Table Tennis Manawatu April 2007 We have a website: www.tabletennis.org.nz/page/manawatu_home.html Table Tennis Manawatu. Waldegrave Lounge, Waldegrave Street. PN Executive Committee for 2007. Chairperson: Stew Hickford (3248070) Secretary: Shona Cudby (3546840) Treasurer: Michael Ball (3293560) President: Eddie Millard Patron: Mirie McAvi Committee Members: Chris Hall Tim Moore Wayne Upjohn James Moore Jim Jarmin Tim Seaholme Mark Brown Welcome to the April edition of the TT Manawatu newsletter. Autumn is definitely upon us with daylight saving gone and a bit of a chill in the morning air. Time has really gone fast this year and it s hard to believe the first term of table tennis activities run by TT Manawatu has come to an end and activities will be underway soon for the Autumn term. Summer League had its last night on Tuesday and after a series of keenly contested weekly matchups in singles and doubles Stew Hickford s class prevailed, somewhat predictably, over the rest although Pond gave him a run for his money in the odd game and was the only player to claim a victory over Stew during the entire competition. There was a great line-up behind them however with James Moore getting up to claim the best of the non-a graders title on the final night over Kerry McGeehan who had led in that category for much of the series. Best of the newcomers was Glen Francis who was making a reappearance after many years away from the table tennis scene and performed very well after joining in halfway through the series despite being a bit rusty at the start. Tony McAllister also went well after a season s layoff through injury and Janette Richards was the best placed woman. Autumn League is set to start in just over 2 weeks on May 1st. Senior Training squad under the coaching of Tim Seaholme will start again on Thursday night 26 th April and Junior Club will resume on Wednesday 25 th April at 3-45pm. Casual Practice nights are on Wednesday nights 7:30pm. Local Table Tennis Clubs Activity Most of the clubs around the Manawatu and Levin have started or about to start their regular club season. Below are some brief details about the clubs around the region. FEILDING: Club nights have now started. Meet every Wednesday at the Caledonian Society Hall, 55 Weld Street, Feilding. Juniors 6:15pm to 7:15pm and Seniors play from about 7:15pm to about 9:30pm, Feilding. Please phone: Kerry McGeehan (Secretary) 06-3571586; Michael Ball (Club captain) 06-329.3560 LEVIN: Salvation Army Hall, Durham Street, Levin. Tuesday night 7.30 10pm $3. Thursday morning (social) 9am to midday $2; Club nights have already started. Contact Margaret Holdsworth ph 06 3686969. PALMERSTON NORTH: meets every Monday (incl public holidays), 7 pm, Hokowhitu School Hall, Albert Street, Palmerston North. Club nights have already started. Contact: Reita Barrow (357.5869 home)
TAKARO: Club nights run on a Monday night from 7.30 pm at Takaro Sports Club Hall cnr. Botanical/Featherston St. Club nights have started. ph Barry Wynks 356 2183 or Marcus Watson 356 7699. Takaro club will be celebrating their 75 th Jubilee later in the year. VETERANS CLUB: Usually the first Friday of each month from 7.30pm at the Waldegrave Lounge. Ph Jim Jarmin (354 1945) for more details or a schedule of this years club events. WHAKARONGO: Starts Monday 23 rd April 7pm to 9pm; meets weekly in the new Whakarongo Hall. Contact either Donna 3530368 or Chris 3572423. Table Tennis accessories. (Tibhar & Friendship) Stewart Hickford is selling Tibhar & Friendship Table Tennis gear (bats, rubbers etc) Contact Stewart for further details on what s available and prices etc: ph 324 8070 or stewhickford@farmside.co.nz. Other news and information: Something to consider on the scientific front for people wanting to keep their bodies and minds in good shape. The following is an extract from an article that appeared in the February Issue of New Idea Magazine: Research shows that just as activity keeps our bodies fit, an active mind keeps our brains in tip-top shape and helps ward off Alzheimer s 1) Play Table Tennis: People who exercise end up with better brains as well as better bodies, studies indicate. Your brain uses up to 25 per cent of the oxygen in your bloodstream and when you exercise your brain gets more oxygen says Gerald Edmunds from the Brain foundation. One sport delivering an effective workout for both body and mind is Table Tennis. It improves brain power because of the speed factor Gerald explains. Unlike tennis, where you have time to anticipate a shot, you literally have to think on your feet when playing the table version. Also, as you re