Table Tennis England Local Rankings

(Picture Credit - YouTube)

Table Tennis England provides local leagues with Rankings based on results in various competitions. One way to raise your ranking is to do well in tournaments around the rest of the country. But mainly its on your local league results. It's just a bit of extra fun as far as I am concerned. I note there are players below me whom I rarely beat, yet some above me whom I usually defeat. It's all about some mysterious algorithm but nevertheless based on actual results. These Rankings feature on each local league website.

Here are some current Grimsby League Rankings: Sean Ward 1, David Heppenstall 2, John Hancock 3, Mike Thornley 4, Chloe Lingard 5, Jon Corry 6. There are 142 Ranked players in Grimsby.

My Nemesis Team: Phil Sharpe 39, Myself 49, Brian Lomas 77.

My Facebook Friends: John Whitfield 26, Dave Hall 76, Ray Corke 90, Darren Aldous 101. (All these are Thursday Morning Practice Regulars). There are 142 Ranked players in Grimsby. My Lincoln League Facebookers: Jack Blyth 14, Mike Tindall 40.

More Thursday Practice Current Regulars (might have missed some): Ray Simpson 12, Steve Carter 15, Nick Borst 16, Sean Brown 17, Stewart Dean 18, Mick Corry 20, Trevor Broughton 44, Colin Grey 54, Dorothy Fuller 55, Ian Daxner 58, Michael Louca 60, Ian Campbell 61, Bob Bartle 62, Phil Yang 75, Brian Ashwell 77, Les Gagg 82, Tony Roberts 87, Chris Bygott 89, Ken Harrison 94, John Padley 99, Stuart Pollard 104, Brian Todd 105, Jean Ashwell 110, David Wilkins 113, Mike Gettings 121, Lee Radley 124, Bruce Robinson 129, Val Winslow 134, John Butterfield 137, Roy Smith 140.

Lincoln League Top 5: Mark Donogue 1, Andy Wignall 2, Lesley Keast 3, David Heppenstall 4 and Dan Rimmer 5. Lincoln has 105 Ranked players.

For the record, I have never played David Heppenstall, only watched him. All the rest I have at least practised with.

Paul Butters 2\8\2018

CHAMPIONS!

(From Left: Brian Lomas, Phil Sharpe and Myself. Taken by Debbie with my mobile)

I have some reservations about writing another “bragging” blog entry. But sometimes you just have to celebrate your achievements. So here goes. My team table tennis Nemesis had a great 2017-2018 season. 

But first, let me acknowledge that four of the five 7 team divisions in the Grimsby League were won by a merry mile. Green Horns New Boys went undefeated in Division 3 (John Padley (Capt), Bob Bartle, Philip Yang and Ian Campbell). 4-Matic Engineering lost just once in The Premier Division (John Bray (non-playing Capt), Luke Nimmo, Isaac Gibney, Thomas Armitage, Sean Ward, John Hancock and Reserve Dominic Shum. Meanwhile in Division 4 Clee Sorts Zebras lost just 2 (Brian Todd (Capt), Bill Bygott, Chris Bygott and David Wilkins. My own team of Brian Lomas (Capt), Phil Sharpe and myself also ran away with it in the end. We improved by 18 points from the previous season to finish 9 points clear. Our record was Pl 18 W 15 D 2 L 1 Sets F 122 A 58 Pts 55.

Phil Sharpe was immensely solid and unyielding to achieve a 92.59% Average, losing just 4 individual matches all season. His tactical nous was much appreciated by Brian and myself. Especially me as I tend to play off-the-cuff and not always the best way. Phil also had a lot to do with us only losing two doubles matches all season.

