cirCUit coaches 13/14 February keeps the ball on the table relying on Sports Leader, Teaching. Assistant Coaches Centre the opponent to make a mistake. encouraging positive play. A player who has played a positive rally but Venue: New Ferry Village Hall. Wirral, Merseyside Playing positive starts with the Contact: Campbell Eaton Tel: 0606 871117 service and receive. The service is a lost the point should be encouraged. (also Regional Coaching Chairman) closed skill and is the only time in a Likewise the player who wins a rally 13/14 February rally when the opponent has no by playing negative should not be Sports Leader, Teaching Certificate. Assistant Coaches Award control over the situation and it must encouraged. Obviously winning is Venue: Strood Sports Centre be used to the great advantage that vital for a youngster but also Contact: Gail McCulloch Tel: 0483 728069 it is and not just be a case of putting important in developing the right (also Regional Coaching Chairman) the ball into play. The receipt is also type of game that has a chance of 13/14 February not used to put the ball back in play winning at top senior level. Therefore Sports Leader, Teaching. Assistant Coaches Course and hope the opponent misses it, but it is quite obVious that a compromise Venue: Harry Mitchell Centre. smethwick. West Bromwich to try and put the server under is required for the player who wants Contact: Bernard Dangerfield Tel: 021-501 2706 R.C. C/man: Jill Harris Tel: 0922612675 !c. to become a top senior. Losing is a habit. Winning playing a negative 6/7 March The Experts' game will reinforce the negative Sports Leader, Teaching. Assistant Coaches Award approach which has a limited long Venue: Eastbourne College. Brighton University Contact: Dave Berriman Tel: 0273680397 Expert: term future. The list of successful R.C. C/man: Gail McCulloch Tel: 0483 728069 cadets who have made the European 13/14 March The Coaches' Youth Championships. but failed to Sports Leader, Teaching' Assistant Coaches COUIIe make it at senior level is unfortu­ Venue: The Grange. Shrewsbury Coach nately quite extensive. The reason is Contact: Jill Harris Tel: 0922612675 by Ken Muhr very simple. at cadet level. you can (also Regional Coaching Chairman) get away with negative play. at March at Blackpool junior level you might just get away Venue and date to be arranged. will continue Contact: Bob Wood Tel: 0253 57163 with it, but at senior level then I am R.C. C/man: Campbell Eaton Tel: 0606 871117 next issue afraid you have no chance.

PAGE 18 Anchormen and women

A working plan for junior Dorset, Gloucester, Somerset development was the main and Wiltshire. feature last month. This This initiative was made month we look at how such possible by the selection of a plan can be made to work. table tennis by the Sports Firstly, whatever you do Council as a National Focus don't 'Bounce into Action'; Sport, with local support organise a school link, or from their Crewkerne office. arrange coaching courses. Melanie graduated earlier Your first consideration will this year with a BA(Hons) in be to find people who are Human Movement Studies. prepared to commit time to As a table tennis player she our sport! Not just people has gained national honours. who will help out when it is These include representing convenient but Anchormen Great Britain at the World and women - who will be Student Games in Lyon, there week in and week out! France in 1992. She has been If we did a census of a Somerset County regular table tennis players and ex­ for some years. She is also an players and asked about KT.T.A. coach. One of her their willingness to help Melanie Carey earliest achievements was as about 95% would say they the No.1 player for the haven't time. obtain the enthusiasm of the one. Chilton Trinity School team P.T.A. committee and get You may need to provide which won the National Truth help from other parents and a demonstration to get School championships in It is not usually true. The perhaps some cash for a started at your target school. 1987. truth is that they have other table! My experience is that a table priorities. Somehow we have This might be the first taken in, even over a lunch London leads to convince them that stage of your development if hour, and a quick instruction helping with T.T. develop­ there is no local coaching period of back hand pushes the way ment is worthwhile, for the session. followed by 'touch the wall' Colin Wilson, the first Regional sport of course, but also for will produce great enthusi­ Development Officer, reports them. Steer asm for more T.T. especially from London. Players and ex-players Generally, you as the T.T. at junior schools. But don't Although still without a with young children immedi­ development executive will forget you will need some­ plan, which is still being ately come to mind as have to steer the venture where for the children to discussed, a lot is happening. potential coaches. Don't start along and with the less play and someone to run the Most important are: Graham by suggesting a coaches confident or experienced sessions. Burrows, Mark Burman, Cy course. See if you can get player/parent get the session Get these vital ingredients Burman, Mark Christ-Doulon, the infant along to an started. But instal him or her right and it will be almost John Llewellyn, David Miller, established session. Invite as club leader. As the young impossible for your develop­ Len Pilford. the parent to stay around players in the club progress ment to fail. These are coaches responsi­ and help. you can expect your club ble for new or significantly leader/coach to become Development expanded clubs from Hammer­ Benefits more interested in coaching. Officer smith to Newham to South­ If the infant takes to T.T. you They might well be prepared warkandtoBro~ey,Merton may very well get the benefit to fork out for a coaches appointed for and Sutton in the South. of the regular help of the course. There are now 52 tables in::::::::::: parent. It will, however, be the South West operation at eight clubs. Further :tt~l some time before you can Valuable MELANIE CAREY of Puriton, north at Wanstead DAVID :~:~:~t: expect them to become Having said that, since Bridgwater, Somerset (Tel: HUMBLE'S session at the local n~t~~ Anchormen or women ­ coaches are so valuable to 0278685175) has been leisure centre has resulted in 50 lt~~~ prepared to run their own T.T. it is a pity we have to appointed development Dunlop skills awards and twot~~I~ session. charge them to make officer for the English Table new coaches. ttt themselves more useful to Tennis Association South Brent schools champion- ~~tt~ Club us. West region. The post is ships attracted an entry of 72 ~~~tt Your next stage might be to However, I understand based in the Bristol City (JON KAUFMAN). A revital- ~~~~~~t~ see if the parent is prepared that this is the norm for most Council offices in Colston ised Middlesex schools event ttt to make overtures to his sports in this country. I Street, Bristol. had an entry of 61 (PETER :mlt child's school about starting believe that a simple less Starting in January GROSS). The Borough of tl~~~ a club. This can be done via time consuming basic Melanie will be responsible Greenwich are now coaching ~tt~~ the P.K staff (providing you coaching certificate is being for the operation of a re­ T.T. in five schools as they i~rr~ can assure them that you run discussed. Very sensible I gional plan for the develop­ target T.T. as a Focus Sport. :~nn~: the session for them, and it should think. The first small ment of table tennis through­ Workers again - Colin has :t~t! will be free). Alternatively, step by the potential 'buyer' out the South West counties put together a list of 350 tt@ via the parent you may is often the most important of Avon, Cornwall, Devon, coaches. 1~\\IIIII\: PAGE 19 The Grove phenomenon EVERYONE in the sport has heard of the Grove there can hardly be a player who has not asked Table Tennis Club, or NFD Grove as it should to come at some time or another. 1992 has more properly be called following its link with seen international enquiries from zambia, National Fuel Distributors. It arouses a mixture Algeria, Malta, India, Japan and Russia, as of passions, and most people have some Grove's reputation has spread across the world! opinion of its effect on the game. However, few So why do they keep coming? lan's trump card have a clear idea of what Grove actually is and is that the players know exactly where they does. We are told that the sport needs Groves stand - they know what IS on offer and what is all over the country, a goal that must be expected in return. The organisation is secure difficult if developers do not know what Grove and efficient, and what they are told WILL really is! happen DOES happen. They can get good Without a doubt, Grove is Ian Marshall's practice against other good players, and the creation' he is the driving force behind the club's facilities are available Virtually on club, and it is hard to see how it could survive demand. Whatever their individual prowess, without him at the helm. There are no they get a sense of belonging, a corporate committees, for which Ian has a profound identity, AND a fan club of younger players. dislike, so the management structure is very THIS is the essence of Grove that needs to be simple! Ian decrees that something will repeated elsewhere. happen, and it does; either someone helps him We all know that volunteers are difficult to do it, or he does it himself. This may not be a . find and that Ian Marshalls are like gold-dust. recipe for success elsewhere, and it certainly But we don't have to do things Grove's way, I demands superhuman endurance and patience, would not recommend anyone to depend so but in Grove's case it is certainly effective. much on one person, but they MUST produce a Ian Marshall founded Grove Table Tennis structure that is able to react quickly and be Club in 1977, drawing on his experience from single-minded. A single boss is the simplest earlier table tennis involvement in Cambridge­ means of achieving unanimity - it serves shire, London and Hull. He learned in particular football clubs well, and few would survive long Ian Marshall that he needed to commit the players he with management committees in day-to~day coached to playing for his club; it had been too control of their affairs. Without a shadow of a easy for people to come for coaching and then Ian lives at a pace that would wear out doubt we need paid managers, but to achieve disappear to play for other clubs in the area. At many others within a few days. Around sixteen this we need far more money in the game. To Grove he insists that all players at all levels players per coaching session, two sessions per generate this money we need success, we play for the club whenever needed before night, five nights per week - the routine is need publicity, we need to be very professional honouring any other commitments. The top endless. Tables out, coach all evening, tables in outlook and in our administration. Grove has players have formal contracts, a regular income away. Go home, eat, organise the money, do attracted· sponsors, and has found ways of throughout the year, and a car proVided by the the paperwork, phone and be phoned, arrange generating income - but only by Virtue of hard club through a sponsorship deal with Farmers. the distribution of players around the country, work and lan's flair for publicity. EVERY week Garage. Below this the players have a clearly plan the next activity...all for 52 weeks a year! a full press report goes out to twenty organisa­ defined structure of coaching and match play, One cannot but admire the man's staying tions, TV, radio, local and national press. with access to practice.facilities virtually on power and single-minded determination. He EVERY week, without fail. By no means all of demand throughout the whole year. Younger now has some help with the coaching and with them make use of the information (yeti), but players ha'4! all this AND the opportunity on the paperwork, which has freed him to get on they will keep on getting it until they do. most weekends to play in formal organised with some of the million and one other jobs The club is quite shamelessly run as a tournaments at the club. that need to be done. But the responsibility for business, with business attitudes in evidence So what IS GROVE? It lives in a compre­ what happens, for sorting things out when at every stage. Everything is planned meticu­ hensive school of some 1200 pupils, taking over people are ill or committed elsewhere, all rests lously, and nothing is started that has not been the gymnasium as the children leave for home, with Ian. thought through carefully beforehand. This is and making full use of the Sports Hall and Main Of course there are helpers, but helpers nowhere fTlore evident than in dealings with hall whenever they are not booked for other come and helpers go. Chance brings people sponsors, of which Grove now has many. There activities. The "C1ub has a membership of together, and things may then flourish and is no "begging bowl" approach to sponsors, but around 250, drawn from all over the country, develop in new directions. There are resting a simple business proposition. In exchange for and ranging from top internationals to real phases when we all draw breath and there are much-needed cash a sponsor will get publicity beginners. Players come to coaching sessions phases of rapid, almost frightening growth. in defined quantities (x hundred copies of this, from distances of up to 50 miles; some British Overriding all is the desire to improve and y hundred copies of that, all bearing the League players travel more than 300 miles to expand, to become more professional, to sponsors name). Banners and posters are get to Grovel Ian Marshall teaches at the increase the sponsorship, to influence the everywhere, and are always discreetly in school (indeed his family would probably claim developments in the game throughout the evidence whenever television cameras appear! that he LIVES there too) which is clearly a country, and beyond. The quest for publicity, Ian keeps records of all publicity successes, not strategic advantage. for sponsors, for success, for innovation, is just for the benefit of the sponsors involved, Hardly a weekend goes by without a major relentless. New initiatives are tried, assessed, but also for use in discussions with potential tournament of some kind. Up to four British improved or rejected. The very essence of sponsors so that they can see what benefits League teams may play at home on the same Grove's success is its dynamic nature - it is they might gain through working with the club. day, with a tournament for younger players in constantly changing, evolving subtly - almost There can be little doubt that a strong Club the morning. The club stages fifteen One and imperceptibly, to make the most of new structure offers English table tennis the best Two Star Tournaments as well as Graded opportunities. A new player or helper arrives way to develop in the years ahead. Grove may Singles Tournaments, Swiss Tournaments, with new contacts, new skills, new experience; be pre-eminent among English clubs at Invitation and Team Tournaments, mainly for within minutes Ian is exploring ways of using present, but it cannot hope to match the younger players, each year. It is an exercise them for the benefit of the club. financial strength of the top European clubs. that would strain an army of volunteers, but it "Why does Grove want so many of the top For that to happen we really would need lots of is achieved with a mere handful. Friday and players?" is a question I am often asked, for Groves, a far higher public profile, mass Sunday nights are table-humping nights - PE surely there would be better competition if they participation and a mass audience. Grove has equipment to remove, sixteen tables to bring all played for different teams around the given a lead; it may not offer a perfect blueprint in, 150 surrounds to collect and arrange, lights, country. They have a point, of course, but it is for others to follow, but it shows what can scoring tables and machines, table numbers, the top players who want Grove! lan's phone is happen when someone of vision and infinite nets, waste brings, chairs....Not just now and kept busy each summer with enquiries from energy is given a chance to do things their then, but seemingly every other weekendI players wanting to come to Grove; indeed way.

