The Wellington Open is August 11/12 but TTW will be hosting a non-rating Open tournament in May: the 2012 TTSports Wellington Autumn Open this will be held on May 19-20. Paul Solt will be the Tournament Manager and the tournament will be sponsored by local table tennis equipment supplier TTSports. Volunteers to help out with running this (or general enquries) please contact Paul (tournament [at] ttwellington.org.nz).
This is the latest player profile from Malcolm Wong:
Brian Hearfield in 2011In 1950 Brian (then 15 years old) joined the Technical Table Tennis Club in Wellington. There were 2 tables in the Technical Old Students Tennis Pavilion in Taranaki Street, which is today occupied by Massey University. On Sundays Brian would often play from noon to late at night. He recalled that players had to prove they were a certain standard to join the club. There was a limit on the membership and good players were asked to join the club, rather than the other way around.
The Technical Club was formed in 1936. The Club has won 32 Wellington interclub titles including 6 A Grade (1939-41, 1943-44 & 1946). The A Grade team included Frank Mooney, Wellington’s top ranked man (1943) who was also a wicket keeper in the NZ Cricket Team (1949-54). The W M Jackson Shield (Most interclub points) was won twice (1946 & 1977). The Sportswear Model Trophy (Highest point average for 3 nominated teams from a club) was won 6 times (1974, 1977, 1981, 1987, 1989 & 1990). The most interclub teams entered were 11 in 1971 & 1977.
Club members were involved in several notable achievements. Max Gosling was selected for the first ever NZ Team in a match against the touring Hungarian Team (1938). Eric Boniface was selected for the first NZ Team to travel overseas (1939). The team travelled to Australia for matches against state teams. John Crossley and John Stewart were in the first NZ Team at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary (1950). Crossley won the first international title by a New Zealander when he won the Scottish Open Men’s Singles held in Edinburgh (1950). Gosling (1939), Boniface (1940-41) and Crossley (1944) were ranked Number 1 in Wellington and all won the Wellington Open Men’s Singles. Crossley was North Island Men’s Singles Champion (1949).
29 New Zealand Open Titles were won. The first was achieved in 1940 when Dawn Croxton won the Women’s Doubles with Leonie Kennedy, and the Mixed Doubles with Max Gosling. This was the first year of the NZ Inter-Association Teams Championships and Wellington won both the Men’s and Women Teams Title. Club members representing Wellington were Max Gosling and Eric Boniface (Men) and Leonie Kennedy, Dawn Croxton and May Wareham (Women).
In 1950 Club members were in all 5 NZ Open individual finals. John Crossley lost to Bob Jackson (Auckland) in the Men’s Singles. John won the Men’s Doubles with Neville Brightwell (Canterbury). Margaret Hoar won the Women Singles, Woman Doubles with Thyra McGregor, and the Mixed Doubles with Owen Jaine (Auckland). As well, Murray Dunn won the NZ Under 16 Boys Singles that year. Murray was to win a record 9 Wellington Open Men’s Singles and also 4 NZ Men’s Singles (1960-63).
Margaret Hoar was the number 1 ranked Wellington and NZ Woman (1949-50) when she was at the Club. She was the Wellington, North Island and NZ Women’s Singles Champion in those years. Christine Beasley (nee McGregor) was the number 1 ranked Women for 7 consecutive years (1973-79) and won 10 Wellington Open titles including 5 Women’s Singles (1973-74, 1976-78). She was also an excellent tennis player and won the Wellington Tennis Open Women Singles (1979), achieving a unique tennis/table tennis double.
In 1967 the club moved to the Te Rama Tennis Pavilion in Kilbirnie when the Technical Tennis Pavilion had to make way for new buildings. In 1972 the club changed its name to Te Rama to meet city council requirements to stay at the site as the tennis club had folded up. In 1984 the club moved to the Kilbirnie Gym due to the Aqua Centre being built where the Tennis Pavilion was. In 1985 the club moved to St Giles Church Hall and later to the Newtown Stadium. A team was last entered in interclub in 2001.
