Posts in category: TTI News

Sport Ireland has opened the application process for ‘Sport for All’ Disability Supports Club Fund as part of this year’s NGB Dormant Accounts Fund. The Scheme is open to all Table Tennis Ireland affiliated clubs. This scheme opens the opportunity to provide inclusive programmes and supports for people with a disability. We would strongly encourage all of our clubs to consider an application for this fund. The fund will support the initiation or enhancement of disability specific activities within grassroots sports clubs. Clubs must apply directly to Table Tennis Ireland with their application, and we will submit the application on your behalf.

 Clubs can apply for funding of between €1,000 and €5,000 to support the following areas:

1. Disability Supports Education & Training
2. Disability Supports Programme Activation and Delivery
3. Disability Supports Small Scale Equipment and Infrastructure.

The closing date for applications from NGBs to Sport Ireland will be Thursday, September 1st, 2022. We kindly ask the clubs who wish to seek support and apply for this funding, to fill out the following application form by 5pm Monday 29th of August so we can apply on behalf of all the clubs, in advance of the Sport Ireland closing date.

Table Tennis Ireland Clubs can apply for this funding here: https://forms.office.com/r/8jwKessNtd. 

If you have any questions, please get in touch and we can assist you with any queries you may have.

At a Board meeting on 21^st of July, It was agreed to streamline the junior membership categories. As the age for junior players at tournaments is currently U19, a new junior membership category (U19) has been created and the fee for this will be €15 for the season. This category replaces the following from previous seasons:

• Junior (U18) €25
• Cadet (U15) €25
• Mini Cadet (U13) €15
• Hopes (U11) €10  

It was agreed that the fees for Junior (1-19 yrs; €15), Senior (20-39 yrs; €35), Veteran (40yrs+; €20), League Player (€20) and Coaches/Officials/Volunteer (€15) will remain unchanged for next season

To renew your membership online, please visit the Table Tennis Ireland membership system via our website: www.tabletennisireland.ie/membership/

As discussed at the AGM, we are also looking to set up a working group to look at other areas such as club affiliation and affiliation models to encourage grass roots membership. More details on this will be released in due course.

The Munster Branch have collaborated with Waterford Local Sports Partnership, they are hosting fun Table Tennis Taster Sessions for over 18’s in August. The sessions will be facilitated by some great coaches in Munster.

There are two sessions taking place on Tuesday 23rd August & Tuesday 30th August 7.30 to 9.30pm
at the SETU Arena | Carriganore | Waterford

These sessions are €5 per person. Places are limited, so book early to ensure your place is secured. Book your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/come-and-try-table-tennis-18-tickets-387384446307?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

For more information please contact: Liz McEnaney on 086 783 7385
or [email protected]

Check out this interesting written article from Margie Hadden below on her unique table tennis experience. Margie is a Table Tennis Ireland veterans player and coach from Cork, also a member of the Munster Provincial Branch assisting with the website and communications. She is a great ambassador for women in sport. Check out Margie’s fascinating story below.

Article written by Margie Hadden

Well I came to table tennis very late. At 42, I walked into my first club, Leeside. I was very naive and quite confident in my abilities until I was trashed by all these little kids as I rapidly moved down to bottom table!!! At bottom table I finally made mince-meat of a little girl who looked about aged 6, with a giant bow in her hair!  

Having little kids beat me would have stopped most people from continuing but not me. I absolutely love table tennis! I struggle with some bad habits picked up as a kid playing on a small kitchen table. Knowing no better I played a back hand shot all the time even on the forehand side where it looked something like a chicken wing shot. I still sometimes revert to that old ingrained habit. At Leeside I learned to crouch low and adopt a wide stance crucial to getting the ball low over the net. 

 Now I can tell who is a beginner just from the way they stand at the table. I also learned some impressive serves at Leeside which caused my opponents to hit the ball into the net. I admit I come last in almost all of the tournaments but I am very aware of how much I have improved. The beautiful feeling of a well -executed forehand or a fabulously spinny serve is what sustains me in the game.  

I train twice a week in Kinsale with coach Alan Hurley from Southcoast. His sessions are very focused and a word here and there from Alan can make all the difference to my shots. With my forehand he spotted that I was going too high and that I wasn’t going forward enough. Now at least I can occasionally whip the ball with a lightning forehand!  

The coaches in Munster are like gold dust. They are what keeps the sport dynamic and alive. They do a trojan amount of work organising training sessions and tournaments.  