PAGE 20 purely advisory. body). We did such a method we could test REGLUING that. Our conclusions were that, the rackets of, say, finalists and yes, there is indeed a toxicity others at random, much like the BOOK What the ITTF really hazard but no, we really don't doping control at the same said - and why know how to control any tournament. REVIEW MOST readers have probably limitation on the use of volatile That's all speculation, of heard that "regluing has been adhesives. course. Perhaps the control by Paul Tarrant banned". Has it? Under what Some of the practices method will elude us. But we described above are on the must be positive and hope we circumstances? Why? PSYCHOLOGICAL For the still uninitiated, borderline of legality. But there's can work it out. If we can, all regluing means removing rubber another problem that clearly volatile adhesive will be FACTORS IN from the blade just before a transgresses it: Glue sniffing. banned: rubber cement, bicycle COMPETITIVE SPORT, match, applying fresh glue in We know that players have glue, super-glue, anything. by Don Davies, published fairly large amounts, and re­ resorted to this hazardous and Short of attaching the rubber by Falmer Press, Lewes, attaching the rubber. The illegal practice - and so do the with "Velcro", what can you do? East Sussex. adhesives are rather special, police and the press. On So far we can think of two THE author explains the impor­ and they give several effects: December 4 the police raided a possibilities: (a) The manufac­ tance of various psychological and higher spin, higher speed, and a table tennis shop in , turers could supply their racket emotional factors in relation to distinctive sound at ball contact. Japan, and confiscated their coverings already coated on the achievement and performance in Sounds good, eh? But don't rush stock of adhesive; the resulting reverse with a pressure­ sport. References are made to many examples to explain the out to buy your first can of the large headlines in the press sensitive adhesive - the type on were not flattering to the sport. Scotch tape. All you would have Widely accepted theories and stuff. There's another property methods described in the text. The that isn't so good: toxicity. Good timing! the Exec. to do would be to peel off the protective release paper from author also uses the results and Anyone who has smelt Board had to formulate a observations of his own intensive these glues will wonder if they recommendation, with no time the rubber, and apply the rubber research into the poor performance are bad odours. They are. One for further enquiry or to the blade. Some rubber is of male British tennis players at solvent is carcinogenic considered deliberation. Yet already available like this. A international level to draw (carcinogenicity is perfectly OK with publicity like that the ITTF disadvantage is that the comparisons. Surprising though - if you like cancer); one is just could not be seen to take no manufacturers would have to that he doesn't mention the 'Catastrophe' theory! plain toxic; several are highly action. The manufacturers had install new and expensive done nothing to remove the machinery, and perhaps could Although table tennis differs flammable. At the 1991 World from tennis in many ways. the Championships and afterwards problem, so the ITTF had to. not do it quickly. In some countries the equipment could similarities of these individual the ITTF Equipment Committee Failure to act could result in sports gives some relevancy to the passed this information along to very costly legal liability. be difficult or impossible to points made. all the manufacturers, suggest­ The Exec. Board did act. obtain. (b) The rubber could be In the chapter on motivation ing that they reformulate their After a long discussion it supplied as now, and you could and learning the author suggests adhesives. Most of them did recommended to the Exec. apply it with a double-sided that intrinsically motivated players not, hence the ITTF's action and Committee (the three officers, tape. Carpet tape is one are most apt to succeed. that is. those who are motivated by the this article. You may have who do have the power to act example, but sheets of this type on urgent matters) that the of adhesive are already available game and personal achievement as noticed that some of the oppose to those who seek financial products carry no hazard players not be permitted to from some table tennis suppli­ ers. This adhesive has two or material rewards. warnings whatever. True, the reglue in the Global Youth In suggesting reasons why solvent vapour is well diluted in Championships (Tokyo, January release sheets. You remove one young people take part in sport. a tournament hall. But it isn't 1993), either within the hall or in and apply the tape to the blade; social acceptance, personal diluted so well in a hotel room. its vicinity. A player who then you remove the other and excellence and improvement or to And smearing the adhesive with absolutely must replace his apply the rubber. a lesser extent need for excite­ the fingers, as some of you do, rubber (he damaged it, perhaps) One more minor change has ment, prestige and independence are given. However. perhaps isn't exactly good for you, as the would be permitted to do it in a to take place for this to work particular area using a low­ well: The blade must have a because of the authors experience solvents penetrate the skin. The with elite performers, the sugges­ long-term effects are not toxicity adhesive provided by thin coating from which the pressure-sensitive adhesive can tion that to many, sport may be known. But we do know that the tournament organisers. But 'fun' is not acknowledged. even non-users are "passive can't a player reglue in his hotel be easily removed when you Readers who have taken the breathers": Motabolites of the room? Of course he can, and we wish to change your rubber. NCF 'psychology based' courses noxious solvents appear in their have no good means of proving This is an easier problem, and will find the terminology reason­ urine. All of this has been well that he has done it. But if the we don't anticipate any diffi­ ably familiar, however those who covered in the TT press in JTTA had good reason to think culty with it. have had no previous introduction to the subject may find the book several countries. him guilty, they would request There's another aspect to all his national Association to apply this, of course. If regluing confusing and heavy going: Last May we went one step Not a book to be read lightly, further. The Council of the ITTF a penalty of at least three increases spin and speed, then won't the sport become slower nor one offering simple solutions. (outside the BGM this is the months' suspension. but a book needing intense governing body, consisting of The current plan is to apply if it is banned? Well, yes, it will. concentration not be sidetracked the president, deputy president, the same directive in the World That has nothing whatever to by the authors wandering from one treasurer, six continental vice­ Championships (Sweden, May) do with the ban, but two years topic to another. Perhaps the use ago the ITTF's Council commis­ Presidents, some two dozen and in any other event sanc­ of flow charts or diagrams would sioned research specifically continental representatives, tioned by the ITTF. National have helped immensely in aimed at slightly slOWing the Associations are requested to summarising the factors being and five committee chairmen) play. The Council's feeling was apply it also. By the time of the considered and would have requested the Sports Science that the sport was often too avoided much wool gathering. and Equipment Committees to World Championships, however, quick and dull, so that the Summarising. I would consider report to the Executive Board in we hope th,e situation will be spectactor couldn't understand this as a book of 'ideas' for coaches December on the hazards and different, in that we hope to what was happening. But that's with some experience or knowl­ what to do about them. (The have found a control method another story...... edge of psychology rather than as Board consists of the three that will detect any vapour Rufford Harrison Chairman, a 'book of answers' or a text for the layman or player. officers and the UPs, and is a exuding from a racket. Given IITF Equipment Committee