Brian Hearfield started off in F Grade and was in C Grade the following year. He played mainly in B grade. He recalls filling in at A Grade interclub and playing Murray Dunn, Geoff Jennings, John Crossley, Ron Foster and Ivan Houghton. In 1956 at the Hutt Valley Open, Brian and Bill Stewart (both C Graders) upset Mike Beder/Stan Ferguson ( NZ Boys Doubles Champions 1955) to reach the quarter finals where they lost to the top seeds, Murray Dunn/John Crossley (NZ Men’s Doubles Champions 1954). Brian has been in 9 Technical/Te Rama winning winter interclub teams (See below).
A Reserve A Grade 1963 Brian Hearfield, Foon Chin, Thyra McGregor
B Grade 1966 Brian Hearfield, Jack Ngan, Diane Bates
1974 Brian Hearfield, Ray Bryan, Dawn Perks, Judy Sharman
1977 Brian Hearfield, D Hitchcock, Roger Watkin
1989 Brian Hearfield, Henry Anastasi, Malcolm Wong
1990 Brian Hearfield, Roger Watkin, Peter Wong
1993 Brian Hearfield, David Feist, Roger Watkin, Giles Moiser
C Grade 1959 Brian Hearfield, John Wilcox, Andy Curran
1986 Brian Hearfield. Malcolm Wong, Jeff Larsen, Olaf Leijon
Brian had the highest interclub average in B Grade (1990, 1991 & 1993). His best result was 37 wins from 39 matches (94.9%) in the B Grade (1985, 1990). He won the B Grade Singles (1966) and the B Grade Doubles with David Fry (1965) and Bruce Mills (1966). Brian represented Wellington in the annual match against Hutt Valley 7 times. C Grade (1959), B Grade (1965, 1966, 1974, 1989, 1990) and B/C Grade (1993). Wins were achieved in 1959 (7-5) 1965 (10-2) 1966 (9-3). He donated the Brian Hearfield Cup for the B Grade Singles at the Wellington Grade Championships. The first winner was fellow club member Henry Anastasi in 1989.
Brian has been Secretary, Treasurer and Club Captain for the Club. He served on the Wellington Committee (1962-77) and (1992-2009). He was a long serving member of the interclub subcommittee and chaired it when there were 167 interclub teams. Brian was the Secretary/Treasurer (1999-2001) and Secretary (2002-2009). He was a regular sight on night duty at interclub. Brian is a Life Member of the Te Rama Club (1980) and the Wellington Association (1994).
Brian played cricket for Institute Old Boys, Wellington South Institute, Technical College Old Boys and Onslow. His 1971-72 Onslow team included Trevor Mallard (Labour Member of Parliament since 1984 and former Minister (1999-2008). He was a batsman/wicket keeper with a highest score of 85 not out. Brian was in three winning teams: Technical College Old Boys 3B (1958/59); Technical College Old Boys 5th Grade (1960/61); and Onslow 3C (1972/73). The Onslow 3C Team also included a young Kevin Haines, the current TTW Treasurer.
Wellington Table Tennis Association AGM (1997) Brian Hearfield (Life Member and Committee), Paul Escott (Life Member and President), Malcolm Wong (Secretary/Treasurer) and Eric Tindill (Life Member, The first Treasurer 1933, Double All Black)Te Rama Club Championship (1999) Martin Young, Roger Watkin, Brian Hearfield, Malcolm Wong, John Lister and David Robinson.
Winter interclub dates are announced (see below) so talk to your club about getting into a team. There are multiple grades covering all levels of play.
All entries are through clubs (and you need to belong to yours) but I’m attaching the entry form here for your reference on the details:
Junior grade interclub starts two weeks after the Premier grade and runs on Wednesdays.
Interclub grades are called Premier grades and Junior grades. One difference this year for Premier grades is that the target for each Premier grade will be 6 teams per grade which means that there will be an extra fourth Premier grade. It means closer competition within each grade (and grades will be stronger overall) but also that many people will end up in a lower ‘named’ grade than last year but realize that a lot of people will be in the same situation and you will still be playing against five teams of similar ability.
