We are pleased to announce the:
Enter Online (or pdf / xlsx)
Conditions
Entries are due by Online Entry, email, phone 04 478 0841, or mailed
to PO Box 12-038 Wellington, to be received by 9pm Wednesday 25 July.
This will be held at the Empire Table Tennis Stadium.
Thanks also to Pub Charity and TTSports for their support.
Val Muirhead died at Waikanae at the age of 84. She was a former Epuni Club/Empire Club member and Hutt Valley Table Tennis Representative. Val was a Empire Club/Hutt Valley Association Committee Member and a Hutt Valley Life Member.
Val had a open attacking style. She joined the Empire Club in 1955 from the Epuni Club. Val was in the following Empire winning interclub teams. 1955 B Grade Team (with Ron Menchi, Murray Sherlock, R Inglis) and the 1960 A Reserve Team (with Merv Burns, Ron Menchi, John Ogilvie). She played Hutt Valley A Grade for the Empire Number 2 Team (1959-72) with her best result 50% in 1965 (18/36) and 1967 (12/24). At the Empire Club Val won the Best Sportsperson Award jointly with Eddie Harris (1958) and the Most Outstanding Performance (1959). At the Empire Club Championships Val won six Women Singles (1963, 1964, 1966, 1968-1970), nine Women Doubles (1958-62, 1967-68 with Joan Brown, 1963 & 1970 with Merle Harding) and four Mixed Doubles (1959, 1963-64 with Keith Pointon and 1970 with Hone Ridley).
As a junior Val won the 1950 Wellington Open Under 18 Girls Doubles with N A King (W). She was a Hutt Valley Women Team Representative (1956-71) to the NZ Championships. In most of these teams was Joan Brown (1953-62, 1964-65, 1967-72). Val won the 1958 Bush Open Women Singles and the 1963 Hutt Valley Closed Women Singles. In Women’s Doubles she won: six Hutt Valley Closed tournaments (1962,1964-65,1967, 1969 with Joan Brown, 1963 with R Bush); five Hutt Valley Opens with Joan Brown (1961,1965,1969), with Gwen Schneider (1963), with Jeanette Wilson (1967); four Wellington Opens with Joan Brown (1965, 1967-69); the 1971 Kapiti Open with Gillian Kemp; the 1967 Manawatu Open with Joan Brown; the 1959 Wairarapa Open with Mary Anderson; the 1964 Wanganui Open with Joan Brown. In Mixed Doubles Val won the Hutt Valley Closed twice (1963 with Peter McLauchlan and 1964 with Albert Roberts); the 1963 Bush Open and the Wairarapa Open with Geoff Jennings; the 1966 Hutt Valley Open with Denis Thorner. In 1963 Val played in the Australian Open.
1959 was Val’s best year. She was ranked Number 8 on the New Zealand Women’s Ranking List. She represented the North Island (with Barbara Packwood (Captain), Joan Brown, Neti Davis) against the South Island ( Pat Purdon (Captain),June Shadbolt, Thelma May, Pam Crowe ). Won 7-5 by the North Island. In the NZ Championships Val and Joan Brown were runner up in the Women Doubles to Mary Anderson (HV)/Val White 
21-12 15-21 21-8 17-21 21-19. In the North Island Championships Women Singles Val beat the seeded Pat Purdon (3rd round) and Mary Broadbent (Semi Finals) and was runner up to Joan Brown 21-14 21-14 10-21 21-11. Val and Joan Brown were runner up in the Women Doubles to Pat Purdon (C)/Pam Deans 11-21 21-16 22-20 21-19. In the Hawera Teams Tournament Empire Club (Joan Brown, Val Muirhead, Betty Gardner, Bev Christensen) beat Wanganui (Gwen Schneider, Cynthia Gifford-Moore, P Haywood, Joyce Williams) in the Women’s Final 6-4.
Val was on the Empire Club Management Committee (1957-72) and was one of the fifteen signatures when the Club applied to be an Incorporated Society in 1961. The Certificate of Incorporation was registered on December 19, 1961. She was also on the Hutt Valley Table Tennis Association Executive Committee. The Empire Golden Jubilee Book said she served for 20 years on the Hutt Valley Committee. In 1965 history was made when the Hutt Valley Association appointed her as its sole selector. The first time a woman has held that position. Hutt Valley beat Wellington 21-7 to win the Jack Croudis Memorial Shield and Canterbury to win the Brightwell Trophy to win both matches for the first time in the same year. She was elected a Hutt Valley Association Life Member and became a Table Tennis Wellington Life Member when the Wellington Association and the Hutt Valley Association merged in 2002. She was also on the NZ Executive Committee (1971-72). Val also served on the 1980 NZ Championship Committee.