PAGE 21 Taylor &Timina take titles

JONATHAN TAYLOR and Russia's David Hannah had been making Elena Timina took the singles titles steady progress until he met Sean at the Middlesex 3 Star, with Gibson. Sean then went into Taylor beating Sean Gibson, whilst overdrive and won the match in Timina proved too strong for Kate straight sets. The last four looked Goodall. like Sandley v Gibson which The 36th Middlesex 3 Star Gibson proved to be far too strong Open Tournament took place at for Sandley and won in straight the Picketts Lock Leisure Centre in sets. never giving too much away Edmonton over the weekend of the and Nathan Taylor ended Andrew 12th and 13th December. The Eden's fine tournament run by Management Committee were always being in control and a once again grateful for the comfortable straight sets win for assistance of Butterfly UK Ltd, The the number five seed. The final Lee Valley Regional Park Authority then was between the number and the Federation of Middlesex three and five seed and an all sports. Lancashire affair between Sean The only notable clash with Gibson and Jonathan Taylor. this year's tournament was the Jonathan soon had the upper hand World Doubles in Vietnam which in the match and managed to force meant no Matthew Syed, our his opponent to make mistakes number one seed. This you may and took the first set to 16. In the I have thought would have opened second set, Taylor never lost his the door for Nicky Mason, last grasp on the match and soon had year's winner and this year's the title well and truly sewn up. A number two seed. but it was not to comfortable win in the second at be as he went out of the mens Singles champions Elena Timina and Jonathan Taylor, and 16. singles early on in dramatic fashion pictured below are the Mens Doubles champions Joey In the Womens singles it was to Andrew Eden. Kennedy and Nicky Mason no surprise to find Elena Timina as The mens singles had a bit of a the number one seed. The Russian different look to it this season, with number 1 and World number 37 Middlesex's prodigal son Graham had an easy run towards the final Sandley and newly elected Vice without dropping a set, overcom­ President a scratch entry and made ing Sanja Kubelka and Linda to qualify in one of the groups. Radford on the way. Her opponent This he did without much trouble in the final, the number two seed and put himself in the top half of was Yorkshire's Kate Goodall. Miss the draw in what would have been Timina soon had her opponent Matt's half too. All the big names struggling in the first set and took in the top half of the draw were it comfortably, outclassing her rival winning through and there were to 12. Despite chances in the no surprises of which to report. second set, 17-13 ahead at one Richard Hyacinth. the ex-English stage Kate could not sustain her Junior Champion, had a real fight challenge and allowed her Russian against Chris Sladden of Essex. opponent to regain the advantage Richard took the first set comfort­ to take a straight sets victory. The ably at eight then succeeded in womens doubles had all sorts of losing the next two at 20 and 14. problems to overcome on the day Chris was just a shade fortunate to with one or two scratchings and win the second set. late withdrawals. However, Kate In the bottom half of the draw, Goodall was able to put her defeat Chris Oldfield, Bradley Billington, in the singles behind her when she Mike Hammond, Jonathan Taylor, teamed up with Kubrat Owolahi to Nigel Tyler, Alex Perry, Andrew win the doubles from the Sussex Eden and Nick Mason were pair Susan Hayes and Rosemary winning their matches. Then on Rainton needed only to play one came the battle of Eden and MIDDLESEX 3 STAR RESULTS match to reach the final where Mason. The Lancashire man they were defeated and out­ triumphed in no uncertain fashion, Mens Singles: manoeuvred by their opponents. despite losing the first set to 13 Semi Finals - G. Sandley (Mi) lost to S. Gibson (La) 18, 13 The mens doubles also gave and being a trifle fortunate when J. Taylor (La) defeated A. Eden (La) 15, 18 some consolation for last years winning the second set to 22, (La) (La) singles winner Nicky Mason. He Andrew overcame his Surrey Final- S. Gibson lost to J. Taylor -16, -16 teamed up with Kent's Joey opponent and just managed to Womens Singles: Kennedy, and despite a tight cause the biggest shock of the Semi Finals - E. Timina (EUN) defeated L. Radford (E) 10, 18 struggle against Gibson & Sandley tournament so far. Out went the and Hyacinth & Perry in the number two seed. Billington C. Giles (Dv) lost to K. Goodall (Y) 8, 17 semi's, they overcame a deter­ defeated Oldfield in straight sets. Final- E. Timina (EUN) defeated K. Goodall (Y) 12, 22 mined challenge from Steve Slater The last eight then looked like this: Womens Doubles and Steve Ward and only just came Sandley v Ward; Hannah v out the better winning in three Gibson; Billington v Taylor and Final - K. Goodall (Y) & K. Owolabi (NGR) defeated S. Hayes sets. Perry v Eden. It would have been a (Sx) & R. Rainton (Sx) 15, 15 The Veterans singles saw lovely miracle had Graham Sandley Mens Doubles David Harvey of Gloucester reach got to the final but despite his the final without dropping a set magnificent win over Welshman Final - J. Kennedy (K) & N. Mason (Sy) defeated S. Slater (St) and similarly Surrey's Dave Holman Steve Ward at 20 in the third, it & S. Ward (WAL) 17, -16, 18 achieved the same feat. Harvey was close all the way, he then lost Veterans soon had the Surrey man in trouble the semi to his doubles partner, and never looked in danger of ... Sean Gibson the number three Final - D. Harvey (G) defeated D. Holman (Sy) 15, 14 losing, running out a comfortable seed in straight sets. Scotland's straight sets winner.