I know that some like to play against players of much higher ability all the time but mathematics being what it is, the other side of that same coin is the other player playing against someone of a much lower ability. Reducing the team count in the grades keeps competition more even.
Timetable
May 3 Entries close for all Premier grades (May 25 for Junior grades)
May 8 Grading night if required
May 15 Premier 1 & 3 grades commence (Tuesdays)
May 16 Premier 2 & 4 grades commence (Wednesdays)
May 30/5 Junior Grade Commences
June 28 – July 16 School holidays (no interclub play, Junior Nationals)
July 17 Premier 1 & 3 grades continue
July 18 Premier 2 & 4 and Junior grades continue
Sept 11 Grade champs for Premier grades (1st vs. 2nd teams in each grade)
Venue & Start Time
All matches will be played at the Empire Stadium, Marine Parade, Petone. The stadium will be open from 6:30pm each interclub night and interclub matches are scheduled to start at 7:00pm for Premier and 6:45pm for Junior.
Format
3 player teams (an extra player can participate in doubles only)
Best of 5 matches
11-match format (3 singles each plus 2 doubles)
Points
2 points for a win
1 bonus point for teams losing 5-6
1 bonus point for teams winning a contest 10-1 or 11-0
For your interest I’m including some recent Empire Table Tennis Club news mostly copied from the newsletter that was recently emailed out (the full newsletter is here). Check out all the photos of Depak coaching in there too!
Movie Fundraiser
When: Tuesday 24th April, Light House Cinema, Petone at 8.00 pm (nibbles from 7.30)
ALERT: Empire Club Fundraiser – fancy a night out to see a cool romantic comedy and help Empire raise some money for their special building projects? The movie is Salmon fishing in the Yemen which sure sounds like something different! Check out a review.
A fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realise a sheik’s vision of bringing the
sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the
impossible possible.
Starring Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor and Kristin Scott Thomas.
Supper will be provided from 7.30 pm (movie @ 8pm) at the Light House, Petone. Tuesday 24th April.
Contact: Maggie 5899 140 (home) or 5704 820 (work) or maggie.dyer [at] paradise.net.nz to get your tickets ($20). Open to all.
Eddie Moore
Congratulations also to Eddie Moore, another long standing club member, for being selected to play for the NZ Veterans against the Australian Veterans at the NZ Open Veterans Championships in the Over 75s to be held in Palmerston North over Easter.
Bruce Connolly
Congratulations to Bruce Connolly, a long standing club member, for being selected to play for the NZ Veterans against the Australian Veterans at the NZ Open Veterans Championships in the Over 60s to be held in Palmerston North over Easter.
Empire Veterans Tournament
Saturday 24th of March saw 29 keen players at Empire for the annual tournament. The day was
enjoyed by all, some more than others as they took home a bit of wine! Thanks to Chris for all the
organising – you can see he did get some reward for his efforts….
Singles winner
Singles runner up
Doubles winners
Doubles runner ups
Over 60s
Chris Williams
Jim Jarmin
Chris Williams /
Nha Nguyen
Jim Jarmin / Richard Ammundsen
Over 50s
Lindsay Ward
Depak Patel
Depak Patel /
Lindsay Ward
Chris Talbot / Ian Talbot
Over 40s
Lindsay Ward
Depak Patel
Depak Patel / Raewyn Young
Chris Talbot / Ian Talbot
Women’s
Maggie Dyer
Nancy Chan
N/a
N/a
Empire Visit to Wanganui Table Tennis Club
There is a visit in the planning stages for Empire to visit Wanganui some time in late May. The
Feilding Club will be joining in so there will be the three clubs involved in the matches.
************** Update ******************
The Wanganui visit will be Sunday 27th May. The Feilding Club will also be joining the Empire TTC, so the three clubs will be involved in an afternoon of fun table tennis. Carpooling will be available from the ETTC clubrooms. Departing Empire 9 am to arrive Wanganui 12 noon (approx).
ETTC will reimburse petrol costs for vehicles used for carpooling. Lunch will be provided by the Wanganui Club with organised games starting after lunch.
If you are interested let Rose Douglas know (rose.douglas [at] darroch.co.nz) or fill in the clipboard left at the clubrooms before 17th May.