We cannot ask for a better Captain than Brian (77! I think). He is the perfect gentleman and will certainly keep his job for as long as he wishes.  When we hit early trouble against Parkside (Neil Drewery and co) in mid-November it was Brian who turned it round. Neil started our troubles by giving Phil one of his rare defeats. My recent personal Nemesis, chop attacker (!) Dave Roberts weighed in by beating me well. All this just after Colin Woodford (League Treasurer) had declared we would win the league! Pressure! Then Brian stopped the rot and I defeated Neil to avenge Phil. We won 7-3.

Our start to the campaign was almost perfect. We beat “The Has Beens” 9-1 with 2 of their players needing knee operations afterwards. For them it was like an Away Game at Leeds. Hehe. Soon all three of us were in the top 10 of “The Averages”. We won our first 9 matches, though 4 of them finished 6-4.

There were no easy matches. We could see that the youngsters of 3 Generations (Ben and Jacob Ardern) were improving rapidly and would be very strong before the end of the season. The same with Jack Chambers (Greenhorns United) and a few more. Young Tom Spencer (The Musketeers) was already “there” and on his way to a 90.74 % Average, just behind Phil. For a young attacking player to be nearly as consistent as Phil was, on reflection, quite amazing. You have to take more risks as an attacker, so being consistent is some challenge. Then there was Sam Dean (Louth) making a strong comeback to the game after a long layoff.

Our first “blip” came when bottom team Greenhorns United held us to a draw in January. Jack made his “debut” against us (having missed our first meeting when we won 10-0) and took two. Super Reserve Colin McGrath took two too! (That annoyed me as I had beaten him often at the 2017 Top Table – run by Eileen Allison). Only Phil remained steadfast, winning all three as usual. And young Millie Smith hit Brian off the table! Phil and I had to save our bacon in the doubles, but we did it well.

Our reaction to this setback was to beat Parkside 6-4. But by now Brian was having issues with both his bat and his health. The rubber on his bat had perished and he had to find a replacement. Phil had gone through such a crisis last season but was reaping the benefits of making a switch. Brian also kept turning up with flu. To his credit Brian fought his way through this bad patch. But this was a tough spell for us.

In the circumstances we were happy to hold Louth to a draw. Sam Saywell ground out a marathon win over Phil, but we remained unbowed as a team. If anyone can ever match Phil for sheer solidity, Sam can.

Two matches later, Nemesis met its Nemesis as 3 Generations beat us 6-4. Last time out we had beaten them 9-1. I had even defeated my personal Nemesis Vince Whatley with a fine comeback prompted by Phil’s advice. But this time Ben produced one of the best exhibitions I have ever seen of patient attack, to overcome Phil. I again lost to Vince and my doubles win with Brian was but a consolation.

Now the heat was on. Our next match against The Musketeers was crucial. We won 7-3. They ended up second in the table, with Louth third. All the results went our way now, so we played Parkside and Louth as champions. I even had the freedom to beat Dave Roberts with my Anti-Loop Bat!

Personally I won 9\10 individual matches at the end, only losing to a Sam Dean late comeback. Phil won his last 13. And Brian refound some form and took revenge on Millie. But it was all about The Team. Since we went to seven team divisions there have been no easy matches. Lots of tight games. At times we were immense, just for sheer stubbornness.

Our biggest surprise of the season was to receive the Terry Smith Trophy for “Most Improved Team”. Those 18 extra points we got might have helped.

I’m sure next season (in Division One) is going to be a lot tougher. But you can’t take away from us what we have done. It’s 3-4 months ago now and it still hasn’t really sunk in.

Paul Butters

© PB 1\8\2018.

Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Table Tennis Association - Thursday Practice

(Picture Credit - Dave Hall - Grimsby\Immingham TT Player)

(Entrance - From Me)

(My View from Balcony)

Grimsby Table Tennis Association organises Winter and Summer Leagues, Tournaments, Coaching Sessions and Practice Sessions. Most of this activity is conducted at Clee Sports Hall, Ladysmith Road, Grimsby. There are other venues at Immingham and Keelby too. Most sessions at Clee Fields are in the evening, but “Thursday Practice” is from 10AM to Noon.

