There is no such thing as “close season” at the New Milton Table Tennis Club as practice nights continue throughout the summer at the Grange School, Somerford and the club is involved in two “Summer Pairs” competitions. In addition to its own tournament, for the third consecutive year the club entered a team in the Merton Summer Pairs, held at the St. James Institute in Southbourne during May, June, July and August.

In table tennis terms a Pair is a 2-player team and this event was open to all table tennis players within the Bournemouth area. There were eight teams in total and each team was named after an English River. The team from New Milton was called the Hambles and finished the tournament in second place, receiving a runners-up cash prize. The Hambles comprised Bev Scott-Johns, Club Secretary and Shaun Newcomb, Club Development Officer who just happened to be the same pairing who won the event at their first attempt three years ago. Bev and Shaun played together in all fourteen of the Pairs matches and accumulated 153 points. They faced strong opposition which included players from Premier, First and Second Divisions of the Bournemouth League.

The event was won by a Merton team, the Cams with 175 points, and another Merton team, the Bournes came third with 131 points.

Bev and Shaun are pictured below, with Bev clutching the spoils.