It will be good to have as many there as possible, all grades and standards welcome.
April 28 is the 2012 Wanganui Open, the entry form with details is here.
VENUE: Jubilee Table Tennis Stadium: London Street, Wanganui
Entries close P.M., MONDAY 23rd April 2012 with the Tournament Secretary, Table Tennis Wanganui, PO BOX 29. WAITOTARA 4549. (Phone 06 343 8497 or 06 346 5906) ( e-mail ttw [at] wnet.co.nz)
2012 Marlborough Open
May 12/13 is the 2012 Marlborough Open, the entry form with details is here.
To be held at the SIMCOX STADIUM, Batty’s Road, Springlands, Blenheim on Saturday 12th May and Sunday 13th May. Supported by The Redwood Trust.
Entries close on MONDAY 7 May 2012 with Chris Hood, 7 Brian Bary Street, Blenheim 7201. Entry fees with entry please. Maximum family fee of $70.00. Enquiries: hoodfamily [at] ihug.co.nz Phone (03) 578 8330 after 6.30pm or 027 782 6098 (anytime).
There were a bunch of players from Wellington competing in the NZ Veterans Tournament – the largest contingent in a long time and it sounds like a good time was held by all!
Wellington Team placings (full results are on the TTNZ site here):
Over 40 Women: 2nd to Wellington (Sabine Westenra, Raewyn Young)
Over 40 Men’s A Grade: 4th to Wellington 1 (Depak Patel, Lindsay Ward, Ian Talbot) 5th to Wellington 2 (Rob Chung, Keith Aldersley, Bryan McConnochie, Paul Solt)
Over 40 Men’s B Grade: 2nd to Wellington 3 (Martin Young, Harry Chen, John Gan)
Over 50 Men’s A Grade: 3rd to Wellington 1 (Lindsay Ward, Depak Patel) 4th to Wellington 3 (Ian Talbot, Chris Talbot)
Over 50 Men’s B Grade: 1st to Wellington 2 (Bryan McConnochie, John Gan) 3rd to Wellington 4 (Martin Young, Paul Solt)
Over 65 Men’s A Grade: 3rd to Wellington (Chris Williams, Bruce Connolly)
Over 70 Men’s B Grade: 3rd to Wellington (Eddie Moore, Merv Allardyce)
Over 75 Men: 4th to Wellington (Eddie Moore, Merv Allardyce)
Individual results are available through here, I’ve copied down the Wellington results here:
Over 40 Men’s Singles plate Winner: John Gan
Over 40 Women’s Singles Runner Up: Raewyn Young – lost 12-10 in 5th set after being 2-0 sets down
Over 40 Women’s Doubles Winner: Raewyn Young and Sabine Westenra (beat top seeds 3-0 in final)
Over 40 Mixed Doubles Winner: Sabine Westenra and Heath Murdoch
Over 50 Men’s Singles plate Winner: John Gan
Over 50 Men’s Singles plate Runner Up: Paul Solt
Over 60 Men’s Singles 3rd place: Bryan McConnochie
Over 65 Men’s singles plate winner: Bruce Connolly
Over 75 Men’s Singles plate Runner-up: Mervyn Allardyce
Congratulations to all players attending the National Vets tournament this year.
The full result spreadsheet is here: 2012 Summer Interclub 0404 Final. Refer to the spreadsheet for the details but the winning and runner-up teams in each grade were:
Grade A:
Winner: Belmont Blast (Heath Murdoch & Callum Rusbridge) 3-2 over Empire Amber (John Gan & Depak Patel).
(All the X position vs. X position section vs. section playoffs in grade A on the Finals night were 3-2 results!)
Grade B:
Winner: Empire Palladium (Chris Williams & Richard Dalziel/Bruce Connolly) 3-2 over Belmont Bumble Bees (Frank Fu & Hui-Ling Vong).
Grade C:
Winner: Belmont Bandits (Matt Gill & Ramnick Tiwana) 4-1 over Empire Silver (Vladimir Vysotskiy & Alex Safronov).