PAGE 23 Harvey wins Middlesex 3 Star

THE final saw David Harvey gain another victory over Derek Holman 15 and 14 and by doing so VETTS EASTERN MASTERS RESULTS pocketed the winners cheque which helped cover David's GRIMSBY DECEMBER 5/6th weekend expenses from Glouces­ M. S. OVER 40 H. BUIST bt I. ROBERTSON -18 18 tershire. M.S. OVER 50 D. SCHOFIELD bt M. SHEADER 16 13 Entries were down from 41 to M.S. OVER 60 D. SCHOFIELD bt L. D'ARCY 8 17 27 this year at the Middlesex 3 Star M.S. OVER 70 L. D'ARCY bt N. LUSHER 6 6 and only Dave Harvey (Glos) and Brian Allison (Lines) stopping this W.S. OVER 40 D. SCHOFIELD bt M. MALTBY 21 10 event from being a Southern W.S. OVER 50 D. SCHOFIELD bt C. MORAN 16 15 Counties Championship. What's W.S. OVER 60 K. FISHER bt G. VENEER 19 20 the reason for this decline? High cost of entry fees? economic climate? or the old chestnut - The Ranking System? (answers on a postcard to the Jimmy Young Show!). WINTER £EA£ON £AVER£ The first round results saw Stan Battrick beat Langheim. Campbell FREE POSTAGE. FREE POSTAGE. FREE POSTAGE. FREE POSTAGE. FREE POSTAGE beat Philipson and a good win for RUBBERS BLADES BALLS Frank Hams who beat Don Sriver L or S £14.99 STATE HANDLE TYPE Lion 3 Star £ 6.99 doz. McGilvray on expedite, at the Sriver FX £14.99 Stiga AlRound Classic £16.99 T.S.P. 3 Star £ 9.99 doz. Vario £16.99 Nittaku 3 Star £10.99 doz. same time fellow Surrey vet, StigatAIRound Evolution £17.99 Vario So11 £16.99 Stiga Offensive Classic £19.99 Practice Balls £14.99 gross Gordon Chapman was doing the Tacky'C' £16.99 Sliga Metal Wood £19.99 GLUES & CLEANERS same to Wally Allanson. Solman Tacky'D' £16.99 Stiga Offensive Evolution £19.99 Chack £ 1.50 beat Tony Taylor (World Cup Waldi £16.99 Stiga Legend Graph~e £44.99 Large Chack £ 6.99 large MK.V £15.99 Donie Appelgren All Play £16.99 Tip Top £ 2.99 Games Vets Champ) Lynch beat Coppa £16.99 Donic Appelgren Falcon £20.99 Speed Chack £ 5.99 Chris Jacob. Senslto MTS £16.99 Donie Persson Power AlRound £18.99 Super Chack £ 2.99 Second round brought in the Dynamic £18.75 Banda Waldner £18.99 Butterfly Foam Renova £17.99 Cleaner (Large) £ 4.99 seeded players - Harvey beat Scholer Micke Pulsar Olf £.:19.99 MK.VGPS £16.99 Donie Persson Power Play £19.99 N~taku Foam Bullen, Holman beat Lynch, Allison Challenger £13.99 Butterfly Grubba Pro £16.99 Cleaner £ 3.49 beat Chapman, and Wood beat Feint Long £17.99 Butterfly Alan Cooke £15.99 BAT WALLETS Maurice Isaacs. Other results in Tornado £17.99 Butterfly Firehand £19.99 Lion 2 Bat Wallet £ 4.99 Warrior £19.99 Butterfly Andrezj Grubba £18.99 Astral Bat Wallet £ 2.99 the second round were Meads beat OmotelPIO £15.99 Butterfly Primorac Off £18.99 Butterfly 2 Bat Battrick, Hams beat Campbell, Super Striver £17.99 Butterfly Powerdrive £19.99 Wallet £ 7.99 Tilling beat Stennett, and Dunlop Barna Butterfly Mazunov £23.99 Butterfly Salvo (No sponge) £ 8.50 Wallet Simmonds beat Solman. Butterfly Power 7 & 9 £23.99 £12.75 Zenith £16.99 Andro Orion Allround £15.99 SOCKS In the quarter finals Holman Friendship £14.99 Andre Championship Off £21.99 Butterfly· All sizes £ 2.50 RedlGreeniNavy/Tops well and truly beat Simmonds, PLEASE STA TE Tl/fCKIIESS All! mOOR Scholer Micke Advance Off £16.99 Allison beat Tilling, Harvey beat Meads, and in an excellent match Derek Wood just edged out Hams FREE BALL OFFER with the Surrey man defending superbly. Buy a dozen Lyon 3 Star @ £6.99 and get one dozen free The semi-finals saw two rather disappointing matches with both FOR PRODUCTS NOT LISTED PLEASE TELEPHONE winners Holman and Harvey SHIRTS xs·xxs S·XL FOOTWEAR Adult playing well within themselves and Sliga Classic· Navy/RoyallYellow £16.99 3-5 5+ the losers Messrs Allison and Sliga Evolution (New) Red/Royal Butterfly Radials £14.99 £17.99 Navy/Royal £18.99 Wood accepting their fate before XS-XXS SIM UXL Stiga Winner £14.99 £17.99 the end of the match. Butterfly Salvo - Fuchsia/Turquoise, £14.99 £16.99 £18.99 Stiga Pro £21.99 £25.99 NEXT YEAR? Who knows!!! it Navy/Fuchsia, RoyaVTurquoise SlXL Butterfly Salvo £21.99 £25.99 Bulterfly (New) £19.99 £19.99 Persson Shoe £21.99 £25.99 Andro Festival (New) Black & Petrol £17.99 £21.25 seems the open tournaments this Banda Hi Grip £21.99 £25.99 Mauve, Yellow season are suffering badly and this Scholer Micke Rainbow (New) BAGS particular event was over 70 Navy with Cerise Rainbow Motif £14.50 £16.99 Stiga Classic Holdall £12.99 entries down from last year. Andro Tri-Look (New) RoyaVPurplelNavy BlackIRed Turquoise, Mauve Trim £12.99 £15.29 Butterfly Team· RoyafIFuchsia £24.99 Donie Monte Carlo (New) Strawberry, Violet, Navy £14.99 £16.99 (New) Scholer Micke Rainbow CONGRATULATIONS!!! Skitt Nevada - Violet Blue with Matches Shirt 60x30x35cm £24.99 Navy/OrangelFuchsia Trim £16.99 £19.99 (New) Andro Professional Holdall £25.99 To Lincolnshire's Petrol YellowlBlue Trim 65x34x3Ocm BULK DISCOUNT DEAL Matt Sheader Pack of 6 Sriver L, 5 or FX £86.99 TRACKSUITS Pack of 6 Super Chack £34.99 Butterfly Stuttgart (Newall sizes) £49.99 On 1st December at Grimsby Pack of 12 Dozen Lion 3 Star (48p ea) £69.99 PLEASE TELEPHONE FOR ALL OTHER MAKES Town Hall Matt was presented DTiCk iI free Send 10: BILL THORNTON, 3 OTTERBURY CLOSE, BURY, BL8 2TY. D 19921!l3 CATALOGUE FREE with the South Humberside Sports Catalogue only TELEPHONE: 081-761 6608 PLEASE TICK Advisory Council - Sports Name: ClIy. ProOOcl AMOUNT Personality of the Year award. This Address: was for his magnificent achieve­ ment in winning the over 60's Mens Singles title at this years Poatcode: World Vets Championships in Tel: Dublin. Matt also won the Mens ~NlBarclay Card Doubles title when he teamed up ExpWy Da•• POSTAGE FREE TOTAL with Derek Schofield of Cheshire.

