Category Archives: 1. News
General club and site news
HONOURS EVEN IN NEW MILTON DERBY (WEEK 1 RESULTS)
The New Milton Table Tennis Club had a less than auspicious start in the opening week of the Bournemouth and District league as they only managed two wins out of their eight matches.
The fiercely contested local derby came in Div 4 down at the Grange School, Somerford as the H team slugged it out with their club mates in the G team. Promising new signing Graham Underwood got his G team off to a good start by beating home-comer Dave Strike 3-0 and went on to score a maiden hat-trick. At the end, the H team needed the doubles to clinch victory but the Gees weren’t having any as Underwood & Eddie Tompkins beat the H’s Lynn Willrich & Elliott Storr-Smith in three straight sets to level things off at 5-5.
The club’s more emphatic win came from the F team in Div 4 as they beat Bmth Sports F 8-2 down at Mudeford Wood courtesy of hat-tricks from Ian Linney (pictured below) and Mike Roberts and a brace from Sylvia Smith.
In Div 5, the J team (Geoff Biggs, Keith Kensley & Malcolm Douglas) travelled to Southbourne and beat Merton L 6-4. With the match poised at 4-4, Kensley stepped up and played the perfect blend of tactics and fearless aggression to frustrate Merton’s Dougie Grieve to win in three straight sets. Kensley carried this on to the doubles, combining with captain Douglas to secure a hard fought 6-4 victory.
Full results details are below:-
PREMIER
Winton YMCA A 7 New Milton B 3
(Brian Bickell 0, Shaun Newcomb 0, John Hook 2)
DIVISION 1
New Milton C 3 Merton D 7
(Matt Winter 0, Simon Daish 1, Frank Handy 2)
New Milton D 3 Lynwood A 7
(Terry Jenvey 0, Chris Pusey 0, David Cuddon 0)
DIVISION 2
Bmth Sports F 7 New Milton E 3
(Peter Daish 2, Bev Scott-Johns 1, Paul Nelson 0)
DIVISION 4
New Milton F 8 Bmth Sports L 2
(Sylvia Smith 2, Ian Linney 3, Mike Roberts 3)
New Milton H 5 New Milton G 5
(H Team: Dave Strike 2, Elliott Storr-Smith 2, Lynn Willrich 1)
(G Team: Graham Underwood 3, George Roberts 0, Eddie Tompkins 1)
DIVISION 5
Merton L 4 New Milton J 6
(Geoff Biggs 1, Keith Kensley 2, Malcolm Douglas 2)
Winton YMCA D 9 New Milton K 1
(Stuart Burton 0, John Parkhouse 0, James Harper 0)
The club is always on the lookout for more members, ranging from experienced players to absolute beginners. Club nights are on Sundays and Thursday at the Grange School Somerford and the first session is free. Anybody interested should call Club Secretary Bev Scott-Johns (01425 619552 or simply turn up on the night where you will be made to feel most welcome. The club has a prestigious PremierClub 4 Star Rating and is also an “Ability Club” (actively working with disabled people).
VIKINGS BLAZE THE TRAIL IN SUMMER LEAGUE!
This summer marks the third consecutive year that the New Milton Table Tennis Club has run a Summer Pairs competition. This competition caters for an increasing number of club members who just can’t put their racket away for what is sometimes loosely known as the “close season”.
As the name of the competition would suggest, there are two players per team, although a third member of the squad could play in the doubles, making four singles and one doubles per match. The format is the same as the winter league with matches being best of 5 sets of 11 up. Unlike the league matches however, one point is awarded for each set won, with a maximum possible score per team of 15 points. The aim is to combine a higher division player with a lower division player but this is not always possible.
This year the competition comprises 7 teams (Airmen, Marines, Romans, Sailors, Soldiers, Saxons & Vikings) and takes place over 14 weeks, with all matches being played down at the Mudeford Wood Community Centre. At the halfway stage, with 7 matches played, the Vikings (John Millward, Mike Roberts, Elliott Storr-Smith, Eddie Tompkins & Geoff Ware) are top of the table, with the Airmen flying closely on their tail in second place.
Team Played Sets Won Sets Lost Points
Vikings 7 74 30 74
Airmen 7 69 35 69
Soldiers 7 54 53 54
Romans 7 51 57 51
Sailors 7 48 53 48
Marines 7 40 68 40
Saxons 7 34 74 34
If anybody would like any further information about the club please contact Club Secretary Bev Scott-Johns on 01425 619552.