Looks like it was Belmont and Empire fighting it out in the top of every grade on finals night with Belmont taking 2 out of 3 grades.
Congratulations all winners and thanks to all for playing in the summer interclub competition. There is a break before winter interclub which typically starts later in May.
There are a couple of great new articles in the press this week on Hui-Ling Vong and also Abram Goh following their results recent ITTF Hopes event in Auckland.
First is one on Hui-Ling in The Wellingtonian: Hui-ling targets table tennis titles which has a nice photo. One of her goals is to be the best player at her club (Belmont) so watch out Belmont – oh wait, that means becoming the best player in Wellington so watch out everyone!
The other one is in the Hutt News: Belmont youngsters rise to top and talked about Hui-Ling and Abram. The classic quote from Stephen Hirst was: “She looked very annoyed with a bronze,” Hirst says !
Stephen Hirst organised and managed a group of juniors that went to the recent Inaugural TTNZ Hopes and Cadets Trials in Auckland on March 25. Results and pictures (click on the “Images” tab) are here.
Calm before the stormA few weeks ago, on Tuesday the 6th of March, 600 year five and six primary school students from the Wellington region attended the 9th Annual Pelorus Trust Stadium Sports Festival at Westpac Stadium. Thanks to coach Stephen Hirst and helpers (Rob Chung is in a picture below) table tennis was be one of the 18 sports involved.
Organised by Sport Wellington, the annual Pelorus Trust Stadium Sports Festival aims to expose primary school children to a variety of different sports. This year 54 schools applied to attend the event, of which only 20 spots were available. Given the delicate weather requirements of table tennis, outdoors was ruled out but thanks to Jamie Milne at Sport Wellington a place for table tennis was found within the concourse area (along with a couple of other similarly weather-sensitive sports).
While no doubt Stephen & co were run ragged by the end of the day, he reported the day as a great success and well worth the effort. They were able to distribute hundreds of leaflets listing the Wellington junior clubs to students and teachers and interest was high.
Coolmoves, the pros.One of the main hurdles was how to get tables from the Newtown stadium out to the Westpac stadium and back. Especially given that the Donic tables we have there need to be transported upright and in one piece. We owe many thanks to Coolmoves who were able to very professionally move eight tables to and from the Westpac stadium! Without Coolmoves we could not have been there.
The age range here parallels the primary/intermediate & junior club coaching program that Table Tennis Wellington has also been running with thanks to Pub Charity support. Stephen Hirst is also the coach for this program and has been able to reach many schools and junior clubs in the Wellington area. Programs like this and the stadium event help build the grass-roots base and feed into the junior clubs.
Table Tennis, everyone's favourite! Bats down, ready for the next group.
Now that it is April 2, I can add that the following is completely false! World #2 Liu Shiwen of China notices the scoreboard being turnedMalcolm pulled off quite a coup recently on one of this recent umpiring trips overseas. As reported by the Guangzhou Gazette, following a quarter-final match that Malcolm was umpiring, world women’s number 2 Liu Shiwen was impressed and approached him to ask about learning the art of umpiring in New Zealand.
Apparently Liu Shiwen has long had an interest in New Zealand since playing rugby for a Guangzhou local side and watching the All Blacks while growing up. After being umpired by Malcolm, Liu was reported as saying that she noted that he was able to stay awake for the entire match; turned the score cards with precision; and she was particularly impressed with the net measuring tool Malcolm deployed prior to the match starting.
After some discussion Liu has arranged to come to Wellington to learn umpiring and in return she will play with Malcolm Wong and Martin Young in Premier 1 this year under the revived banner of the Te Rama Club, though whether she will play one or both doubles matches is yet to be determined as Martin and Malcolm have been a pretty mean doubles combination in the past.
Next week (April 4) is the last week – summer interclub finals night with playoffs based on position as of now.
Results from 28/3 are here (open this to see who you are playing on 4/4): 2012 Summer Interclub 0328
Here are some recent pictures. Picasa 3 has added some new style options which I will now inflict on you…
Every year a winner is selected for the Mike Flynn Memorial Award. This is awarded to the most improved junior in Table Tennis Wellington for the previous year also including attitude, cooperation and respect for others. (According to the rules of this award, an individual can only win this award once.)
