Welcome to the SDTTL new season.

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Created on Wednesday, 24 August 2011 23:28

Last Updated on Sunday, 26 August 2012 00:18

Written by Ray Ellis

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This is the League’s 64th season and we still have four divisions and 31 teams including welcoming Wilton LTC. The standard last season was exceptionally high and remarkably Crusaders teams finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the first division. No one can recall any club ever previously achieving that. Let’s hope we get some new players in the League to challenge them.

Special congratulations go to Michael Ho who again achieved 100% in the first division but also won the Under 19 English Schools Championship and was picked in the England squad in Jersey. Congratulations also to both Mickel Miller winner of the London schools under 16 Championship, and Liam Grant winner of the under 13 championship as well as being runner up in the under 15 competition. Special mention goes to Mike Pantin who has coached these boys from a young age making this League as strong as it is. Finally congratulations to the Leagues A & B sides finished first and third respectively in the Percy Johnson Inter League Tournament.

Lots of praise but there are also some issues for everyone to consider please. There is no ‘new blood’ on your Committee and I’d still like to see more clubs (or better still all clubs) represented in future. We still struggle on urgently requiring a general secretary. Again we were disappointed at the small number of winners who turned up to receive their trophies at the AGM. It was believed there was the number of players on holiday so we intend to bring the AGM forward to June in 2013.

Result cards for cup matches were frequently sent to the wrong person creating considerable additional work; which leads on to the final negative with some club’s result card discipline still being poor. Both teams must post or email cards independently within 48 hours for all matches.

Back on a positive note we ran another successful closed championships held for the first time at Graham Spicer institute in New Malden, which has excellent playing facilities although unfortunately no disabled access, whilst parking and refreshment management proved problematic. My thanks to Alan Lewell and his team for running the tournament and to Julie Hyde and her team for the refreshments and raffle. It was same again please from the AGM.

Finally congratulations from all the committee to all the championship and divisional winners and our best wishes for an enjoyable new season.

Ray S Ellis
Chairman

(images courtesy of ITTF)