Information for the article was provide from the Alexander Turnbull Library, Val Darroch, Empire Table Tennis Club Annual Reports, Empire Club Golden Jubilee Book (1934-1984), Empire Club website, Table Tennis NZ website and Wellington Table Tennis Association Annual Reports. Unfortunately I have been unable to locate Hutt Valley Table Tennis Association Reports for this period. Also some Empire Club Annual Reports were missing (1934-36, 1939-45, 1954,1955,1970). No information was founded from her time at the Epuni Club.
Malcolm Wong
Mark Nalder/Malcolm Wong won the Over 60 Men’s Doubles defeating Pietro Cannata/Gary Basher (N) 3-0 (11-7 11-5 11-5) and the Over 50 Men’s Doubles defeating Warren Haszard (Marlborough)/Derek Partridge (C) 3-1 (14-12 12-14 11-5 11-8). It brings their doubles titles together to 22.
In the Over 40 events Daniel Astle (N) won 3 titles. The Singles defeating Paul Op den Buysch (N) 3-0 (11-7 11-5 11-7). The Men’s Doubles with Phil Osborne (N) defeating Paul Op den Buysch (N)/Derek Partridge (C) 3-1 (6-11 11-9 11-7 11-5). The Mixed Doubles with Mimi Walle (C) defeating Warren Haszard/Marion Wood (ML) 3-0.
A combined Women’s Over 40/50 Singles resulted in 1st Mimi Walle, 2nd Glenda Ferguson and 3rd Marion Wood.
In the Second Grade David Walle (C) won 3 titles. He defeated Jay Zhu (C) 3-0 (11-4 11-5 11-6) in the Men’s Singles. With Allan Villar (N) they won the Men’s Doubles against Paul Op den Buysch/ Derek Partridge 3-1 (11-9 9-11 12-10 11-9). With Glenda Ferguson (N) they won the Mixed Doubles against Rob Honour /Megan Stratford (ML) 3-0 (11-5 11-4 11-9 ). The Women’s Singles was won by Glenda Ferguson from Marion Wood in a round robin. The Women’s Doubles was won by Vanessa Wood-Lin /Hannah Smit (ML) defeating Glenda Ferguson/Marion Wood 3-2 (11-8 11-6 8-11 3-11 11-7).
A report was in the Marlborough mid week paper and report sent to Table Tennis Nelson.
Open final results are listed below.
Men’s Singles – Nathan Watson (M) beat Daniel Astle (N) 4-1 (11-6 11- 7 12- 10 5-11 11-8).
Men’s Doubles – Daniel Astle/Paul Op den Buysch (N) beat David Walle/Jay Zhu (C) 3-2 (11-8 2-11 10-12 11-5 11-6).
Women’s Singles – Not held
Women’s Doubles – Mimi Walle (C)/Megan Stratford (ML) beat Jacqui Wood/Marion Wood (M) 3-0 (11-6 11-4 11-8).
Mixed Doubles – David Walle/Mimi Walle (C) beat Daniel Astle (N)/Marion Wood (ML) 3-0 (11-6 11-6 15-13).
Thanks to Chris Hood and Debbie Stratford from the Marlborough Association who have run the tournament for many years. Chris was the 1984 Marlborough Open Men’s Singles Champion. He became a Table Tennis Marlborough Committee Member (1982) and has been Secretary since 2009. Chris has been on the Committee for 34 years. He had 4 years off late 1990s-2000s).
Debbie Stratford (nee Looms) was on the Table Tennis Marlborough Committee prior to Chris Hood. Debbie had a break when she had her 2 daughter and may have been on the committee for nearly 40 years.
Debbie Stratford has won 7 Marlborough Open Women’s Singles (1975-1981), 9 Women’s Doubles (1972-74 with Christine Cootes (ML), 1975-76 with Stephanie Bing (ML), 1978 with Ruth Lee (HV), 1979-80 with Julie Dawkins (ML), 1981 with Janet Johnson (ML)) and 2 Mixed Doubles (1978 with Wayne Adamson (C), 1979 with Michael Hamel (C).
