NormanBoothCentre

Some of you may know that last month we picked up the Harlow Community Club of the Year award at Harlow Playhouse. As winners, we were automatically nominated for the Essex Community Club of the year, and last week, live on BBC Essex Radio, we picked up that award too. We now go forward to the Eastern Region award ceremony in December in Newmarket. If by some miracle we were to win that, we would go through to the flagship BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards live on TV. The awards so far are a huge tribute to the ever growing band of volunteers who help keep the club open 7 days a week.

Aad Kwakkelstein has taken up his post this week as full time BATTS coach. He has a superb record in Dutch table tennis from grass roots right up to national level. He will work in schools and in disability table tennis as well as his work at BATTS. With our full support, his mission is to help transform the way the club is run and the training programme. Please get involved if you can !
 
Friday nights will be affected immediately. Juniors have the option to take part in the training programme and should arrive promptly for a 7.15pm start if they wish to participate. . Real opportunity to improve your game and no extra fee required which makes it a bargain ! Adult helpers and feeders welcome. Family practice on other tables continues from 7pm as usual.

The third BATTS One Star Open Tournament was held at the home of BATTS Table Tennis Club, the Norman Booth Centre, Old Harlow on the 14/15 November.
 
In all events where there were enough entries, every player proceeded from the Group Stages into the Main or Consolation event KO stages.
 
On a stormy morning, with tornados reported in the County, and a length of the nearby M25 closed by an accident, the event started with the Under 18 Boys and Girls events, and all the late arrivals were accommodated.
 
In the Boys event from 44 entries, number two seed Brandon Crouchman lost his quarter final, 8 in the fifth, after leading two sets to one, and in the same half, Luke Walsh had a titanic battle with Kent’s Aaron Smith, finally winning -10, -9, 5, 3, 8. In the other half, Anthony Kent and Tom Baines both progressed 3-1 to the semi final over their younger opponents, Scott Dowsett and James Denyer respectively. Both semi finals were won 3-0 by Anthony and Luke, and Anthony went on to win the final 2, 5, 9.
 

Sadly we're not expecting the star of the English Open , Ma Long,  to enter, but for the first time ever we've scheduled our next SUPERLEAGUE for a FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27TH. The idea is to make BATTS the centre of table tennis for a long weekend which culminates in the BRITISH LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION on SATURDAY and SUNDAY 28/29 NOVEMBER.
 
So the excitement will start at 7.30pm on Friday evening when SUPERLEAGUE regulars and any BL PREMIER players who can get along in time, can do battle for £300 prize money ( winner £150, runner-up £75, 3rd place £50, 4th £25) in our quickfire competition which just like BL has national ranking points.
 
 If you need any extra incentive to make it a long weekend, the Green Man Hotel next door to the venue is offering twin rooms for £39 per night (excluding breakfast).
 
Entries welcome by email with £15 entry fee payable on the night. You need a current player licence or you can purchase a day licence when you come along.
 
Only 32 spaces, so please make sure to email back as soon as you are certain you can play. Please don't however  take a place you may not fill as we are expecting a full house and  this could leave someone  disappointed.

BATTS is the recent winner of the 2009 Community Club of the Year award for Harlow.

We have also been shortlisted by SportEssex for the Essex Community club of theYear. We will find out the result at the awards ceremony in Chelmsford on November 11th.

The date for the 1st "Classic" Hardbat competition will be:MONDAY 28th December
 
If you think there is a chance that you will be able to play (even at the last minute), please Email or Phone Fred and he will try to fit you in the draw.
 
32 Players, 4 Groups of 8 ( Best of 3, up to 21 )
2 Tables per Group
 
1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th in groups into Band 1 event.
5th, 6th, 7th & 8th in groups into Band 2 event.
 
Prize Money
(Subject to a full entry)
BAND 1 :- WINNER £150 - R/UP £75 - 3rd £50 - 4th £25
BAND 2 :- WINNER £30 - R/UP £15
 
Condition of Entry
Players may use their own equipment subject to approval.
Only approved "HEATT" hardbat rubber will be permitted for use throughout the competition.
 

by Keith Lesser
 
Wang Zheng (2) won the first super league of the season in a very entertaining evening’s table tennis. The standard in the final was a good quality with topspin’s away from the table, solid fishing & even serving each other off. Even at the top level, it shows a good serve can do damage. Po Huang Chen (1) played well to finish 2nd.
 
Does Chris Doran have Olympic potential?

MONDAYS :  Harlow League matches have now started so with Gareth's junior training sessions, there is very little practice space between 7 and 9pm. Best to check first or plenty of space if you wish to come along between 9 and 11pm.
 
WEDNESDAYS : Lots of space for practice and training from 1.30 to 4pm and 7pm onwards. Please note that this Wednesday is SUPERLEAGUE when some of the best players in the country compete for £300 prize money. So no evening practice but superb matches to watch from 7.30pm. Admission is free and we pay if you help with umpiring.
 
FRIDAYS : Practice every Friday from 7pm. All welcome.
 

The BATTS HARDBAT TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT on July 4th brought together many of the leading exponents in the country in the long forgotten art of hardbat play. In that bygone art, players competed with standard rubber bats rather than the super fast bats of the modern age. Long rallies are these days a rarity, but the tournament produced seemingly endless points and much of the excitement of yesteryear. England player Darren Griffin, a master of old and modern bats was a worthy winner.

Firstly may I thank all of those who played in our Hardbat tournament on Saturday. I would also like to thank Neil Brierley, Nicola Walsh and Sharon Head for their hard work in helping me make this hardbat tournament a success. The standard of play was truly fantastic ! Well done to you all. (Fred Dove). Hardbat Results