PAGE 24 Moral and honest HONESTY is going to play an important role if the new gluing World's in regulation is to be succeBl?ful. JOOLA EUROPEAN LEAGUE That was made clear by Hans SECOND STAGE 8th December 1992 (First Leg) Tianjin Wilhelm Gab, the ETI'U A GERMANY v SWEDEN 2-4 THE 43rd World Championships President in a letter to all B POLAND v BELGIUM 1-4 will be played in Tianjin instead of member nations. In it he C FRANCE v HUNGARY 4-1 Belgrade. Although the mayor of appeals to the moral and D NETHERLANDS v ENGLAND 0-4 Belgrade insisted that his city was honesty of all players, coaches Chen v Keen -14, 13, 16 well equipped to host these ' and officials to follow the Prean v Heister 10, 11 championships in 1995, the instructions to the letter. "There Syed v De Bruin 14, 14 Ihv could be a small minority who decided otherwise. So the city of PreanlChen v KeenlHeister 14, -18,11 Tianjin, the 3rd largest muniCipal might be tempted to look for an 12 January 1993 (Second Leg) illegal advantage,· he says. A SWEDEN v GERMANY city in China gets the event. B BELGIUM v POLAND Belgrade will get an option to hold Provisional C HUNGARY v GRANGE the 44th World Championships in D ENGLAND v NETHERLANDS 1997. membership THIRD STAGE 23rd February 1993 (First Leg) World: AI.J., ex-USSR Independent Winner A v Winner B (Final) Republics have been granted Loser C v Loser D (Relegation) provisional membership of the 2nd March 1993 (Second Leg) rankings International Table Tennis WinnerB v Winner A (Final) IT'S as you were in the new world Federation. It enables them to LoserD v Loser C (Relegation) rankings, Chen Xinhua, the great enter open international entertainer, maintained his No.12 championships, continental ranking but can expect a move events, regional events, world EUROPEAN WOMENS LEAGUE upwards next time after winning title events and other interna­ 8th December 1992 the Italian Open. tional exchanges within the GERMANY v HUNGARY 4-2 Carl Prean remains at 20, but ITTF. NETHERLANDS v FRANCE 4-1 Alan Cooke goes down two places ITALY v ENGLAND 1-4 to 45. In fact the only player to New job for CZECHOSLOVAKIA v BELGIUM 3-4 move up was Matthew Syed who POLAND v RUMANIA Nil( goes to 62, a move of one place. Albert Gordon v Arisi -18, -11 There was a rise for Lisa Lomas Lomas v Merenda 16, 9 who is enjoying her best season Holt v Negrisoli 11, -19, 12 yet. She goes to 38 from 41, while LomasIHolt v ArisilMerenda 13, 11 our No.2 Alison Gordon also moves Lomas v Arisi 17, 20 up one place. Andrea Holt contin­ CURRENT POSITIONS ues to improve her ranking this GROUP A P W L PTS GERMANY 4 3 1 7 time she goes to 77 while Fiona NETHERLANDS 4 3 1 7 Elliot also moves up to 91. HUNGARY 4 2 2 6 ENGLAND 4 2 2 6 Into Europe FRANCE 4 1 3 5 NFD GROVE ladies go into Europe ITALY 4 1 3 5 on 26 February aiming for a place in the final of the European Club Cup of Champions. After beating Hoi Noordkop, Netherlands 4-2 in EUROPEAN RANKING LISTS the previous round, they now ALBERT SHIPLEY, one time tackle the German champions SV long serving General Secretary MEN WOMEN of the E'ITA, has been given a 1. ROSSKOPF Jorg (GER) 1. VRIESEKOOP Bettine (NED) But you can be sure the team of )r~~: new job. He is now Administra­ European Champion European Champion Andrea Holt Lisa Lomas and Elena :}~:~:~: tive Director in charge of all 2. WALDNER Jan-Ove (SWE) 2. BATORFI Csillia (ROM) ~tt~: 3. GATIEN J. Philippe (FHA) 3. BADESCU Otilia (ROM) Timina will (pve it all they have adrnin. matters in ITTF. He left :1@1~1 the ETTA three years ago to 4. PERSSON Jorgen (SWE) 4. HOOMAN Miriam (NED) got. One thing is for sure they are take up the position of Projects 5. SAlVE Jean-Michel (BEL) 5. HRACHOVA Marie (TCH) guaranteed a big crowd. :~~~:~t: Manager with the ITTF. 6. GRUBBA Andrzej (POL) 6. WANG Xiaoming (FHA) The winners play either TOO :~~~t~~~ 7. PRIMORAC Zoran (CRO) 7. WMAS Lisa (ENG) Dulrnen (Germany) or Statisztika :t~~t 8. CHEN Xinhua (ENG) 8. SVENSSON Marie (SWE) Metalloglobus (Hungary). :~t~t Majorchange 9. APPELGREN Mikael (SWE) 9. GUERGUELTCHEVA D. (BUL) . Dates for :jjI~j~~ EXPECT a major change to the 10. PREAN Carl (ENG) 10. SVENSSOn Asa (SWE) often controversial eligibility 11. KARLSSON Peter (SWE) 11. TIMINA Elena (RUS) rule. A meeting at the world 12. DING Yi (AUT) 12. NEMES Olga (GER) your Diary!lll!!!lll championships in Gothenburg 13. LINDH Erik (SWE) 13. CIOSU Emilia (ROM) February 12-14 - Europe Topi~1~t1~ in May will vote on whether to 14. FETZNER Steffen (GER) 14. FAZDIC Jasna (YUG) 12, Copenhagen - 18-21 - Slovak t~~t accept a two year period of 15. LUPULESKU Ilija (YUG) 15. ABBATE-BULATOVA F. (ITA) Open, t:ti residence clause for individual 16. WANG Yansheng (NOR) 16. TU Yong (SUI) April 2-4 - DoC Presidents i~~i~t events under the control of the 17. MAZUNOV Andrei (RUS) 17. MELNIK Galina (RUS) Cup, Beijing - 8-14 - Schools @11~1: ETI'U. Eligibility for team events 18. HALDAN Paul (NED) 18. ARISI Alessia (ITA) International Champions, ~~rt~: 19. KORBEL Petr (TCH) 19. m-RUSE Nicole (GER) .which is now six years could Birmingham 1t~1~1~: also be brought under the 20. CABRERA Thierry (BEL) 20. PAlJNA Trina (RUS) 30-2 - Spanish Jun Open - ::::::::::: microscope. a_a PAGE25 I War and the turbulent forties MOST table tennis players look upon victory 23-21,21-10,21-14. summer as a period when they can cut In these championships much attention back on competitive play and after an was focused on the American team and in exhausting season have an opportunity to particular on their champion Richard Miles. recharge their batteries. The summer He had beautiful strokes that were stylish months of 1939 however were strangely and economical and his whiplash forehand different and the continent of Europe had the spectators buzzing with excite­ afforded very few opportunities for relaxa­ ment. Only those great Czech players Vana tion. There was a tension and sense of and Andreadis seemed able to control him; foreboding over the whole of Europe that he lost to them both in the Swaythling Cup was frightening. The rule of force and the and then was eliminated by Vana in the boundless ambitions of one man were the singles after a five games thriller. Although main talking points and the trend df events bitterly disappointed with his singles was an obvious prelude to total war. The performance, it was to his credit that he calamitous announcement came on 3rd pulled himself together and won the mixed September, 1939, when an official Declara­ doubles title in partnership with Thelma tion of War was made and competitive Thall. It was rather ironical that this was sport faded into the background. the first World Championships when a new Owing to the hostilities the World 'Expedite' rule was introduced to combat Championships were actually suspended pushing play and yet most of the table for seven long years although table tennis .Gizi Farkas tennis seem was fast and exciting. At the itself was not entirely dormant. Exhibitions Congress meeting it was decided that to were given freely by the top players to help backhand that she used intelligently and avoid national antagonism, flags and the war effort and in faraway South with considerable effect. anthems should not be used at World America at the end of 1943 the first In 1948 the World Championships Championships and this ruling has re­ Continental Federation was formed; it was returned to England and it was estimated mained until it was revoked in 1985 at the founded in Buenos Aires on the 12th that more than 40,000 spectators attended BGM in Gothenburg. December and classified as the South Wembley Arena for these successful American Confederation. Many of the great championships. The holders of the GIZIFARKAS players of the time were mobilised and Swaythling Cup and Corbillon Cup, Gizi Farkas was born in Budapest, Hungary, several were unfortunate to lose their lives Czechoslovakia and England respectively, in 1925 and christened Giselle, a name that but these were turbulent times and sport retained their titles and Richard Bergmann was more appropriately shortened to Gizi as it was the loser in more ways than one. War reached new heights by winning the men's seemed to characterise her personality. She in Europe finally ceased in 1945 and when singles for the third time. Once again his ranks among the greatest women players of the sport starved troops were demobilised opponent in the final was the respected all time, not only for the wonderful catalogue there was a tremendous boom in all Czech and current holder Bo Vana. It was of results she obtained but for the outstanding sporting activities among which table however in the semi final that Bergmann quality of her play. From 1947-1953 she tennis took its rightful place. In 1946, in set the place alight when he survived three contested every singles final, winning the spite of shortages and restrictions, two match points to win over five games first three and suffering defeat in the remain­ table tennis magazines appeared in against the formidable Czech, Ivan ing four at the hands of the unique Angelica England and country-wide tournaments Andreadis. Bergmann described this match Rozeanu. For good measure she also won started again. A year later the National as the hardest of his career. The imperturb­ three women's doubles titles, each with a County Championships were inaugurated. able champion, Gizi Farkas, sustained her different partner, and four mixed titles with It was not only England that had embarked superiority over the women competitors three different partners. upon a revival campaign for table tennis; although she was taken to five games in She was an attractive girl who by a other countries were similarly active and in the final by the English star Vera (Dace) combination of graceful movement and 1947 the first post-war world champion­ Thomas. It was in the women's semi final athleticism not only won major champion­ ships were held in Paris. Richard that an unprecedented happening took ships but in doing so gained respect for Bergmann, who had been on an exhibition place involving Gizi Farkas and Angelica herself and her country. For a decade she tour in Europe with Alec Brook, was Rozeanu, the pride of Rumania. The match was the main heart-beat of the Hungarian noticeably absent but many of the pre-war went to five games when after a prolonged women's team and her major disappoint­ stars competed and it was the bouncing contest in which the umpire overlooked the ment was that during that time she was Czech, Bo Vana, who, having lost little of new 'Expedite rule' that should have been unable to be on the winning side of his remarkable skills, took the men's singles enforced, Gizi Farkas emerged the winner. Hungary's Corbillon Cup team. Basically title for the second time. Czechoslovakia The final games was timed as having taken she could be labelled as a defensive player was the strongest of the immediate post­ twenty seven minutes. The Rumanians but she was far more than that; her all­ war teams and convincingly won the immediately made a protest and bedlam round abilities transcended such a mun­ Swaythling Cup, but even more convincing was let loose in the normally respectable dane classification. Certainly she had a was the performance of the English girls, caIm of Wembley. Embassies were wonderful biting chop, but it was not just Vera Dace, Elizabeth Blackbourn and Peggy contacted and long distant telephone calls used to return an opponent's drives; it was Franks, who won the Corbillon Cup for their took place as both camps let their blood a constructive probe to out-manoeuvre her country without dropping a single game. levels run high and an international crisis opponent so that she herself could apply Each country they played was trounced 3-0 seemed to be in the offing. There was a the 'coup de grace'. and their remarkable tally was 21 games to hurried meeting of the international jury From a table tennis point of view Gizi nil. There was another outstanding and it was decided that Rumania's protest Farkas had a shrewd tactical brain and in performer, a young lady about whom little was justifiable and the match should be attack she had an extremely effective was known at the time and who became replayed. It must have been a soul destroy­ backhand which she used with unerring one of the world's great players. This was ing experience for Gizi Farkas who had accuracy. Coupled with her obvious talents the Hungarian Gizi Farkas and from 1947­ already been declared the winner but in the she had the steel quality of a great com­ 1953 she appeared in every women's end she sportingly agreed to a replay. petitor and an unquenchable determination singles final, winning the first three. She Displaying the match qualities of a true to succeed. Unquestionably she was one of was an attractive Y9ung lady with a finely champion, she justified her entry into the the most formidable rubber-faced racket controlled chop defence and a telling final by a commanding three straight players of all time. PAGE 26 Decision Time THE following is a synopsis of my presentation TABLE 2 - HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS given to the ETTA National Council on 23rd (SOLVENTS) AS PER MANUFACTURERS January. It was intended to give the Council a DATA SHEETS better understanding of the nature and hazards of the solvent based glues used to apply rubbers to HEXANE table tennis bats. Wear protective goggles Wear protective clothing GLUETYPES Wear protective gloves A NORMAL Wear protective respirator where concentration (Le. used for permanent application ofrubber) may exceed safety levels Ensure good ventilation B SPEED Keep away from ignition sources . (various - used to enhance performance when Do not leave tin open wet) Earth storage containers Keep away from Electrostatic charge SAFETY RATINGS (mine) No smoking HARMFUL - Contain Di/Tri Chlorekhylene (Le. chlorinated) e.g. Kleber, Rema, Tip-Top USED IN: Chack, Superchack and the approved Tibhar glue LESS HARMFUL - Contain aromatics like Xylene e.g. Chack, Superchack APPROVED GLUES Are all based on low molecular weight aliphatic LEAST HARMFUL - Contain aliphatic hydro hydrocarbons which are similar to hexane. .Pictured above Keith Powell, the carbons like hexane, DilTrilCyclo Pentane, is Dr. Heptane and/or organic acetate like Ethyl Scottish Vice Chairman of Intemational Af­ Tibhar - pentanes and hexane Acetate. e.g. Tibhar, Schole-Micke, Donic fairs, wearing protective clothing, goggles, Schildkrot - heptane Appelgren, Schildkrot (name unknown), Joola respirator with organic filter and Neoprene Others are based on these Green (all ITTF approved) gloves that are made ofoil or solventresistant rubber. WeaIing ofthese are in the Health and MEDICAL PROBLEMS The following table proVides an overall Handling instructions of the Health and Data simplified picture. It can be seen that it is sheets supplied by the manufacturers for use Table 3 shows a list of medical ailments which unknown at present whether a 'normal' glue exists with aromatic and chlorinated glues, but also can occur because of these solvents. The majority in the least harmful category. of these are taken straight from the manufacturer's Identification or manufacture orcone is a prime with solvents used in the so called fITF data sheets. requisite if the fast glues are to be banned. recommended glues, in particular Hexane The manufacturer's defence with respect to The ultimate solution is the total elimination of which is included in these glues selling these giues would probably be that table glue by the use of self-adhesive rubbers. tennis players would not ):landle them in such a way that they would be a hazard. HaVing seen Handling Instructions these glues being poured from bins into cans, glue Thelack of responsibility of manufacturers of smeared on heavily by hand, people smoking A B these glues is shown below. Very few instructions during application and large numbers of players NORMAL SPEED are put on the containers and although the gluing up in a room at about lOaF, I would GLUE GLUE appropriate hazard symbol might be displayed, the seriously counter such a suggestion. general public is ignorant of their meaning. The statement for the defence of the glues X HARMFUL REMA TIP According to the manufacturers, table tennis approved by the ITTF is that aliphatic solvents are TOP (SV5) players shOuld wear all the protective garb and unlikely to cause permanent medical damage, KLEBER follow all the precautions indicated below (table although it is well known they cause headaches, VICTORIA 1). As the glue is used wet, one might suppose dizziness, light-headedness and seriously affect that they should also wear the protective garb people with respiratory problems. I have consulted Y LESS CHACK SUPER whilst playing. a doctor who has studied glue sniffing and he HARMFUL CHACK It may be argued that these instructions are states that, in conjunction with exercise, these for glues containing the very harmful chlorinated solvents can cause arrhythmic and ventricular solvents. However, Table 2 shows the handling fibrillation - cardiac arrest. Fatalities ll{e known to Z LEAST ? TIBHAR precaution for the use of hexane, cyclopentane have occurred from youths sniffing butane lighter HARMFUL SCHOLER­ and heptane which are used in the ITTF approved fuel and then exercising. Butane is of the same MICKE glues Tibhar Rapid Clean and Schildkrot. family as pentane, hexane and heptane. DONIC I would repeat that Schole-Micke and Donic APPELGREN have not yet responded to my requests for Health TABLE 3 - MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT CAN SCHILDKROT? and Safety Data Sheets. ARISE FROM SOLVENTS USED FOR TABLE JOOLA GREEN TENNIS GLUES TABLE 1 - HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS (GLUES) AS PER MANUFACTURER'S NB symptoms depend on whether inhaled, The ITTF Approved list eliminates types X & Y. DATA SHEETS ingested or absorbed.