exercising, you re getting more oxygen into the bloodstream, so there s a double benefit Gerald adds. So there you have it, a good scientific explanation for the reason we spend our time rushing around a little table trying to hit a little ball over to the other side. We might seem mad to some but apparently we won t go senile! Results: The Manawatu Veterans Club held their first tournament of the year on Saturday 17 th March. Jim Jarmin compiled the following report. Veteran s 8 th Open Graded Doubles Tournament: Held in the Barber Hall, the event was well attended with over 70 players participating, some coming from as far away as Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Wanganui and Masterton. The event happened to be on St. Patricks Day and it was a delight to see people entering into the spirit of the day wearing green hats and shirts. The morning saw Round-Robin Doubles (groups of five pairs) with one s own chosen partner. Prizes were awarded to winners and runners-up and these were:- Group 1: W: Stew Hickford + Mike Ball (both local). RU: Wayne Daly (Levin) + Jim Jarmin (local)
Group 2: W: Royden Galloway + Gladys Halford (both local). RU: Rangi Wills + Annice Robottom (both Wanganui) Group 3: W: Tony McAllister + Glen Francis(both local). RU: Bev Astwood + Ray Zinsli(both local) Group 4: W: Audrey Hunt + Neil Kerr (both Kapiti). RU: Ron McLaughlin + Glenys James (both Kapiti) Group 5: W: Rhys Baker + Jan Baker (both Waikanae). RU: Nuan White (Wanganui) + Reita Barrow (local) Group 6: W: Maureen Harding + Ian Barrow (both local). RU: Gwen Everson (Kapiti) + Julie Satherly (Wanganui) Group 7: W: Shane Balderstone (local) + Des Orange (Masterton). RU: Gerry Lynders + Nancy Woodhouse (both Masterton) In the afternoon, players who had done well in the morning were placed with players who hadn t had the same measure of success. This produced a delightful mix of results though some players were still strong enough to chivvy their partners through for another prize. Prizes for the afternoon were only awarded to the winners which were as follows: Group A: Evan Williams (Wanganui) + Stew Hickford(local) Group B: Rangi Wills (Wanganui) + Jim Jarmin (local) Group C: Jill Yap (Levin) + Bev Astwood (Local) Group D: Betty Meads (Wanganui) + Ron McLaughlin (Kapiti) Group E: Beulah Taylor (local) + Jan Jones (Wanganui) Group F: Pete McLennan (Masterton) + Maureen Harding (local) Group G: Colin Chandler (Waikanae) + Paul Hurst (Kapiti) The St. Patrick s Day theme was continued into the evening with about 30 of us making our way to Club Palmerston and dined on Irish Stew amongst other things and sang to Irish music. Thanks to all our helpers on canteen, administration and clean-up duties. Another very successful tournament. Important Dates on the National Table Tennis Calender to keep in mind for the next 3 months. The full calendar is available on the TT New Zealand website. Don t forget, June 23 rd, TT Manawatu invites you to their 75 th Jubilee Celebrations at the Waldegrave Lounge. You can register now! Contact Sue Sherriffs ph 06 356 4178. April 25 Auckland ANZAC Open Auckland 28 Wanganui Open Wanganui May 5-6 Marlborough Open Blenheim 19 North Harbour Open North Harbour 19 Wellington Autumn Open Wellington 26-27 Counties Manukau Open Manurewa 27 Wellington Progressive U16 Petone June 2 Waikato Vets Teams challenge Hamilton 10 Wellington Junior Age Groups Petone 16-17 Nelson Open Nelson 23 Manawatu 75 th Jubilee Palmerston North July 1 Wairarapa Open Masterton 7-14/15 World Junior Champs & North Island Champs North harbour 21 Hawkes Bay Open Napier
Need Firewood? Dry pine firewood, $50 per cubic mitre, 5.6 cubic metre trailor $280. Delivered to Palmerston North. Lesser amounts delivered but there may be a delivery charge. Ph 021 1876374 or 06 3248070. Cheers, Stew. National Vets Champs The National Vets Champs were held over Easter in Auckland. Jim has filed this brief report: Manawatu belied their seedings in the team events at the National Veteran's Champs held in Auckland over Easter. They came away with 2 Gold and 6 Silver Team medals. Although most of these were won by the ladies, the men too performed above expectations. Details of the Teams and individual successes will follow in our next publication. In the meantime congratulations go to our representatives :- ( as they come to mind!) :- Merle Sneddon, Kerry McGeehan, Gladys Halford, Val Scarr, Dennis Duncan, Heather Paul, Peter Jones, Betty Meads, Annice Robottom and Jim Jarmin. That s all for now, until next month keep in mind the message keep the brain power strong with plenty of Ping Pong. Chris Hall.