Enjoy the competition which starts this week and runs through until the school holidays.
If you’re not in a team yet contact your club contact to be a reserve player for your club or to get in for Series 2. Series 2 begins July 21/22 and is an opportunity for new teams to enter or to reform Series 1 teams.
This is a report from Malcolm Wong from the 2015 Oceania Hopes Challenge even held recently in Auckland.
This was held at the Cathay Pacific Auckland Table Tennis Stadium at 99a Gillies Avenue, Epsom, Auckland. There was a 4 day training camp during the week (7-10 April) with overseas and local coaches involved, headed by Dejan Papic (ITTF Education and Training Coordinator). This was followed by a tournament in the weekend (11-12 April). Results from the tournament are on the TTNZ site.
There were 10 boys and 10 girls participating. The only overseas players were one boy and girl from Australia and also New Caledonia. Malcolm Wong (Wellington) was the Referee for the tournament. There was a lack of qualified umpires with only one National Umpire, Robert Dunn, and two Junior Umpires, Neil Chen and Abel Mok, available. The tournament was run very efficiently and finished ahead of time. At the end of the tournament presentations were made to Dejan Papic and Malcolm Wong.
This tournament should be added on to the Oceania Junior and Cadet Open. This would result on more countries sending players to the Hope Challenge. Also this tournament clashed with the Oceania Cup. Cathy Gauthier (New Caledonia) was coaching at this tournament instead of defending her Pacific Cup Women Singles.
Thanks to Shane Warbrooke, Tournament Organiser and also CEO of the Auckland Table Tennis Association, for all his hard work for the tournament. Also thanks to all the people who volunteered their time to umpire. They are Rodney Bygrave, Judy Hinton, Kerry McGeehan, Abel Mok, Dave Little, Eugene Wong (Session 1 Sat 10am- 1pm), Wang Leung Chan, Neil Chen, Martin Lee, Abel Mok, Kevin Wu (Session 2 Sat 2pm-4pm), Neil Chen, Robert Dunn, Ebi Kleiser, Martin Lee, Pat Low, Kerry McGeehan (Session 3 Sun 10am -1.30pm).
Dejan Papic (ITTF Coach), Malcolm Wong (Referee) and Shane Warbrooke (Organiser).Malcolm Wong (Referee) and some of the Umpires – Robert Dunn, Pat Low, Ebi Kleiser and Kerry McGeehan.Australian Team – Parleen Kaur, David Lowe (Coach), Isaiah Lee and Malcolm Wong (Referee).New Caledonia Team – Cathy Gauthier (Coach), Alexandre Faure, Lorie La and Malcolm Wong (Referee).Presentation to the Referee. Wayne Gear (Auckland Table Tennis Chairman), Malcolm Wong (Referee) and Shane Warbrooke (Auckland Table Tennis Chief Executive).
The 2015 Table Tennis Wellington Veterans Open Tournament is open to all-comers. If you turn 40 or more in 2015 then you are eligible – mark your calendar!
As this weekend’s weather reminds us, winter interclub season is upon us. Clubs are invited to submit entries for the 2015 Winter Interclub season – Series I. Teams come from clubs including composite teams from more than one club.
All the action starts in a few weeks so talk to your club interclub contacts to ensure you are on the team lists and have your up to date contact information.
Timetable – Series I & II
(assuming 6 team grades)
Tues 12 May Entries close for all grades To be advised Grading matches if required Tues 19 May Premier & Division 2 grades commence* Wed 20 May Division 1 & Division 3 grades commence* 6-17 July School holidays (no interclub play – North Island Champs being played) Tues 21 July Premier interclub recommences/Div 2 Grade Champs* Wed 22 July Div 1 & 3 Grade Champs* 28/29 July Remaining divisions of interclub recommence 8/9 September Final rounds will be played 15 September Finals night – all grades
NB: There will be no Premier Grade on 1 September due to the National Secondary Schools Champs
*Assuming three grades below Premier
Congratulations to Merv Allardyce and Eddie Moore in the O80s: Over 80 Men’s Doubles Silver Medalists Merv Allardyce and Eddie Moore. Eddie was also Over 80 Men’s Singles Silver Medalist.
Eddie Moore also was a Silver medallist in the O80s singles!
Wellington Medalist at 2015 NZ Veterans – Depak Patel, Lindsay Ward and Ian Talbot
In the individuals events, Lindsay Ward got Gold in the O60s and Bronze in the O50s.
Also a picture from the Bronze Medal playoff match – Wellington 3 New South Wales 1 (thanks to Malcolm Wong for sending in these pictures): L-R Lindsay Ward, Bryan McConnochie, Ian Talbot (Wellington) Shinji Hiraoka, Stephen Tai (New South Wales)
In the Teams, Depak Patel and John Gan won Silver in the Over 40 Men B group.
As in the picture below, Ian Talbot, Lindsay Ward, and Bryan McConnochie won Bronze in the O60 Men
The 2015 Marlborough Open Form is here: 2015 Marlborough Open Form – this is being held in Blenheim on May 9/10 with all details are in the form. Entries are due May 4.
The Autumn Open (a rating tournament) is upon us. Clear your calendar for the May 2/3 weekend and enter in as many events as you can. Tournaments are a great way to test your skills, watch, and learn. See you there!
(entry form updated April 17)
Businesses in Wellington are invited to submit entries for the 2015 SUMMER BUSINESS CLASS league being run on Tuesdays from 28th April to 26th May (held at the Newtown stadium).
The entry form is here: 2015-april-business-class-entry-form (or as a pdf). Please read this for the details. Entries are due Wednesday April 22 to Steve Montgomery (contact details in the entry form).
The Over 60s New Zealand team including Lindsay Ward beat Australia 3-2.
Likewise the Over 65s New Zealand team including Bryan McConnochie beat Australia 3-2 too!
In the domestic representative teams:
In the Over 60s Wellington won Bronze (Ian Talbot, Lindsay Ward, Bryan McConnochie)
In the Over 40s B-Grade Wellington won Silver (Depak Patel, John Gan)
Congratulations to the above and to all Wellington competitors!
Below is a picture taken by Reg Feuz of two of the old timers of TTW: Brian Hearfield and Bob Knight who hadn’t seen each other in years and had a great time catching up on Wednesday! Brian Hearfield and Bob Knight at TTW Summer Intercub
(C8H8)nFYI, a TTNZ article here describes the current state of play regarding the move from the current celluloid ball to the ‘plastic ball’ (for details see here & here):
From TTNZ:
INTRODUCTION OF PLASTIC BALL
Table Tennis New Zealand has just received our first supply of the new Stag 3 star Plastic Ball. All National Coaches, Associations, and all players representing New Zealand overseas in the 2015 season will be provided with a supply of the new plastic ball to trial. We would welcome feedback on the new ball.
The Stag 3 Star Celluloid ball currently used for all TTNZ tournaments will again be used for all TTNZ 2015 tournaments.
Once we have had the chance to assess the new ball, TTNZ will change to a Plastic Ball in the 2016 season for all TTNZ tournaments.
We should be able to get some plastic balls in during the year (some players have some already) to try out, watch this space…
Also here is a cover sheet for the Business House competition (posted earlier here) that is underway on Tuesdays @ Newtown. Business Class Summer League 2015
Table Tennis Wellington 