Sure, I practice on Friday nights and Sunday teatimes occasionally. But since I took early retirement in 2006 I have regularly attended Thursday Morning Practice. It is this Practice I’d like to tell you all about.

For me it is Family. Especially as my “blood relatives” still live in Yorkshire. When I first started at this Practice, NALGO Club Secretary the late Don Newton ran the show. I played for NALGO for many years so I knew Don well. We now have a Hard Bat Tournament named after him. I need say no more.

But when Don “retired”, Auntie Jean and Uncle Brian Ashwell took the reins, ably assisted by Stewart Dean and Dorothy Fuller. These committee members have all put in a remarkable shift over the years. In fact the whole committee do sterling work throughout the week. Some, such as Mick and Jon Corry, Colin Woodford and Sean Brown pop in to practice on a Thursday too.

In the Sports Hall we can easily fit seven tables down the far side from the main door. And maybe another six down the “near” side. With our new lighting and flooring, plus new barriers etc. the place is looking good. But again I repeat, it’s the “Family Feeling” that does it for me. There is lots of socialising and banter between games and “knock-ups”. Of course, I’m very quiet myself hehe.

Players of all abilities practice here on a Thursday. They range from National League players to Non-League. Just recently I played doubles with some non-league “Walking Club” lads and gave them a few coaching tips. And I too get coached informally by the likes of Steve Carter, Ray Simpson, Keith Baker, John Whitfield and Stewart Dean to name but a few Premier Division-class players. Not to forget the genius that is Nick Borst.

Actually I have had a rare break recently during this prolonged UK heatwave. I have also missed Wednesday Evening Top Table too (run by Eileen Allison and her helpers).

Players who attend Thursdays have gradually changed over the years. Current “Regulars” include my Nemesis Team Captain Brian Lomas, Philip Yang, Bob Bartle, John Padley, Trevor Broughton, Bill and Chris Bygott, Don Ellis, Alf Evardson, Roy Smith, Brian Todd, Mike Gettings, Val Winslow, Ian Campbell, Stuart Pollard, Darren Aldous (when not working), Ray Corke, Colin Grey, Lee Radley, Michael Louca and John Butterfield. I’m sure I will think of many more later. These are only the summer ones. Two of Grimsby’s best players, Sean Ward and John Hancock pop in occasionally too.

My old team-mate Bob Want makes an appearance whenever his gammy knees allow it. And Dave Hall makes the odd showing too, even taking an excellent photograph of the session once.

Of course, when I see the likes of Tony Roberts in September I know then that the Winter Season is on its way. Ha ha.

Philip Yang is even a fan of this very blog. What more could I ask for?

Thursday Practice is indeed well recommended. Thanks for reading.

PS Thanks to Dave Hall (Grimsby\Immingham Player) for his loan of a photo he took of the session in progress).

Paul Butters

© PB 30\7\2018.

THE JACK BOND SHIELD

“Grimsby Table Tennis

Jack Bond Memorial Vetts Handicap Shield Winners List”

1995 (1^st Event) – MARION LILLEY

1996 – KEITH BAKER

1997 – K BAKER

1998 – E WEST

1999 – NICK BORST

2000 – BRIAN TAYLOR

2001 – B TAYLOR

2002 – DUGGIE WADHAM

2003 – PAUL FINDLAY

2004 – STEVE BLOCK

2005 – TOM SPENCER (Elder)

2006 – PETE HEATH

2007 – PETE EDWARDS

2008 – PAUL ANDERSON

2009 – JOHN JUPP

2010 – DOROTHY FULLER

2011 – D FULLER

2012 – TOM MARLAND

2013 – EILEEN ALLISON

2014 – ANGELA BRAY

2015 – MICK CORRY

2016 – MARK GIBNEY

2017 – PAUL BUTTERS

2018 – RUSSELL HAYS

By Paul Butters