The ITTA has decided to introduce a new award, named in honour of Tommy Caffrey, one of Ireland’s greatest ever players and a long time supporter of Interprovincial Events. The award will be presented to the “Player of the Tournament” at each season’s Senior, Veterans/Under 21 Interprovincial Championships.
Launching the award, ITTA Chairman Joe Hickey stated:
‘There are many times when the word legendary is overused but, when I spoke at the 2009 Interprovincial series, I had no hesitation in referring to the legendary Tommy Caffrey. Apart altogether from his incredible record of achievement at table tennis, Tommy has, at all times, conducted himself in an exemplary manner and he is a perfect role model and ambassador for Irish table tennis. The Board are delighted that he acceded to our request that this new ‘Player of the Tournament’ award, to be given at the Senior, Veteran and Under 21 Interprovincial series, be called the Tommy Caffrey Trophy.’
Tommy cites his career highlight as winning his first Irish Open in front of a packed house in Dublin in 1963, defeating former World Champion Johnny Leach in the Final. He returned 4 years later to reclaim a 2nd Irish Open title, this time in Omagh, with a victory over international team-mate Jim Langan. With an incredible 151 Senior International caps to his name, Caffrey is a true ambassador for table tennis and a role model for the elite players who aspire to follow in the trail he blazed. Still playing at a high level in Veterans Table Tennis sport and symbolic of the motto ‘A Sport for Life’, he has had a long association with the Interprovincials – he began representing Leinster in this event in 1958 and has yet to miss a year, a remarkable record of over 50 appearances in one of the domestic calendar’s most prestigious tournaments.
Speaking at the launch of the award, Caffrey was understandably thrilled:
“I am completely surprised but feel honoured and privileged that this important award recognising the outstanding player of the Interpros will be named after me”
This year’s Senior Interpros will be hosted by the Connacht Branch at Breaffy House, Castlebar, Co. Mayo on Friday & Saturday 26th and 27th March 2010.
