News from the AGM held June 18th 2008:
Peter Saunders elected as Chairman and Colin Clements as Vice Chairman. John Gard elected as Treasurer, Kevin Smart as Secretary, new Committee member Chris Aukett.
Three amendments to rules passed, involving Administration, format of the Doubles section and Trophies.
Continuing our special promotion, any bona-fide new team entered for the coming season will not have to pay any registration fees.
Chairman’s Report
Dear all,
I would like to thank all the players who have made the effort to play in the league for the 2007/08 season and hope you enjoyed it.
I would like to thank all the club secretaries and club captains for there effort in turning out teams every week, I know sometimes this cannot be easy but we all try and do our bit for the game we enjoy.
The Basildon Table Tennis League would not exist if it was not for the committee, the people behind the scenes that give up there time voluntarily so as to keep the league from going down the pan like so many other leagues.
As Chairman of the Basildon and District table tennis league I would like to give my personal thanks and utmost respect to these people who have helped me in making decisions to benefit our league over the last two years.
If you would like to come on to the committee please don’t hesitate or if you know someone who like to help please put their name forward as we are always looking for new members to give new ideas.
We did not have any major problems in the league this year apart from our league secretary had to resign half way through the season with personal problems and so I took on the roll of secretary and with the help of Geoff Banthorpe who took the minutes of the meetings we managed to get through. The handicap cup and doubles cup both ran smoothly.
We will be looking into changing the playing format slightly for the closed championships in the future as we ran into some timing issues this year.
The Presentation evening went well the numbers were a little down on last year but all that attended had a good time.
Unfortunately we had to drop the Vets A team out of the inter-league because matches could not be fulfilled but the Vets B Team did really well this year and won Vets Div Four. The Super Vets found it tough in Div One this year but they were playing against Essex ranked players from other leagues.
Here’s looking forward to next season…..
Peter Saunders
Registrar's Report
The 32 teams registered from last season were retained, allowing a return to the four divisions of eight format, and the Doubles format of three doubles and six singles for the last third of the season was also continued.
Legra, captained by Jamie Willson, once again won the Premier title comfortably, but the runners-up spot was closely contested by Hullbridge A and Shell A, with the latter eventually coming out on top. As usual, problems were encountered in completing all of the matches in this division, but there seems to be no easy and fair solution here.
Division One was fiercely contested as always, with Kingswood A, captained by Steve Appleby, showing consistent form and securing the title comfortably ahead of runners-up Bluehouse B.
Vince Gurney’s Selbourne A proved worthy winners of Division Two, eleven points ahead of rivals Canvey A, and Kingswood C gave a creditable performance to achieve third spot.
Shell D, captained by Peter Handscombe, proved far too strong for their opponents and took the title 36 points clear of runners-up SETTS. A new team from Kingswood could only manage bottom spot, but should not be disheartened as they will undoubtedly improve.
Some comments were made regarding the Doubles format when only two players were available for a team, meaning one of their opponents just played once during the evening. A rule change is proposed later which should ensure all participants play at least two games.
Once again I would ask for assistance with reports and information for the Web site, which would help me very considerably with maintaining it. In addition, any feedback or suggestions for improvements would be very helpful. Also I would request that any Captains who send in reports via the Website would send in the match result card as well! This makes it much easier to compile the tables and averages.
Next season we hope to continue with the no fees for new teams scheme.
Team registration forms are available for collection during the course of this evening and should be returned by July 20th. Players will be registered using the ETTA registration form, which will be sent out with the letters for the Secretaries’ meeting in August.
Alan Wood (Hon. Registrar).
8. Election of Officers:
President:
Peter Saunders
Vice Presidents: D. Baker, J. Gard
Chairman: Peter Saunders Secretary: Kevin Smart
Treasurer: John Gard
Registrar: Alan Wood
Auditor: T. Jasper.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-mail from Stan Dyson (15/1/08)
I was playing a match at Kingswood last night when John Gard
said you would be interested in seeing my 1967 Basildon League Handbook - the
last time
(prior to just 8 weeks ago) that I played table tennis.
Just to give you an historic update, I started playing TT in 1962 and played for
Tate & Lyle in the Silvertown Business Houses League, also for Standard
Telepnones and for Fellows Cranleigh in the Barking League. I moved to Basildon
with Standard Telephones in Dec 1964 & initially played for
Bonnalacks. I then started Standard Telephones TT section up and our STC A team
of Mike Watts, me, Phil Smith & Dave Kirston came 3rd in the 1966
season. I switched clubs and played No 1 for Kingswood A for the 1967 season
and again, we came third in the premier for the '67 period. At that
time I was fanatical about the game, also playing with Dave Kirston for his
Crowstone A team in the Southend league. Unfortunately, someone invited me
to have a go at their Karate club. Reluctantly, I went along and was
immediately captured by this fast aggressive new sport. I dropped TT like a
hot potato and for the next 30-years completely involved myself in the sport,
gaining my black belt in 1972, running two of the largest clubs in Essex in
Laindon & Billericay, coming runner up in the 1973 British Championships & being
part of the Ishinryu National karate team/squad from 1972 to 1976. I
retired from the sport in 1997.
About 8 weeks ago I thought I would have a go at my early 1960's first sporting
love of TT again. 'Fings 'aint wot they used to be!' From ex top
rank premier player I am now a regularly thrashed 2nd division player! Strange
sensation for me, but it's still early days and I do hope to somehow
get back into the premier division again at some future date. I can only live
on the memory of how it was at the moment and aim at getting somewhere
near that again.
Anyway, I attach a copy of the 1967 handbook together with a record of
individual games (and sets) that I played - I had 100% playing record & 87%
average for that year. I had this document folded up & pinned inside the
handbook. I also enclose a copy of a November 1965 write-up that appeared
in the local paper. I hope you find the '67 handbook interesting. (see
Memorabilia page)
All the best, Stan
Follow-up e-mail 1/2/08:
Thanks for your note. Please feel free to use any of the info
I attached to your internet Archive pages. Looking on the positive side,
although just a
very faint shadow of my prior TT self I am enjoying playing the game much more
than I ever did those 40 odd years ago when everything was so tense and
winning so important - I remember that I almost got into fighting mode with John
Blackman (he played for Bonnalacks) in 1966 when I was playing with
Mike Watts in Standard Telephones A team in their works canteen. It was when
the first 'under the table' serves came out, where the ball was tossed
onto the bat from under the table completely out of view. By comparison I just
don't give a toss these days! Anyway, I actually won a game for the
first time this week! I don't even know who it was I was playing, or what club
it was, only that his mates called him Ollie. I just wish I could drum
up the enthusiasm and concentration I used to have!
My other two team members in our Basildon interleague team were Peter Pond and
Harry Spraggs and the ladies were Sandra Faldo and Muriel Spraggs. I
attach a very poor copy of a press pic from 1966 (I only had a photocopy of
the original newspaper pic) showing the Basildon A & B teams - L to R A team
is Richie Melling, Mick Pond & Keith Murray. I forget the girls names, but Pat
or Pam Bedwell comes to mind for one of them. The other team is Peter
Pond, me & Harry Spraggs (one of the best half-volleyer players I knew) and his
wife Muriel Spraggs - I don't know where Sandra Faldo was for that pic -
her Dad John Faldo was quite a good player and I think he also ran a coaching
scheme during that period.
All the best, Stan