REMA TIP-TOP TRICHLORETHYLENE - REMA, TIP-TOP, KLEBER, HAZARDS KLEBER VICTORIA VICTORIA Wear protective goggles Coma, headaches, diZZiness, skin damage, eye damage, ARISE FROM Wear protective clothing Carcinogenic - probably liver, vomiting, drunken state, . Chemical nature of solvents Wear protective gloves (brown, neoprene) Affects mucous membranes (causes breathing problems, ::::::::::: 2. Frequency of application Do not eat during work asthma etc), cardiac arrest - in conjunction with exercise:~:~{:~: 3. Method of application .Do not drink during work 4. Environmental conditions Do not smoke during work XYLENE - CRACK, SUPER CRACK Keep eyewash bottle ready Coma, Dermatitis - skin disorders, Photophobia­ However, applying a ZB glue (Le. a least Keep container tightly closed sensitiVity to light, Vacholisation - damage to cells. Can harmful fast glue) frequently as in reglUing, Keep container cool. Keep container dry affect central nervoUs system - depression, dizziness, generates more risk than using a Y-A glue (Le. a Store on floor resistant to solvents headaches, vision, Narcossi - loss of consciousness, normal glue of a more harmful nature) due to its Keep away from alkali metals (salt) sleeping, Gastro-intestinal - nausea, vomiting, Cardiac frequency of use. Keep away from OXidiser (sugar) arrest - in conjunction with exercise