Debbie won the 1981 North Island Women Singles and 5 North Island Junior Titles. The 1977 Under 18 Girls Singles, 2 Under 18 Girls Doubles (1976 with Stephanie Bing (ML), 1977 with Ruth Lee (HV) ), and the 2 Under 18 Mixed Doubles (1976-77 with Stuart Armstrong (C).
In the South Island Championships Debbie won 4 Women Singles (1978-81), 4 Women Doubles (1978-81 with Jan Morris (C) and the 1981 Mixed Doubles with Michael Hamel.
She won 16 South Island Junior Titles. 3 Under 18 Girls Singles (1975-77), 3 Under 18 Girls Doubles (1975 with Stephanie Bing (ML), 1976 with Mary-Jane Gardiner (ML) and 1977 with Ruth Lee (HV). 3 Under 18 Mixed Doubles with Stuart Armstrong (C). 2 Under 16 Girls Singles (1973 & 1975), 3 Under 16 Girls Doubles ( 1973-74 with Stephanie Bing (ML), 1975 with Katherine Bing (ML)), and 2 Under 16 Mixed Doubles (1974-75 with Stuart Armstrong (C).
Debbie was twice runner up the NZ Women Singles (1978 and 1981). She won the 1979 NZ Women’s Doubles (with Jan Morris (C)) and 7 NZ Junior Titles. The 1977 Under 18 Girls Singles, 2 Under 18 Girls Doubles (1972 with Linda Smith (BOP), 1977 with Ruth Lee (HV)), 1977 Under 18 Mixed Doubles (with Lloyd Richards (W), 1975 Under 16 Girls Singles, 1975 Girls Doubles (with Ruth Lee (HV)) and 1975 Mixed Doubles (with Stuart Armstrong (C).
Debbie was ranked 6 years in a row in the NZ Under 18 Girls Ranking List. She was 4th(1972-74), 2nd (1975), 3rd (1976) and 1st (1977). In the NZ Women Ranking List she was ranked 1976-81 and 1985. 7th (1976), 4th (1977, 1978, 1980) 2nd (1979), 1st (1981) and 3rd (1985). Debbie was 1975 Marlborough Sportsperson of the Year in recognition of her becoming the first Marlborough Player to win a individual NZ Table Tennis Title (Under 16 NZ Girls Singles). She was also 1975 NZ Junior of the Year.
In 1978 Debbie represented NZ at the first Oceania Championships (Individual events) held in Auckland and the Australian Open (Melbourne). She and Shelley Palmer were runner up the 1978 Oceania Women Doubles to Jan Morris and Angela Brackenridge. Debbie was in the 1979 NZ Invitation Team (with Jan Morris and Shelley Palmer) that defeated the touring NSW Women 5-4. Debbie was in the 1981 NZ Women’s Team (with Jan Morris (C), Angela Brackenridge (A) and Shelley Palmer (A)) at the NZ Summer Games in Auckland that finished 5th out of 6 teams. Debbie was selected for the 1982 Asian and Commonwealth Championships but withdrew because of a back injury. This injury caused Debbie to retire just as she was reaching her peak. She made a temporary cameback in 1985 and won 3 Titles at the Nelson Open. The Women Singles, Women Doubles with Sally McCulloch (ML) and Mixed Doubles with Jack Taylor (ML). Debbie also won the 1985 Wellington Open Women Singles and was runner up in the NZ Mixed Doubles with Barry Griffiths (Auckland).
– Malcolm Wong
This was the 71st NZ Chinese Sports Tournament which is held in Wellington (30 March – 2 April). The table tennis was held at the ASB Sports Centre in Kilbirnie on Friday afternoon (30 March) from 1pm to 5pm. There were 6 Donic tables from the Newtown Stadium and 2 Hart tables from the ASB Stadium. Robert Chung was the Tournament Controller. Only the Men’s Teams were held as there was not the 3 centres entry required to hold the Women’s and Mixed Teams. Wellington won the overall Trophy with 23 points (13 official) from Auckland 7 points (4 official).
