Golden England Juniors A TEAM of 8 players and 5 adults Pestka (under 12), also on debut, had made the trip on Thursday 30 April to play Tracy Davies (Peniel) in the to Gravelines, just outside Calais, for first round and lost, but still won her the Bernard Jeu European Challenge play-off matches to get 5th place. on 1/2 May 2 boys and 4 girls in Debbie also beat the eventual Winner under 10, 12, 14 and 17 category (in her group)! and also beat her the were warmly greeted by our French next day in the team event, the only hosts and participated in what was player to beat her all weekend. described as one of the best England had Belgium, Peniel and tournaments any of us had been to Italy in their group and we won all for a very long time Added to that, three matches 6-2, excellent the team which had 5 of the 8 performances by all the players with making their England debut, both Trudi and Darryl, who had not plundered 2 gold, 3 silver and 1 played well the previous day, bronze medal to be the top medals contributing wins. The other group nation of these competing, ahead of saw France draw with the Nether­ Netherlands, Belgium, France, lands, but win on games difference France North 2, France North 1, Italy, Peniel came second in our group and Penial Academy and Luxemburg in lost to France in the semi, while we that order. England had in fact come managed to beat the Netherlands 5-3 within a whIsker of winning the team and so had to play France in the event as they lost 3-5 in.a pulsating Final match to France which all hinged on A short break while the arena the last two matches. was set up and we were on. The On arrival we were told that we atmosphere was electric, players and would be playing the individual spectators cheering and clapping competition the next day in two after every point. We were 4-2 down halls, one kilometre away because with the last two games to go (Alex the table tennis hall was being used and Nicola). After losing the first, for a semi fmal of the National Nicola played very well to win the Basketball league Play was to start next two. Meanwhile, Alex reached at 8.30am. so no practice was 18-18 in the third against the French possible As we were the first to boy who he had beaten the previous arrive, we suggested a 9.30 start, so day in the semi of the indiVidual, but we could all have an hours practice it slipped away game 18. The defeat beforehand. Our translator, who was was nobody's fault - Darryl had been part of the organising committee, beaten earlier deuce in the third on said thIS was possible (a word that an edge ball, which would also have was used continually throughout the won us the match. weekend) which we soon realised After the prize giving, another was used when our friendly hosts did super meal of steak and chips (this not want to refuse I After an ample the players enjoyed the most) meal whIch was at 7pm possibly but followed by ice cream and gateaux. actually started at 8.30, we were told Again the adults stayed on until the to have breakfast at 7.15am ready for Scott Friday (above), Ali Subhan (below left) and Vincent Avery early hours finally saying our a briefing meeting at the hall at 8am. goodbyes and thank yous before The players were split in two retiring to bed. groups within their age groups, one We were 'probably' being of 4 and one of 5. After the group collected about 9.30am for a lift to play, four from each group went Calais by 10.45. At 9.50 no one had through to play quarter finals, semis arrived. As we telephoned the and final and place matches to get a organiser though, our transport final ranking 1 to 9. Each players turned up received points depending on the Finally, the team spirit of the position achieved - 1 point for 1st whole party, which included coaches place, 2 for second etc. The total Jenny Heaton and Martin Bawden. points gained by each team would was agreed as one of the best at then decide their group position for England Junior level for a long time. the next day'S play in the team Peniel Academy also had a team competition England finished 1st (32 competing. They reach the semi pomts) and only 5 points separated finals of the team event losing to 1st and 5th places (peniel Academy) France and achieved 4th place after a In the individual competitIon, play-off with the Netherlands The our under 10 boy Scott Friday, One of top four teams as well as receiving 5 players making