PAGE 27 I-HEXANE - CHACK, SUPER CHACK, hazardous substances to youth and therefore Dr. Kahn, Head of the Medical Committee of the TIBHAR they have become alchemists. ETI'U and to Professor Dolinar, Head of the Headaches, Dizziness, Broncho pneumonia, Medical Committee of the ITTF, in their reports to Pulmonary Oedema - could lead to death, Nervous c. Lack of Information their respective committees. systems - loss of control of arms and legs, Manufacturers do not label products suffi­ Dermatitis - skin disorders, Arrhythmic and ciently as to their hazardous nature or how From Dr. Kahn's report to the ETTU: Ventricular Fibrillation - cardiac arrest in they should be handled. CONCLUSION conjunction with exercise The general public, who are generally When, under the guise of technical progress, a ignorant of things chemical, are thus sport introduces the use of procedures capable of INCIDENTS WHICH HAVE BROUGHT exposed to considerable risks. harming the health of its players (and of their ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM supporters) it must be able to challenge such d. Glue sniffing/accidental addiction technical progress and to put the question of 1. Umpire at French Championships with severe It may be said that there are plenty of health above all else. In the present case the nosebleeds due to solvents affecting mucous products available for glue sniffing. However, medical effects take on a double aspect: membrane. it is quite feasible that a youngster experien­ cing an accidental high might end up an Direct pathology: by contact with the skin or the 2. 12 year'old boy in Scotland passed out from addict. mucous membranes of toxic substances and by tin of upturned glue. inhalation of the vapours released; according to 2. Discomfort to oUicials/spectators/players the products, the amounts and the length of 3. Numerous cases of inducing asthma and badly The smell emanating from glues renders the exposure one may observe all kind of irritations, affecting people with respiratory problems. environment extremely unpleasant. Why from nose-bleeds, eye problems, headaches, should people risk health and be uncomfort­ nausea, to abnormal tiredness etc; in the most 4. Glue sniffing. able when they are meant to be enjoying serious cases (massive poisoning, voluntary or themselves? Setting rooms aside for gluing up not): significant cardio-vascular problems and 5. Racing heart after gluing up and strenuous may lessen the risk and unpleasantness for disorders of consciousness which could border on game. Not knowing the probable cause player spectators but make it worse for officials and coma. gave up. players. It is unlikely that suitable ventilation and handling can be proVided. Indirect pathology: all kinds of burns (hands, REASONS FOR BANNING GLUE faces, bodies) added to the risk of the volatile inflammable solvents contained in the glues being la. Health Risks directly from inhalation 3. Fire Hazards likely to flare up. absorption ingestion of the materials All glues are flammable and the newly Since at any rate the international authorities have These have been outlined in Table 3. authorised glues more so. They must be sought for some years a means of slowing down NB. It is unlikely any solvent based glue stored far away from heating appliances, the game and that the problem of the toxicity of suitable for table tennis will be risk free. electrical equipment and cigarettes. fast glues is now at the centre of debate, it Items 1 (b)(c)(d) can also lead to health risks. Smoking while applying glue is very danger­ appears that finally the only logical solution would ous from the points of view of health and be a ban, pure and simple,on the use of fast glues. b. Homemade Glues fire risk. This practise is prevalent, and as the more From Professor Z&rko Dolinar's Report to the hazardous substances are reputed to give ITTF: CONCLUSIONS better results, it is likely they will be utilized. CONCLUSION We are definitely against (re) gluing and we propose Legislation in France has restricted sale of I leave the summing up to the conclusions of to the ITTF to ban it (prohibit) it immediately. REGIONAL NEWS EASTERN REGION leagues are proving very close affairs - to win half of start - when she takes up her full time appointment your matches and find yourselves at the bottom of in Bristol on January the 11th 1993, working in byJohn Wood the tables must be quite sickening for my Isle conjunction with Focus Sport. TIM O'LEARY of Hertfordshire and Paul Owen from ofWight friends. One of the Islands wins was by the As soon as I heard of her appointment, I tel­ Suffolk were our best Junior Boys performers in the odd set in nine against last seasons champions ephone Melonie to offer her my congratulations, National Ranking Trials, held at Hereford on the 2nd Merton; Chris Angus pulling off a hat trick with needless to say, she was ecstatic, and all ready to go. and 3rd of January. Both O'Leary and Owen won five Roger Hookey and Regina Stevens winning a set I spend a few minutes on the phone just before of the seven games they played. apiece. Second division Thatcham are the only side the new year came into recognition, talking to Les Also representing the Eastern Region in the apart from Cippenham With a 100% record so well Bridges the Chairman of the newly founded SWR ­ Junior boys trials were John O'Leary from Hertford­ done Tony Reynolds, Martin King and Darren Jones. ETTA - Committee, Les is firmly of the opinion that shire, Paul Davison and Jeffrey Gayden of Suffolk. From the same division Artel continue to be the only he would lik.e to see a few more Regional one or two Sarah Davison from Suffolk was our star per­ club to send me match reports - two sets each from star tournaments being played in the area, well that's former in the Junior Girls trials, actually reaching the Cliff Putterford, Jeff Huggins and Alan Williams in forward thinking, but now is the time to make final rounds, where she was narrowly beaten by the 6-3 defeat of Cippenham "B" for whom league positive suggestions and throw out tentative feelers, Sarah Smith of Nottingham 20, -9, -18. secretary Graham Trimming saved a point for his as with the coming of early Spring the ETTA's Our other Junior girls were also all from Suffolk, team with a last set best of three win against playing calendar for the 1993-4 season is not very far Katie Green, Rebecca Sparkes and Vicky Gray. Putterford. away from being launched. John O'Leary and Josh Lury of Hertfordshire SOUTH WEST REGION News to hand from Fred Ingram - West Corn­ were our representatives in the Cadet Boys section, wall's hard working Secretary, who tells me that where O'Leary excelled by reaching the rounds by AllPepperd West Cornwall are out of the Wilmott Cup race, I where he was knocked out by Berkshire's Terry AN advertisement appeared in Novembers' Table beaten by Plymouth & District 5-2, and all this Young -21, -16. Tennis News for a full time South West Regional T.T. happened in the very first round when W/C fielded In the Cadet Girls Suffolk's Rebecca Sparkes and Development Officer - with a specific three year JeremyWilliams (Falmouth), Graham Reed & Stephen Vicky Gray flew the flag for Eastern Region, with fixed term of contract in view. Lobb (both Redruth), W/C recorded wins from Rebecca losing in the latter stages to finalist Tracey I understand that several potential interviewees Williams over Lambert and Bridgett, and very nearly Davies from Essex -17, -14. were seen, but the fortunate person to eventually a third from Lobb who lost 19 in the 3rd to Kevin On a sad note, Hertfordshire's Marie Masters, land the job was Miss Melonie Carey from Puriton Nr. Buddle. who should have been representing the Eastern Bridgwater in Somerset. Nat West Divisional Championships Region in the Cadet Girls section after winning the I think that the interviewing board has made a right to be there was scratched because her invita­ This season's Divisional Championships are again tion to compete was lost in the post. very good choice indeed, not only is Melonie young, been held at Cam Brea Leisure Centre, Redruth. she also has long been associated with T.T. both The Championships, being sponsored by the SOUTHERN REGION from a playing aspect and coaching disabled players National Westminster Bank, once again ensures that by Brian Lamerton in the Welsh integrated sports plan. West Cornwall are able to offer the very best facilities WITH the exception of Cippenham in both the Her. B.A. degree plus honours in certain studies, to their members for this very special event, it now Premier and Ladies diVisions ali FOUR of this seasons plus her love of our sport must give her a headstrong only requires those members to turn up in force.

PAGE 28 The Ranking Scheme

EVERY match in an event the odds, as the following that the organisers have example shows:­ registered for inclusion in the Consider a 160 point rating Ranking Scheme produces a difference, and a xl.0 Event. potential transfer of points Match Points from the loser to the winner. Result The size of this transfer Change depends partly on the Expected win Gains 4 difference in ratings between Expected loss Loses 3 the two players and partly on Unexpected win Gains 17 the importance of the event Unexpected loss Loses 13 (its "Event Weighting"). xl.00 there is no maths to be done The full Points Exchange 2-Star Open Tournaments - just read the numbers Of course the higher Tables were listed on the County Championships straight off the tables. ranked player should win back of the Ranking Booklet (except Premier Division) The figures in the column whenever these two players for Period 9 (November British League (except headed £1.50+" apply to all meet, but the weaker player 1992), so I will only include a Premier Division) events with higher would need just one win simplified version here. It is xO.50 weightings - points cannot against the odds to cancel very easy to calculate the l-Star Open Tournaments be lost at a higher rate than out the effect of five matches points gained for a WIN ­ Regional Junior Ranking Trials this. The points transfer that went to form. just work out the difference system seems to be widely Players who are worried in ratings, read off the The event weighting for misunderstood, especially that the computer has got relevant figure from the table any Team Events in a over the loss of points. There their rating wrong can ask to below and multiply it by the tournament is 0.5 less than are few points to be won for be sent a printout of their event weighting. the listed event weighting beating someone you ought results for a playing period, The Even Weightings for for that tournament. to have beaten, and there are called an "audit trail". the commonest events are The tables for LOSSES few points to be lost for Obviously this involves a listed below (the full list is don't look quite as simple losing a match you were cost in secretarial time as obtainable from Hastings). following the introduction of expected to lose. Far bigger the results from the relevant some protection at lower transfers happen when you period need to be reloaded x2.25 weighted events. However, win or lose a match against into the'computer and then English Senior National searched. A deposit of £5 ChamplOnships must accompany any such English Junior National Rating Expected Unexpected request, though it is re­ Championships Difference Win Win funded if the complaint is x2.00 found to be justified. 5-Star Open Tournaments 0-24 +8 +8 Next month I will respond VETTS National Masters 25 - 49 +7 +9 to any comments sent in by xl.50 50 - 99 +6 +11 readers about the Ranking 3-Star Open Tournaments Scheme. I hope I have helped Junior 2-Star Selects 100 - 149 +5 +14 to make things a little clearer County Championships 150 - 199 +4 +17 in these articles, though I am (Premier Division) 200 - 299 +3 +22 aware that I have not said British League anything very new. It is a (Premier Division) 300 - 399 +2 +30 complex scheme, as indeed it VETTS Regional Masters 400 - 499 +1 +40 has to be and it inevitably National Junior Ranking 500+ 0 +50 takes some time to learn: how Trials it works.