There were 12 Men’s Teams from Auckland (2), Canterbury (1), Hawke’s Bay (1) and Wellington (8). In the main draw there had a knockout format (2 person team) with each player playing 1 singles and a doubles (3 matches). The top 4 seeds had a bye in the first round. In Round 2 Hawke’s Bay (4th seeds) lost to Wellington 6 by 2-1 when they lost the doubles 2-0 (11-4 11-5). Hawke’s Bay also lost in the First Round of the Second Round Consolation to Wellington 3 when they lost the doubles 3-2 (11-7 13-11 6-11 7-11
12-10)
The first round consolation (round robin) was won by Wellington 7 (Dave Chan, Peter Hewitt). The second round consolation (knockout) was won by Wellington 3 (Norman Chan, Jason Zhao). The losing semi finalist were Wellington 6 (Wai Chung, Phil Chin) and Auckland 1 (Xiao Jin, Sarwindar Sandhu).
The final was between Wellington 1 (Yang Low, Min Su) and Wellington 2 (Malcolm Wong, Martin Young). In the opening match Min Su beat Martin Young 3-2 (8-11 11-8 11-8 7-11 11-6). Then Yang Low defeated Malcolm Wong 3-0 (11-5 11-1 11-5). The doubles was won by Yang Low/Min Su 3-1 (11-9 11-5 6-11 11-5). A 3-0 win to Wellington 1 who received trophies for winning the tournament.
Thanks to the organisers, Robert Chung, Malcolm Wong and Lisa Yue. Also thanks to Martin Young who transported barriers and flip charts from the Empire Club. There were 6 tables, barriers, flip charts and stands for the flip charts from the Newtown Stadium. Members from the Tournament Committee with Robert Chung and Malcolm Wong were involved in setting up the table tennis area on Thursday night (29 March). These people with Martin Young helped to dismantle the area at the end of the tournament.
| Seeds | Teams | Players |
| 1 | Wellington 1 | Min Su, Yang Low |
| 2 | Auckland 1 | Xiao Jin, Sarwindar Sandhu |
| 3 | Wellington 2 |
Malcolm Wong, Martin Young) |
| 4 | Hawke’s Bay | Tony Law, Hayden Wong |
| 5 | Wellington 3 | Norman Chan, Jason Zhao |
| 6 | Wellington 4 | Stan Joe, Yiming Li |
| Auckland 2 | Kevin Chung, Peter Cheng | |
| Wellington 5 | Aaron Lan, Jordan Chan | |
| Wellington 6 | Wai Chung, Peter Chin | |
| Wellington 7 | Dave Chan, Peter Hewitt | |
| Wellington 8 | Owen Su, Tristan Tong | |
| Canterbury | Tony Ng, Phil Joe |
| Round 1 | Wgtn 3 v Cant | 3-0 |
| Wgtn 6 v Auck 2 | 3-0 | |
| Wgtn 5 v Wgtn 7 |
3-0 |
|
| Wgtn 4 v Wgtn 8 | 2-1, Owen Su (Wgtn 8) beat Stan Joe | |
| Round 2 | Wgtn 1 v Wgtn 3 | 3-0 |
| Wgtn 6 v HB | 2-1, Wai Chung (Wgtn 6) beat Hayden Wong | |
| Wgtn 2 v Wgtn 5 | 3-0 | |
| Auck 1 v Wgtn 4 | 2-1 | |
| Semi Finals | Wgtn 1 v Wgtn 6 | 3-0 |
| Wgtn 2 v Auck 1 | 2-1, Xiao Jin (Auck 1) beat Martin Young | |
| Final | Wgtn 1 v Wgtn 2 | 3-0 |
| Third Place | Wgtn 6 v Auck 1 | 2-1 |
| Round 1 | Wgtn 7 v Cant | 2-1 |
| Wgtn 8 v Auck 2 | 3-0 | |
| Round 2 | Wgtn 7 v Auck 2 | 3-0 |
| Cant v Wgtn 8 | 3-0, default | |
| Round 3 | Wgtn 7 v Wgtn 8 | 3-0, default |
| Cant v Auck 2 | 3-0 |
1st – Wellington 7
2nd – Canterbury
3rd – Wellington 8
4th – Auckland 2
| Round 1 | Wgtn 3 v HB | 2-1, Norman Chan (Wgtn 3) beat Tony Law |
| Wgtn 4 v Wgtn 5 | 3-0 | |
| Final | Wgtn 3 v Wgtn 4 | 3-0 |