their debut, never trophies, got superb gifts - England a lost a match (nor in the team event) hand camcorder and Peniel an to win his category and even though enormous radio cassette. Their only our under 12 boy Ali Subhan lost success in the indiVidual competition three in the group, he still went on to was a gold from Vince Avery in the win his category! Alex Perry reached under 14 boys. Vince only lost one the final of the under 17 and was match during the while competition. unlucky to lose to Ip Mion of Belgium in the final (a defeat avenged the next day) as was Nicola Deaton who MEDALS TABLE lost in the under 17 final to Veronica Granero of France North. Sarah G S B Total Stedman (under 14) lost to the Dutch England 2 3 1 6 girl Evelin Henstman, the eventual Netherlands 2 2 2 6 winner, in the semi, but won 3/4 Belgium 2 1 1 4 play-off and so received a medal. France 4 1 1 2 Although Darryl Meredith (under 14) France North 2 1 0 1 2 and Tracy Bloor (under 10) did not France North 1 0 1 1 2 get through the groups, they will Italy 0 1 1 2 have gained more experience on Peniel Academy 1 0 0 1 their first visits abroad. Debbie " Luxemburg 0 0 0 0 PAGE 2 Editor's Player of the Month Note TABLE TENNIS NEWS GREAT! Great! Great! That was May/June 1992 Lisa Lomas, when she won the Issue 207 The official magazine of Silver Medal at the European The English Table Tennis Championships in the Women's Association Singles, whilst England's men also put on a fantastic display to Third Floor, Queensbury House, win the Silver Medal in the team Havelock Road, Hastings. TN34 event. IHF Tel: 0424 722525 Fax: 0424 This issue of Table Tennis 422103 News heralds the news that we President J A Leach MBE will be staging the next Europe­ ans at the fabulous NIA Centre, Chairman A E Ransome in Birmingham, in 1994 (see England's Lisa Lomas who won a European Silver Chairman's Report). Editor John F A Wood The other great European Editorial Office: medal in Stuttgart news is that our juniors won 5 The Brackens, three gold medals at the Bernard Hemel Hempstead, Jeu European Challenge in Herts. HP2 5JA France in May. Tel/Fax: 0442 244547 Our three young gladiators AdvertisementOffices: were Scott Friday, Ali Subhan Jim Beckley, Sports PR and Vincent Avery. POBox 8, Cheadle Hulme, Well done lads! England has Cheadle, Cheshire. SK8 7RG a bright future in World table Tel: 061-488 4002 tennis with the likes of these three. Table Tennis News Sadly, as this season comes is published 8 times a year to a close, Table Tennis News August/September to May/June will be losing its British League Subscription rates - £11.20 correspondant Mike Loveder. On £16.32 Europe & Irish Republic behalf of this magazine I would £21.36 Sea Mail/£23.04 Air Mail like to thank Mike for all his past services to table tennis. Photographers: This issue sees a new regular Manfred Shilling, Brian Webster, page for 'Wheelchair Table Geoff Twiss and John Wood Tennis' commence, written by Subscriptions and distributions: David Russell. Bethan Davies 1::~~M~~~§\tf~§~~~~~:sP~~1~:~~l'tl!lm~\~~:,;!;;:~];;~;:tl;,~il ETTA, Third Floor, Queensbury House, Havelock Road, HASTINGS. Tel: 0424 722525 ]i~~f~~ml~i~i~~J~~~~{ijt~;~;~·:;i Printed by: E.W. Publicity Limited, 15 King Street West, Stockport,Cheshire. SK30DT Unsolicited articles are welcome for possible publication, but the publishers will accept no responsibility for return of David Russell manuscripls and/or photographs. Whilst every effort is taken to ensure reports and facls are correct at the time of going to press, no responsibility will be accepted by 'Vetts Voice' has a new the Publishers should errors be published, either for errors or matters arising as a writer, Paolo Beck, who writes result. under the name of just 'Paolo'. The views expressed in Table Tennis Have a great summer. News are those of the contributors and are not necessarily official ETIA policy. Similarly TIN accepls advertisemenls in John F.A. Wood good faith, but C3IUl0t accept responsibility for the goods or services described in advertisemenls. If you have any queries these should be addressed directly to the NEXT ISSUE TABLE TENNIS advertiser. No part of this magazine may be NEWS 1992 reproduced without written pennission * Report on the Halex/ETTA Publishing date: from the publishers. Under 10, 11, 12, 18 & 21 Front cover: The European AUGUST/SEPTEMBER Women's singles silver medallist.