Here is the previous winner for 2010 Delano Lam (Waterloo Club) presented by TTW President Paul Solt: Delano Lam, 2010 Mike Flynn Memorial Award winner (right)
And the 2011 winner Gareth Telfer (Waterloo Club) with TTW President Paul Solt: Gareth Telfer, 2011 Mike Flynn Memorial Award winner (right)
Congratulations to our recent and all winners of this award and also Waterloo Club!
Here is the latest player profile from Malcolm Wong:
Eddie was born in Christchurch (1932). There was no organised sport during his time at primary school. In his secondary school days, at Christchurch Technical College, he excelled in football and cricket as well as playing table tennis for the Avonside Table Tennis Club from the age of 15 to 25. Eddie was in the first XI for both football and cricket. In football, as a centre forward, his outstanding performance in the South Island Schools Tournament (1949) resulted in him becoming selected as a South Island Schools representative. In cricket his rapid improvement lead him to be selected for the Canterbury Under 16 Boys team (1947) as a spin bowler, a team which included future NZ representative Murray Chapple (1953-66).
After Eddie left school, work and family took precedence over sport. In 1972 he moved to Wellington on a job transfer. When he retired at 60, Eddie was looking for a sport to play. He wanted to play tennis but there was no men at the local Midweek Club. A chance meeting with Ron Menchi lead to him joining the Empire Midweek Table Tennis Club (1992-93) where he became the Secretary. Eddie moved back down to Christchurch in 1993 and rejoined the Avonside Table Tennis Club. He immediately became the Secretary/Treasurer (1993-2003). He started up the Canterbury Midweek Table Tennis Club based on what he had seen at the Empire Midweek Club.
The then Canterbury Table Tennis Hall needed substantial repairs and planning permission for this would not be approved as it was in a residential area. Eddie with Keith Armstrong and Ron Fleming became involved in the purchase of the former Yates Seed Store(1999) for table tennis. They with Denver Glass, Neville Duggan and Brian Wilson were the driving force behind the conversion of the building into the current Table Tennis Canterbury Stadium (294 Blenheim Road), opening in early 2000. The six were presented with an appreciation medal by Table Tennis Canterbury. Eddie was further recognised for his endeavours by being made a Life Member of Table Tennis Canterbury and receiving a Summer Sports Award from Sport Canterbury in 2000. He was Table Tennis Canterbury Sportsperson of the Year (2002). Eddie returned to Wellington in 2003 and was responsible for running the Empire Midweek club, with Lois McStay, until 2009. He was awarded the Dick Gray Cup for Best Empire Club Member (2008) and the Empire Table Tennis Cup for Most Outstanding Performance(2009). There is a volunteer profile on Eddie in the Empire Spin Newsletter (August 2008).
Eddie soon made an impact in veterans table tennis. He was in the NZ Over 50 Men’s team to the Australian Veterans in Perth (1994). There he caused a hugh upset in a teams match by beating Ken Cole, who had just won the NZ Open Over 45 Men’s Singles. In 1999 Eddie was number 85 on the NZ Open Men’s rating list at the age of 67! In 2008 he won the NZ Open Over 70 Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles (with Lois McStay). Eddie has represented New Zealand four times in the Over 70 Men’s team in the test against Australia. He has won 12 individual NZ Veterans titles including the Over 70 Men’s Singles (2002) and the Over 75 Men’s Singles (2007 & 2009).
Eddie had an outstanding performance in the NZ Veterans Over 75 Men’s singles (2009). Eddie defeated the second seed, Geoff Nisbett, in the semi finals and then the top seed, Tony Herbert, in the final. Tony was then the current Australian Veterans Over 70 and 75 Men’s Singles Champion. Eddie continues to play table tennis at the Empire Midweek Club and hopes to play at the World Veteran’s Championships (2014) in Auckland.
Above: NZ Veterans Test Team (2008) for the match against Australia
Back Row (L/R): Christine Little, Sabine Westenra, Jim Jarmin, Eddie Moore, Fleming Alison, Lyndon White, Bill Stewart, Dave Scott, Bryan McConnochie.