RATING DIFFERENCE EXPECTED LOSSES UNEXPECTED LOSSES 0.50 1.00 1.50+ 0.50 1.00 1.50+ 0-24 -3 -6 -8 -3 -6 -8 25 - 49 -3 -5 -7 -3 -7 -9 50 - 99 -2 -5 -6 -4 -8 -11 100 - 149 -2 -4 -5 -5 -11 -14 150 - 199 -2 -3 -4 -6 -13 -17 200 - 299 -1 -2 -3 -8 -17 -22 300 - 399 -1 -2 -2 -11 -23 -30 400 - 499 -1 -1 -1 -15 -30 -40 500+ 0 '0 0 -19 -38 -50

PAGE 29 :::::::::::: was again thinking negatively when Negative he accused me of missing an opportunity to develop local talent, system by bringing in new players to the I have just received the Dec/Jan Uxbridge (Burton), Friendly Hotels, issue of Table Tennis news and feel British League side. that I must endorse the sentiments If he had thought a little more expressed by John Prean in his letter about the problem, before going into headed 'Ranking Panel Should print, he would have probably Courses', which is being held at our can look forward to continued (and Resign', as the new system is indeed appreciated the'following points;­ club. greater?) success. But some threatening to cause serious damage 1. It is expensive to join the British These are in addition to the techniques, like the heavy topspin to the sport in this country. League and if I had not worked hard club's existing 30 junior members, of against a short ball over the table, As a player and parent I am to earn the necessary money there which up to 20 attend my coaching will become more difficult. One must involved at all levels and all age would have been no team opportuni­ sessions every Saturday morning, feel sympathy for top players brought groups; local, county, national and ties for anyone. throughout the year, including school up on 'glue'. like Gatien. who will be international; junior, senior and 2. If you want to develop, you have holiday periods. No lost development greatly disadvantaged, though surely veteran; and I have yet to meet to have a programme to be able to opportunities here. Waldner, with his tremendous talent, anyone who has a good word to say monitor progress. As I was entering I hope these comments will put will adapt - if he wants to. A big about our current ranking system. It with a group of five junior county the topic into the right perspective, shake up in national and interna­ is essentially a negative system, players, developed by the club, plus but it does seem strange that most of tional ranking lists is never-the-less encouraging players not to compete, one Burton League player and one our new players come from probably, particularly amongst the when generating more entries for experienced Derbyshire player, I Nottinghamshire, where Malcolm is men. tournaments should be one of the decided that the first year would be County Chairman and there is no Ken Muhr. Milton Keynes first priorities. used to gain experience, for both opportunity to play at this level, The system seems beset with players and myself. The next year we I would expect to be competitive and perhaps Malcolm should spend time errors; everybody I know who has organising a team and do less sent for a printout has found at least in year three we would attempt to My Dad the negative writing. one mistake. I shudder to think how win, We are now in our third year Terry Gadsby many errors must go undetected. and currently leading the division. Uxbridge T.T.C.• Burton Upon Trent However, this I am able to accept, as 3. If you enter a team that can never coach human error is an inevitable part of compete it is doubtful that the club I saw and read your article on the life; no-one is infallible. What I find will consider the cost as money well 'Coaching During Games'. So I much harder to forgive is the way spent. It is also most Unlikely that Worse to decided to write to you. the ranking organisers continue, like anyone will want to sponsor the I play table tennis a lot and so the most intransigent of politicians, team, so the team will have no future watch does my Dad. He is always at my to defend the indefensible. and no local player will have the For health reasons alone, I applaud games and matches and I don't know How can anyone defend a system chance to play at this level at all. the recent moves by the ITTF and what I would do Without him. When where a player goes !ill the list from Unless of course they are extremely the ETTA to effectively prevent the the player is on the table he has to number five to number four Without good and attract the attention of use of vulcanising or 'fast' glue. I concentrate on the game. He can't playing at all between May and the some other progressive club out of have long conSidered that there was see how the other player is coping or end of November? How can anyone town. This is difficult, expensive and a risk to the respiratory and central what mistakes are happening. defend a system where our top time consuming. nervous system through the toxic Also the coach is there to give juniors have no incentive whatsoever 4. All of the original players were told effects of (passive) inhalation, but you encouragement and confidence, to enter even the major tourna­ of the time plan and everyone of also a carcinogenic possibility not not just how to play! Yes well O.K. ments? When my son won the them was given a number of playing only through repeatedly breathing perhaps during rallies it is a bit to far English Junior Closed two years ago chances. If they were not up to the vapours but also through but in between games it should be he received 150 ranking points under standard they all had the chance to ingestion of glue via the skin. And O.K. There have been many times the old system. This year he won practice hard and good facilities although some of the most spectacu­ where I have thought the game was again and received just 14 points. No were always available, at no personal lar shots and rallies are only possible all over as I've lost an end but my wonder the final of the Kent Junior cost. One of the young players, with 'glue', it's widespread use Dad has always given me confi­ Open this year was contested by the Steven Shaw, developed fast and I contributed to the skill requirements dence. The coach also tells the number 24 boy and the number 61 was disappointed to lose him but of table tennis becoming beyond the player to think positive about the boy! The top players have nothing to pleased he was able to continue his ability of many to play it - making it game and not to dwell on the last gain by playing and everything to development by going to a Division overall worse to watch. point. lose. At least with the old system One side. He is however still a If non use of 'fast glue' can be Also if the coaching is banned, they were given bonus points for participating member of the club and enforceable - and there is still some table tennis could get a bad name if winning a tournament. attends all suitable club coaching doubt - then there wili be a move to the players get angry and start to The system is not only failing our sessions. Of the other original young faster blades and rubbers to show it in a number of ways. Nobody higher ranked players. At all levels players, one has only just started compensate. (Self adhesive rubbers wants that. I hope you can under­ players are discovering they are often playing again but is not serious, or secu!ing of sandwich by means of stand this letter, I have tried to better off not entering tournaments another one packed-up playing and double-sided selotape may become explain my views as best I can. at all. Then there is the controversial although he is now playing again has necessary). And long-pimples will Paul Lucas, aged 13 years "Re-Rating' where players suddenly not yet proved himself. the other two become more popular. not only for Chelmsford. Essex leap-frog up or down the list with no young players have both played this chop defence but particularly for apparent consistencyI year but one is not working at his counterhitting - for close-to-the-table At last season's Wiltshire Three game and the other is in contention flat counterhitting and smashing, I Sticky-endl Star (one of many tournaments not for a place. All the other original predict, will make something of a taking place this season) I was squad members have made comeback, especially by Asian So it's a sticky end for glues discussing the absurdities of the themselves unavailable. The new penholders and combination bat containing solvents because they are bad for your health. Certainly many a system with a leading player. "It's a squad members are all working hard players who will once more tip the bit like the Poll Tax', he said, "No­ to improve and the workers will balance of power against the defender's cheeks will now have a one likes it but we're stuck with it always get the opportunities where I European men (Chinese and Korean healthier glow. But it's astonishing am concerned. that this ruling has taken so long and that's that." women will remain predominant). 5. The constitution of our club calls because every tin carries a warning But we live in a democracy. In Europe, there will have to be for us to develop table tennis at all about the risks to health, let alone Public Opinion has since brought more use of the legs. hips, shoulders about the demise of the Poll Tax. If levels and not just within the club, the environment - or the smelll although my first allegiance is to club and wrist to generate power and It might not be too difficult to enough of us are prepared to stand speed. Loopers may have to lengthen up and be counted then we can members. Invitations for local players overcome the problem of detecting (upwards) their strokes and play with the banned substance. All inflamma­ bring about the demise of the to join our British League Squad have been published in the Burton Daily more open oat angles. Carl Prean ble glues should be banned. This will present ranking system as well. seems likely to benefit - he already before it further damages the sport Mail on a number of occasions and almost certainly mean "Chack" and the door is still open, so we are counterhits with pimples on his related glues. If these were banned that we love. backhand and employs a rangy loop Penny Perry, Crediton. Devon providing the opportunity for players. we would lose the characteristic We can give the players the on his forehand - which is some smell of these types of adhesive opportunity but we can not make compensation for the introduction of which in turn would make it easier to them take it if they do not want to. the two colour, bat rubber law from detect. Use a water based glue such Local talent At the bottom end of the market, we which he suffered! And having a as Copydex (watered down) or a I try not to waste time writing letters are working with the local council in fraction of a second more time might PVA type glue, all of which are safe. answering criticism of my efforts to five junior schools where over 150 tempt Desmond Douglas into an If we did use these types of glue it develop table tennis, time better children have been introduced to our international comeback! Defensive would be the end of Ping "Pong". spent acting than talking, but I feel sport. Eighteen of the children players like Chen Xinhua, Matthew Frank Hams that myoId friend, Malcolm Allsop, now moved on to the "Extended Syed, Lisa Lomas and Andrea Holt Surrey I PAGE 30 SATURDAY FROM 9.00 AM All Qualifying All Singles to last 16 Doubles to Quarter Finals All Veterans

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