It’s on Alexandra Rd, Newtown, Wellington and while there are no street numbers the building appears nestled in the bush – you won’t see much of the building driving by except for a street sign and a car park on each side of the road:
Newtown stadium street sign
How to get there? If driving turn up Alexandra Rd from Constable St and the stadium will be on the left shortly after the tennis, running,and croquet clubs with a parking lot above it and also on the other side of the road.
If walking or biking from the city, Mein St is a more direct access and has a path at the end leading up to the southern (rear) of the stadium (the door is on the Northern side).
Ian and Chris Talbot, two well known Empire Premier 1 players, come from a table tennis family. The father, Des, and all the six sons played. The boys started playing in primary school. Ian, Ross, Geoff and Chris won the Wellington Primary Schools Boys Singles Titles. Ross won the Primary Schools Singles three times and was only 9 years of age when he won for the first time in 1965. Ross won the Wellington Senior and Junior Secondary Schools Boys Singles in 1970.
Des Talbot took over the running of the Porirua Table Tennis Club. The family dominated the Club Singles Title. Des, won the title when it was first held in 1969, and also 1975. Ian won in 1970 and 1972-73. Ross won seven times,1971,1974,1977-78 and 1982-84. Murray won 1980-81. Chris won eight time, 1985-92. Only non family members to win were Tony Rutledge (1976) and Steve Corbett (1979). Chris Talbot still has the cup as the Porirua Club folded up after 1992.
The Talbot brothers had their own basketball team in the Porirua league, with Ross and Bryan the stars. Bryan went on to represent Porirua . Ian, Chris and Bryan have run marathons. Ian has run 20 marathons with a best time of 2 hours 29 minutes 16 seconds (London 1981). Ian has also run triathons and been on the Round Taupo Cycle Challenge (160 km) 3 times. Chris played senior cricket for North City and caught NZ opening batsman Bruce Edgar out.
Murray, Ian, Ross and Chris all represented Kapiti at the NZ Championships. Murray, Ross and Chris have all been the top ranked man in Kapiti. After the Kapiti Association folded up Ian and Chris joined the Empire Club. Chris has played Premier 1 since 1994 and Ian from 2000.They were in the Empire team that finished runner up in Premier 1 (2009). They have both won the Empire Club Singles. Chris 5 times (1999-2001, 2003, 2006) and Ian (2005). And together they have won the club doubles 10 times (1999-2006, 2009-2010).
Ian and Chris Talbot have represented New Zealand in the veterans table tennis test against Australia at Easter. Ian has won the NZ Over 45 Men’s Doubles twice, with Lindsay Ward (2003) and with his brother, Chris (2008). They have had much success in the NZ Masters Games in Wanganui. Ian has won 12 Gold Medals and Chris 10 Gold medals.
Congratulations to all interclub players, a great season all-round with some close results in the end leaving some results in the balance until the last night! Thanks to Stephen, Diane, Bruce, & Paul for their hard work in keeping the wheels rolling and the results posted.
Tuesday Sep 14: Premier 1, 2 and 3 Team Finals:
Prem 3 Final: Karori Kometz (winners of Series 2 round robin) v Empire Tsunami (on equal points with Empire Tornado but make the final on a count back by one game!).
Prem 2 Final: Waterloo Wizards (winners of Series 1 & Series 2 round robin) v Karori/Titan
Prem 1 Final: Waterloo Wasps (winners of Series 1 & Series 2 round robin) v Titan/Kapiti
Premier 2 & 3 Grade Championships:
Tuesday Sep 21, Premier 3 grade champs – open to all Premier 3 players (except the three main players in Empire Advancers promoted from Premier 3 to Premier 2 for Series 2).
Wednesday Sep 22 Premier 2 grade champs – open to all Premier 2 & 3 players (except the two players promoted from Premier 2 to Premier 1 for Series 2).
The Empire Table Tennis Stadium opens at 6:30pm in each case, matches start 7pm.
