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

Grimsby TT Champs Continued (from earlier post)

              MEN'S         LADY's        MEN's DOUBLES          U18 BOYS     U15 BOYS

2015 J HANCOCK (9) C LINGARD R SAMPSON & POOLER TSANG\I GIBNEY
2016 WARD (3) - no Lady's Champ - THORNLEY&BAILEY L NIMMO\T ARMITAGE
2017 HANCOCK (10) - no Lady's Champ - HANCOCK&WARD NIMMO\NIMMO
2018 WARD (4) LINGARD HANCOCK&WARD NIMMO\NIMMO
2019 WARD (5) NIL HANCOCK & WARD NIMMO\NIMMO
2020 WARD (6) LINGARD HANCOCK & WARD JOELSMITH\J SMITH

Introducing The Game Of Table Tennis (Golden Oldie)

I love Table Tennis. It is an addiction for me. Fortunately I’ve had the opportunity to play local league table tennis (mainly in Grimsby\Cleethorpes) for over thirty years. Anyone interested in playing competitively should simply ring his or her nearest league secretary. There is a place for everyone in the leagues. All you need is to be fairly mobile or flexible, with a modicum of hand-eye coordination. In our league, one of our best players, Colin Woodford, is a wheelchair user with very fast hands.

As for equipment, any decent sports clothing will do. Just no white shirts as the ball is usually white. Then of course you need a bat. Most sports shops should be able to sell you an acceptable, cheap “weapon”. Personally I prefer to go online or send a form to an equipment company such as Tees Sport or Jarvis Sports (UK). They will post you a bat of your choice. Most modern players use reverse-pimpled rubbers on an “all-round” or “attacking” blade. In other words, they tend to go for spin and speed. These rubbers usually have a layer of sponge underneath, to give extra speed. “Older” bats are covered with pimple-out rubbers, having no sponge: thus imparting much less spin but more “control” at the expense of speed. An “old” bat may indeed be suitable for the beginner to ease him or herself into the game.

This blog is not intended to be a coaching manual. Experienced players and coaches are best placed to show you how to play. Just a few pointers though. Basically there are two ways to hold the bat: the “shake hands (Western)” grip and the “penhold” grip favoured by the Chinese etc. I happen to prefer the Western version, which seems easier, but each to his or her own. So all my tips are for this Western grip.

Table tennis can be a very technical game, but essentially it’s all about imparting and controlling spin. Essentially you spin the ball by brushing it at a fine angle, at high speed. Spin may be put on the ball in four directions: upwards (called “topspin” or “loop”), downwards (“chop” or maybe “slice”), left or right. Loop tends to run up the opponent’s bat, and chop down – into the net. An ideal way to use these spins is when serving. I could write a book on the serve, but suffice to say there are almost infinite variations. Indeed you may use a “mixed spin” serve: topside or chopside. During a rally, however, a loop is usually employed as an attacking drive or defensive lob, whereas a chop shot is mainly used as a late defensive retrieving stroke.

The most basic of shots in table tennis are the “block” and the “push”. Often these two shots are combined or blur into one. Pushing is all about playing straight through the ball, aiming for a spot just above the net. Any spin you might put on the ball is a bonus but a bit of chop may help. When you “block” you mainly keep your bat still and cushion the ball, though against chop a gentle “jab” may be required. With both the block and push, the angle of your bat is crucial. Against a chop from your opponent you must lay your bat back late too, to let the spin fade away before you play the ball. 

Conversely, loop is best taken early with your bat over the ball, laid forward. Experienced players can do this with a slight flicking action. In the same way, against sidespin you need to angle your bat accordingly, i.e. if the ball is spinning from your right to your left, you must aim right.   to compensate for, yes, the backspin. It usually pays to take the ball

Of course, disguising spin is a major aspect of the game, but that’s another story. The main thing is to watch your opponent very carefully. Always try to Focus on the game. Concentration is very important. “Footwork” is another aspect which is well worth developing. The main thing, however, is just to enjoy the game.

Paul Butters

© PB 30\8\2008 with slight amendments 4\11\2017.