And then there’s the craic! I discovered Beech Hill Table Tennis club after a torn ligament had me out for 9 months. The coach Philip Shaw gave me some one on one sessions and I was back!  

Now I train the players with intellectual difficulties there on Wednesdays. I am learning myself, so I find that I’m in a good position to pass on the basics to the Wednesday night players. I am very impressed at how much they improve in their game. 

I always encourage anyone bringing a Wednesday night player to get involved during training, to umpire and help with some basic coaching. The carers helping out are absolutely fantastic! We are never stuck for volunteers! 

A big thank you to Margie for taking out the time to let us know her great story on how she got involved in table tennis. We hope this will inspire as many women of all ages to pick up a bat and enjoy our great sport.

The Annual General Meeting of the Irish Table Tennis Association CLG took place in the Conference Room of the Irish Sports HQ Saturday 11^th June 2022 at 10.30am.  A good attendance of members attended in person and by proxy.   

Mr. Chris Kitchen,  Interim Chair, chaired the meeting and welcomed the directors, representatives of the four provinces, officers, members and staff. Apologies were announced by Director Kenneth Strong as follows from Tony Phillips, MBE, Alan Strong MBE, Mrs. Susan Irwin, Miss Anna Kelly, Gavin Maguire, Paul McCreery & Niall O’Flaherty. He also referred to apologies from Joe Veselsky, Alex Thackaberry and Joe Hickey.  

Before the meeting began Mr. Strong also announced the names of 7 members, who had died since the 2021 AGM as follows:  Ms. Christine Doyle, Mr. Hubert (Bertie) Levinge, Mrs. Mary Sheehan, Mr. Norman Sloan, Mr. John Bridgeman, Mr. Mark Melnychuk & Mr. Steven (Steve) Tracey.  A minute’s silence was observed in their memory.  

The Finance Director, Mrs. Kathy Endersen, presented her Finance Director’s Report, Financial Statements & Auditor’s Report for the year ended 31^st of December 2021.  

Ms. Jennifer Monaghan, Company Secretary, referred to the increased focus in recent years on governance and compliance in accordance with the Governance Code for Sport.   

The Annual Report of the Board’s activities outlined the success in achieving increased funding from Sport Ireland through Dormant Account Funding (DAF), and the recent re-instatement of Women in Sport funding.  

Mr. John McKenna, General Manager and Chair of the Management Committee, presented an overview of the reports of each of the Managers within the Management Committee. This report covered the areas of Coaching, Communication, Para, Participation and Performance. Queries were received from members present on a number of matters. Where the information was not readily available the Board agreed to provide it as soon as possible. 

Strategic Plan 2022 – 2028: 

The Interim Chair, Chris Kitchen announced the publication of the new Strategic Plan. He highlighted a few areas of the Plan and took questions  

Election of Officers: The following officers were elected or re-elected:  

• Chair:  No appointment                
  • Mr. Chris Kitchen to continue as Interim Chair until the 2023 AGM 
• Finance Director: 
  • Mrs. Kathy Endersen   
• Directors:                    
  • Mr. Rob Cowan 
  • Mr. Kenneth Strong 
  • Mrs. Ciara Joseph 
  • Mrs. Patricia Hunter 
  • Mr. Arnold Morgan 

• Company Secretary:  
  • Ms. Jennifer Monaghan  

APPOINTMENTS:     

Vice Presidents:  Miss Anna Kelly, Mr. Pat O’Brien, Mr. Tony Phillips MBE, Mr. Ivan Shorten, Mr. Alan Strong MBE, Mr. Thomas Keenan.  

Disciplinary Committee: Miss Anna Kelly, Mr. Ken Nixon & Ms. Louise O’Loughlin  

Jury of Appeal: Mr. Keith McGarry, Mr. Chris Cowan & Ms. Triona Leahy  

It was reported that further volunteers were needed for the Disciplinary Committee and Jury of Appeal. Members were asked to email the General Manager or Mr. Kenneth Strong with nominations.  

Any Other Business: There being no other business the Interim Chair thanked all Board members for their commitment to the sport shown over the last 12 months. He also thanked all committee members for their hard work. Further volunteers were required to take forward the Association’s work programme. Mr. Kitchen thanked all staff for their hard work. 

He thanked Richard Butler for his work when Chair of the Management Committee and Joe Hickey while Board Chair. 

The AGM was then closed with best wishes for a safe journey home.