It’s been a slightly quieter month on the surface, but behind the scenes there’s been a great deal going on across the South West table tennis landscape. Like many of you, I’ve been focused on the back office side of things — reviewing programmes, developing projects, and preparing for the 2025/26 season.
Much of my recent time has been spent planning events, shaping partnerships, and supporting clubs and coaches — laying the foundations for what promises to be a really positive and purposeful season ahead.
One particularly exciting development is the TT4Good project in South Cornwall (see our recent News Article) . This innovative collaboration is bringing sports psychology and table tennis together to support young people’s mental health. It’s one of several partnerships taking shape that highlight how versatile and impactful our sport can be when it connects with wider community priorities.
And there’s plenty to look forward to:
Watch this space for a South West Q&A session with Evie Collier, our newly appointed Coach Learning and Development Manager. This will be a great opportunity for coaches to hear about her plans, ask questions, and contribute to shaping future support.
I met with Emma Vickers the Head of Pathway to discuss Talent Identification and Development in the South West, where players are a distance from the Player Development Centre in Plymouth. Looking at potential opportunities to run outreach activities.
We’ll also be hosting an interactive funding workshop for clubs, aimed at turning great ideas into real projects — including guidance on accessing local and national funding opportunities.
Plus, we’re working on a South West Competitions Calendar to help players and clubs better plan their season, with a focus on local, inclusive and development-friendly events.
International Representation
A huge congratulations to Jakub Piwowar, Kacper Piwowar, Jake Davidson and Alyssa Nguyen from the South West, who represented England at the European Youth Championships this past weekend.
Although there were no medals this time, the experience will be invaluable — and it’s another important step in their development. These are players putting in the work on and off the table, and their progress is something we’re incredibly proud of.
Their selection is a testament not just to their commitment, but to the coaches, clubs, and families who support them week in, week out. It’s fantastic to see the South West so well represented on the international stage — and we’ll be following their journeys closely.
Follow the link for more and the results.
Upcoming Course
TO2 – Online Tournament Organiser in November
17th November and 1st December 6pm to 8pm [£35]
If your Club or League wishes to run ranked Tournaments or if you know someone who would like to develop understanding of running tournaments.