Report written by Bev Scott-Johns
SHAUN’S AN INSPIRATION – OFFICIAL!
New Milton Table Tennis Club’s only wheelchair player Shaun Newcomb was recently honoured by the Spinal Injuries Association with their Sports and Recreation Achievement Award. This award is presented to an individual who has provided inspiration to others through their outstanding sporting or recreational achievements.
Shaun is a full time wheelchair user, currently a UKCC Level 2 table tennis coach who is working towards completion of his UKCC Level 3 coaching qualification. While Shaun coaches all ages and abilities, he specialises in coaching athletes with a disability, working from beginner standard to Elite level. Shaun was selected to be the coach for the EAD (Elite Athletes with a Disability) at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, and in December 2013 he was the GB Team Manager and Head Coach at the World Championships for Players with Learning Disabilities (INAS) in Hong Kong. In August 2014 he was Team Manager and Head Coach at the World Junior Games at Stoke Mandeville where he also runs the Table Tennis event in the annual Inter Spinal Unit Games. Shaun works with the Table Tennis England Association as the South/South East Regional Disability Officer and runs table tennis sessions for rehabilitation in the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Injuries Centre in Salisbury. In addition, he also coaches at New Milton Table Tennis Club and with a Regional Disability Squad in Maidenhead. Shaun also just happens to be Vice President and Development Officer of the New Milton Club.
He was nominated by Table Tennis England’s South West Development Officer Lisa Williams for his work in coaching and inspiring disabled athletes, and he was short-listed to the final three for the Sport and Recreation Achievement Award. As a short-listed nominee, Shaun was invited to attend the “Rebuilding Lives” Awards Ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel where the awards were presented by Channel 4 Countdown’s Susie Dent.
Susie addressed guests at the beginning of the evening with words such as “passion” and “inspiration”, just two of the very fitting anagrams that she had found within the charity’s name. Passion and inspiration were evident by the bucket load as the 2015 winners were announced during the course of the evening.
A surprised and humbled Shaun said after the ceremony: “The Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) is a marvellous organisation whose strap-line is “Rebuilding Lives After Spinal Cord Injury”. Over the years the SIA have provided me with excellent support and invaluable information, and I became a life member soon after my injury. I am honoured to have been given their “Sports and Recreation Achievement Award”, when there are so many amazing people across the sporting spectrum, giving their time to inspire those with a spinal injury in sport”.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Shaun has been selected along with another colleague by the BTTAD (British Table Tennis Association for People With Disabilities) to undertake a course to become a Medical Classifier for table tennis. Currently there are no qualified classifiers in the UK so any new GB athletes have to travel abroad to be assessed and classified. Shaun will undertake the training in Vejle, Denmark in early October, adding yet another string to his multi-faceted bow.
NMTTC GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH!
The New Milton Table Tennis Club recently held their combined AGM/Presentation Evening down at the Mudeford Wood Community Centre at which Secretary Bev Scott-Johns hailed the past season as probably the best ever for the club.
Out of 10 teams entered in the Bournemouth and District League, two gained promotion having won their respective divisions, ie New Milton E (Div 2) and New Milton G (Div 3). The B team were unlucky not to win promotion to the Premier League having been pipped to the post by Bournemouth Sports D on games difference to end up in third place. Unfortunately two teams were relegated, the F team from Div 4 and the C team from Div 1. The D and G teams reached the semi-finals of the Times & Directory Handicap Plate competition with the D team going on to win the Plate.
Bev reported several successes in the Bournemouth and District Annual Individual Championships. Fourteen year old Matthew Daish came away with three titles, the Premier, Junior Under 15 and Junior Under 18, and at the other end of the age spectrum, England Veteran Brian Bickell won the Vets 70+ title. Julie Smillie won the Ladies Singles and joined with Shaun Newcomb to take the Mixed Doubles title. Another fourteen year old, Kai Major was awarded the prestigious David Woodcock Trophy for the Most Improved Player in the league.
Bev hailed the move to the Dorset Table Tennis Centre (Grange School, Somerford) as a great success and pointed out that a number of new members has been attracted to the enhanced facilities. The club moved to the Grange from Sway Village Hall and Arnewood School at the start of the season, but continues to use the Mudeford Wood Community Centre for League Matches, Club Tournaments and occasional Club Nights.
Club Treasurer Malcolm Floyd presented the annual accounts which showed the club to be in a very healthy financial position. This meant that the fees did not need to be increased for next season despite the BDTTA increasing their team registration fees.
