The Harvest Moon seemed to split September from sunshine and blue skies to rain, rain and more rain. I hope that you have not been disrupted by the recent flooding.
As ever there is exciting table tennis happening across the South West and many of you have been working hard to get activities back up to full speed.
Here are a few things that have been happening that I am aware of. If you have stories, ideas or events that you would like to share please send them through.
Plymouth Joola start the Season at 100 mph
Paul Whiting, Graham Pearson and the team at Plymouth Joola have started the 2024 / 25 season at full throttle, hosting the TTE Junior Nationals Series on 24th & 26th August and launching their expanded schools programme.
The new schools programme will work with Girls Secondary Schools to recruit players and set up a satellite club. The ambitious project is funded by the Samworth Brothers and money raised locally. As part of the schools programme, Paul has already run a festival, introducing 50 children to their 1st fun competition. More on this to come in the future.
For more details of the Junior Nationals Series visit the Plymouth Joola website or follow them on Facebook
Photo Credit: Plymouth Joola
Coaches Networking Meeting in Gloucestershire
Many of the great and the good of the Gloucestershire Table Tennis Community gathered at a the first Gloucestershire Coaches networking evening organised by Cliff Jordan of Nailsworth Phoenix TTC and Jim Hurford of Stroud TTC. Sixteen coaches reflected on many years of building school clubs links, afterschool and satellite clubs, where the potential developments were. An already collaborative group, discussed ways they can support each other more, succession planning and the future.
In attendance were newly qualified level 1 coaches to experienced coaches close to retirement. Everyone had an equal voice. One coach commented that in 30 years of coaching he had never sat in this kind of meeting before. Everyone made a commitment to meet again in December to look at how the network could be developed.
Our Active Community – Working with Mencap in St Austell
Mencap advocate for and support people with a Learning Disability have a new project funded by Sport England called Our Active Community. It focusses on 9 areas across the country. The only one within the South West is St Austell.
Tying in with the Table Tennis for Good Project run by St Austell Table Tennis Club, Craig Mehew has been working with the Local Manager Chris Ballet on an outreach programme. The programme involves coaching in the day centres and a Halloween Festival at the Cornwall Table Tennis Centre.
I attended a consultation event in St Austell Town centre hosted by Mencap, where around 60 people with a learning disability, support workers and activity providers met. There were innovative ways of capturing ideas and opinions and Chris Ballet introduced a new grant fund which provides seed funding.
St Austell also hosted a Women’s Table Tennis session and you can read more about that here
Launch of the Cheltenham TTC Programme for Future Paralympians
The new programme to recruit and coach future Paralympians started this week. Funded by Para Table Tennis, Nick Davidson and Cheltenham Table Tennis Club are inviting new players and existing players. Link to more information
Looking to the Future
Table Tennis Courses
Where would we be without umpires and officials?
8 people attended the Umpiring Course held in September in Cornwall. Congratulations to those who attended, I cannot wait to see you in action.
There are further courses throughout the country over autumn and Chris Newton is already planning for next year. So if you are interested in hosting or attending a course please let me know.
Where would we be without Tournament Organisers?
The South West is very well represented on the online Tournament Organiser course starting on Monday. I am in attendance too and I am already thinking about how I can put my new found knowledge to good use.
South West Squad Training Days
Further to recent communications Nick Davidson and Chris Price have been looking at running South West Area Training Camps. Taking lessons of the previous Regional Squads. After discussions with each county, the intention is to run a pilot season with sessions spread out across the area and counties nominating players to attend.
This programme is in its infancy and we are looking for venues, coaches and feedback. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss more about the training days.
If you are interested in any of the articles or have a story photo or film you would like to be promoted please get in touch.