Front Row (L/R): Pauline Bennyworth, Chip Eade, Lynnette Bellamy, Gerry Doyle, Alison Williamson, Lesley Gardner, Lindsay Ward, Raewyn Young.
Photo: TTNZ Archives
Three more weeks left, two more left of the teams round robin followed by the finals night on april 4. For A and B grades that will be section 1 vs section 2: 1v1, 2v2, … 5v5, for C it will be 1v2, 3v4, 5v6.
Round robins for all singles events; doubles events
1:00 – 3.00pm
Post section singles events; doubles continue
3:00 – 4:30pm
Semi finals and finals for all events
Information
1. Players may enter in up to two age groups but they must be consecutive, ie Over 40 and Over 50 or Over 50 and Over 60.
2. Ages are as at 31 December 2011.
3. Entry fee is $10 per player and can be paid on the day.
4. The organisers reserve the right to merge events, change the format or run consolation events, depending on the number of entries.
5. Entries close on Wednesday 21 March 2012 with Chris Williams on 04 527 8629 or williamsck [at] xtra.co.nz
Thanks to Malcolm Wong for another player profile! Depak Patel is a Empire Premier 1 player and a ITTF level 1 coach. He was born in the town of Pardi in the state of Gujarat (India). When he was 3 months old the family immigrated to England. After a 3 month journey by ship they settled in Leicester, the largest city in the East Midlands.
Depak played football (left winger) at school from age 10. Among his team mates was Winston White (right winger), who was to play professionally for Leicester and several other clubs (1976-93) making 529 appearances and scoring 61 goals. Playing for a rival school team was Gary Lineker (striker), who went on to played 80 times for England (48 goals). Depak was in the football team that were the Midlands Asian Students 5 a side Champions. He is a supporter of both Leicester City and Chelsea Football Teams.
Depak started playing table tennis at the local youth club at age 13. A teacher at his high school encouraged him to go to a Saturday coaching group. He joined Abbey Table Tennis Club and started off in Division 15 which his team won in his first season (1976). Depak progressed through to Division 4 before he moved to London. There he joined Ashford Table Tennis Club where he played Division 1 in 1988/89 and 1989/90. The Club won the British League (1988/89) with a team full of internationals including the Belgian, Jean-Michael Saive (The future European Men’s Singles Champion in1994 and World Number 1) and New Zealander Peter Jackson. Depak won the National Asian Students Table Tennis Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles in 1981 and 1984.
Depak also played cricket. He played for the Universal Cricket Club at 14 in the same team was his older brother. Depak was in the team that won the Leicester Liger Festival of Cricket Tournament (1976). His team included 4 Indian test players including Dilip Doshi who was a friend of his older brother in India. The other Indian test players were Ashok Mankad, Brijesh Patel and Madan Lal. The trophy was presented by Mushtaq Mohammad, the former Pakistan Cricket Captain. Depak’s best season was in 1990 for the Sunbury Village Cricket Club where he took the most wickets (75), had the most 5 wicket bags and had the most ‘Man of the Match’ awards during the season. Depak scored his only century (107 n.o.) when he carried the bat through out the innings for the Papatoetoe Cricket Club Presidents team (2000)
Depak moved to New Zealand in 1991 and has lived in Wellington and Auckland. Currently Depak plays and coaches at the Empire Club. He has won the Titan Club Singles twice (2007 & 2008) and the Empire Club Singles on 3 occasions (2004, 2009 & 2010). Depak was in the Wellington O45 Team that won the NZ Teams twice (2006 with Bryan McConnochie) and (2008 with Chris Talbot & Lindsay Ward). Depak was selected for the NZ Veterans team in the test against Australia (2007). He was the Captain of the NZ Over 50 Men’s Team at the Australian Veterans Tournament (2010). He has won 78 tournament titles including the North Island Over 40 Men’s Singles (2009). Depak said his best tournament wins were against Craig Dye and Thomas Samuelson. He is still very keen about playing table tennis and practises up to 4 times a week.
Table Tennis Wellington 