The club’s officers were re-elected unopposed en bloc: Chair: Steve Hemmings, Vice Chair: Andrew Daish, Secretary: Bev Scott-Johns, Treasurer: Malcolm Floyd, Development Officer: Shaun Newcomb. Coaching & Welfare Officer Julie Smillie stood down after a number of year’s exemplary service and received an ovation. Peter Daish (Junior Representative) stood down from the committee but the slightly older John Parkhouse was voted in and joins existing members Frank Handy and Lynn Willrich (Minute Secretary).
With the official business out of the way, Club Vice-President & Development Officer and Past Chair Shaun Newcomb presented the club’s annual trophies, ably assisted by Club Chair Steve Hemmings. After presentation of the annual tournament trophies (full listing below), the winners of the two annual discretionary trophies were announced. The James Lewis Shield for Most Improved Player went to Danny Williams by unanimous decision of the Management Committee. Danny showed that this award is not the sole preserve of the youngsters as he is one of the club’s players of maturer years. Danny has been on a steadily upward curve since joining the club (he didn’t even want to play in the league to start with and had to be bullied into it!) and has worked his way up through the divisions. A tenacious hard bat specialist, he played up a division this year in Div 3 but still maintained his winning average of around 53% and helped his G team to win the Div 3 title. Unfortunately Danny wasn’t present on the night to receive his award so here is a picture of the man himself in action.
The remaining award was the Doris Marshall Memorial Plate for Club Person of the Year. Before announcing the winner, Shaun said that this is always a hard one to call as there are a number of very hard working committee members worthy of this award. However, again by a unanimous decision this accolade went to club chair Steve Hemmings this year. Steve only took over the chair from Shaun Newcomb this season but successfully led the club through its transition to the Grange and provided excellent leadership in his first year. A very busy man with heavy business and family commitments, he always finds the time for club business, and is very approachable.
Annual Tournament Trophies:-
Scratch Singles: Winner: Matthew Daish, Runner-up: Russell Wilson
Handicap Singles: Winner: Phil Daish-Handy, Runner-up: Zoltan Ordog
Ladies Handicap Singles: Winner: Julie Smillie, Runner-up: Sylvia Smith
Juniors (Under 18): Winner: Kai Major, Runner-up: Jared Schaller
Under 40s Handicap: Winner: Matthew Daish, Runner-up: Simon Daish
Vets Handicap: Winner: Russell Wilson, Runner-up: Steve Hemmings
Doubles: Winners: Sylvia Smith & Russell Wilson, Runners-up: Matthew Daish & John Parkhouse
Anybody interested in joining the club should contact Bev Scott-Johns on 01425 619552.
Meet New Milton’s Coaches
We are lucky as a club to have several qualified coaches. In case you haven’t met them here is an up to date list, including our two junior players, Andrew Stainton and Peter Daish, who have recently completed their Level 1 UKCC award.New Milton Table Tennis Club coaches page May 2015
DOUBLES DELIGHT FOR SYLVIA! (CLUB FINALS NIGHT)
The Annual Tournaments of the New Milton Table Tennis Club have been taking place over the past few weeks and culminated in the Grand Finals Night at the Grange School, Somerford. The irrepressible Sylvia Smith was not only out to defend her Ladies Singles title, but also to have another tilt at the Doubles title after coming runner-up last year with Gerard Redman.
The Handicap Ladies Singles was a repeat of last year’s final as Julie Smillie playing off +13 took on title holder Sylvia Smith (+20), but there was a different outcome this year. Smillie had learnt her lesson from last year’s defeat and started off on the front foot and played cannily to take Smith’s title in two straight ends 31-29, 31-27.
Smith had another crack at a title, this time by partnering Russell Wilson in the Handicap Doubles final against the intriguing combination of Matthew Daish & John Parkhouse. It is fair to say that Daish & Parkhouse never really got going, resulting in Smith & Wilson winning the first and second ends 31-23 to take the title.
In the Junior Final, new club member Jared Schaller from Winchester had the daunting task of facing Kai Major who had recently been voted Most Improved Player of the Year in the Bournemouth and District league. Major just nicked the first end 15-13 then won the second, another very tight match, by 11-9. Schaller was determined not to let Major have it all his own way and won the third 11-7, but Major came back to take the fourth end very comfortably 11-3 to win the title.
The Under 40 Handicap Final saw 19 year old Simon Daish (+15) take on younger brother by 5 years, Matthew playing off +4 reflecting his Premier league status. There was good attacking tennis from both players, but Matthew won in two straight sets 31-28, 31-24.
Next up was the Over 40 Handicap Final where club chairman Steve Hemmings playing off +6 faced homecoming club member Russell Wilson (+12). Hemmings, who came runner-up last year caught up at 15-15 in the first end to win it 31-25, but Wilson reversed the scoreline in the second end. Wilson was 21-11 up in the change-round in the third and final end and dominated to run out winner at 31-20.
Phil Daish-Handy was runner-up in the Handicap Singles last year but took this year’s title by default as opponent Zoltan Ordog had to withdraw due to injury.
The evening concluded with the showcase Open Singles final between last year’s runner-up Matthew Daish and Russell Wilson who was out for his third title of the evening. It was nip and tuck in the first end but Daish shaded it 11-9 and then won the second end more comfortably by 11-6. The third and final end was exhibition stuff with some superb attacking tennis but Daish clinched the title by winning 13-11.
Thanks to Club Secretary and Tournament Organiser Bev Scott-Johns for yet another set of very well organised and enjoyable tournaments. Bev is a Table Tennis England qualified Tournament Organiser and County Umpire, both skills being very much in evidence during the tournaments.
GLITTERING NIGHT FOR NMTTC (BDTTA PRESENTATION EVENING)
Twenty four members and guests of the New Milton Club attended the Bournemouth and District Table Tennis Association’s annual Presentation Evening at the Ocean View Hotel, Bournemouth and witnessed members picking up a multiplicity of awards, accolades and encomiums.
The awards were presented by Guest of Honour Harvey Webb, former National Events Manager for Table Tennis England and a former player in the Bournemouth and District League.
New Milton Club Secretary Bev Scott-Johns just had to be the proudest man in attendance as he led his G team up to collect their Div 3 championship trophies. It’s not very often that a full team is in attendance on the presentation evening but the G team (pictured below) had their full complement of Simon Golding, Simon Daish, Danny Williams, Clive Pitts, not forgetting captain Bev (in the middle), to revel in their spoils.
Bev trod a well-worn path up to the front to also collect trophies on behalf of fourteen year old wunderkind Kai Major who was unable to attend the event. In addition to helping his D team win the Times and Directory Handicap Plate Title, young Major had accrued runners-up trophies for the Bournemouth Handicap Singles and Junior Under 15 events in the annual tournaments. Major was also awarded the prestigious David Woodcock Trophy for Most Improved Player in the entire league.
The E team (pictured below) also turned up mob-handed to collect their Div 2 winners trophies, ie James Lewis, Gerard Redman, Frank Handy (captain), Andrew Daish and Peter Daish. The only player not in attendance was Bobo Jiang who works away and could only make two of the matches.
The only member of the D team to collect their Times and Directory Handicap Plate winners trophies was Chris Pusey as captain Terry Jenvey and Bob Fagan were also unable to attend.
Fourteen year old Matthew Daish had to make three trips up to the front to collect his Premier Individuals Trophy and the Junior Under 15 and Junior Under 18 winners trophies.
England Veteran Brian Bickell collected his Vet 60+ runner-up trophy then gingerly sped back to the front to pick up his Vet 70+ winners trophy. Bickell has been called up to play for the England Veterans Team in the Fifth International Championships for Veteran Societies in Leipzig on 17th to 19th July this year. The not-quite-so-old club chairman Steve Hemmings was also on hand to pick up his runner-up trophy for the Bournemouth Closed event.
It wasn’t all about the chaps however as Julie Smillie collected her Ladies Singles trophy then returned to the front with wheelchair-player Shaun Newcomb to pick up their Mixed Doubles winners trophies. Julie was accompanied on the night by proud husband Nigel and mum Pat who all won a prize in the raffle, much to the cries of “Fix!” from the other tables.
Also “mentioned in despatches” on the night was Club Treasurer and Press Secretary Malcolm Floyd who stepped down as League Results Secretary at the end of last season after eight years in post. In the Association’s newsletter, Chairman Phil Hadley said that Floyd’s contribution to the running of the league was immeasurable and helped enormously to the smooth running of the Association. Hadley also thanked Floyd for his contribution to the success of the newsletter.
Chairman Hadley also paid tribute to the New Milton K team who ended up at the foot of Div 5 this season having only won one of their matches. The accolade went “I would like to thank Miriam Mather, Stuart Burton, Richard Clampin, Andrew Stainton and Bill Collinge for sticking with us this season. Having won your second match of the season you might have expected to taste victory again! Nevertheless, you are as important to the Association as every other team. Without you and all the other players who are not due to receive a trophy or cup there would be no competition for the ones that have won something. So a sincere thanks to you”. A nice touch from the Chairman as it is usually only the winners who get the plaudits!
New Milton premier players Phil Daish-Handy, Matthew Daish and Brian Vibert also played for the Waterside team who were crowned as champions of Div 5 South in the British League.
Shaun Newcomb also got a mention for being nominated for and shortlisted to the final three for the Spinal Injuries Association’s Sport and Recreation Achievement Award for his work coaching disabled athletes. As a shortlisted nominee, Newcomb is invited to attend the “Rebuilding Lives” Awards Ceremony on 4th June at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel.
All in all, a very good year for the New Milton Club and its players!
First Aid
First Aid Kits are located at both New Milton Table Tennis Club’s venues. (The Grange and Mudeford Wood)
Both kits are in the club’s storage cupboards, located within the main storage area. Along with the First Aid Kits are Incident files, these need to be completed if an incident occurs and the Welfare Officer and Secretary should then be notified.
There are several trained First Aiders who are members of the club, currently these players are: Julie Smillie, Lyn Willrich, Shaun Newcomb, James Lewis, Peter Daish, Andrew Stainton, and Bev Scott-Johns.
Please note, all players must wear appropriate footwear and clothing when playing at either venue and all safety procedures must be followed, such as keeping paying areas clear and removing spare balls from the floor,
No junior player may go unattended to the toilet block at The Grange. A DBS adult, or parent must accompany them, and wait outside before accompanying them back into the main playing hall.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Julie Smillie (Welfare Officer May 2015)
SHAUN UP FOR SPECIAL AWARD!
Following nomination by Lisa Williams from Table Tennis England, New Milton Table Tennis Club’s wheelchair player Shaun Newcomb has been nominated for and shortlisted to the final three for the Spinal Injuries Association’s Sport and Recreation Achievement Award, for his work coaching disabled athletes.
PLATE JOY FOR NEW MILTON D!
The New Milton D Table Tennis team won the final of the Bournemouth & District Times & Directory Handicap Plate competition against Bmth Sports J down at the Winton YMCA last Monday night.
Milton (Kai Major, Terry Jenvey & Chris Pusey) who usually play in Div 2 were determined not to suffer the same fate as their G team in the semi-finals who went 3-0 up against the same Bourne side (Kelly Hooper, John Crockett & Howard Lewis) from Div 3 only to lose it 4-5.
Pusey quite literally got the ball rolling as he beat Lewis (+2) in two straight sets (21-15, 21-19), then watched captain Jenvey overcome a +9 handicap to beat Crockett over three nail-biting sets having lost the first quite heavily 13-21 (the next two were 21-17, 21-19).
Teenage sensation Major also overcame a +9 handicap to see off Hooper in two straight sets (21-20, 21-18) to make it 3-0. The jitters then set in as Pusey lost to Crockett (+6) in two straight sets (16-21, 20-21) having caught up at 20-20 in the second.
Young Major, giving a +5 start to Lewis, took the first set 21-16, but lost the next set 18-21. Major started the third and final set assuredly and caught up at 11-11 to win 21-16 and take his team to 4-1, needing only one more win to seal the victory.
Next up was Jenvey against Hooper (+9), and the Milton captain caught up at 14-all in the first to take it 21-18. The nerves started jangling again as he lost the second 16-21 then went for a smash at 20-20 in the third only for the ball to end up in the net to lose 20-21. That made it 4-2, needing Milton to win one out of their next three matches.
Showing no nerves whatsoever and displaying a maturity far beyond his 14 years, Major stepped up for his final match against Crockett (+9), but very narrowly lost the first set 20-21. Well that’s when the show really started as he played imperiously to quickly achieve parity in the next two sets to win 21-14, 21-15. So that was it then, New Milton won it 5-2 with two games to spare! The victorious Dees are pictured below: left to right Kai Major, Terry Jenvey (captain), Chris Pusey.
They are looking forward to collecting the Plate at the Bournemouth & District Table Tennis Association’s annual Presentation Evening at the Ocean View Hotel, Bournemouth on Friday 22nd May, along with the many other New Milton award winners. Should be a good evening!
New Milton Table Tennis Club 