We are delighted to announce that Sam Logue has been appointed as the National Para Coach on a part-time basis. Sam worked previously as a Sports Executive Officer in our head office from 2017 to 2018. Sam will have the overall responsibility for further developing and leading all Para Table Tennis programs for the Association. Sam has been involved in the sport for over 20 years and has been coaching table tennis for the last 7 years. He has experience as an Non Playing Captain for both junior and senior teams competing at international events, and has worked in schools and clubs to develop the sport.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish Sam all the best in his new role and are looking forward to seeing the growth of para table tennis.
The Board would like to thank Paralympics Ireland for allocating funding to support the recruitment of this role.
We wish to remind all members that the Annual General Meeting of the Irish Table Tennis Association (ITTA) Company Limited by Guarantee will take place on Saturday 11th of June 2022 in Irish Sport HQ at the National Sports Campus.
As per item 7.6 of the ITTA Regulations, items for inclusion on the agenda for the AGM must be forwarded in writing to the Secretary of the Association ([email protected]), not later than 5 calendar weeks before the date set by the Association for the AGM. Such items may be submitted by individual clubs, Branch Secretaries or individual members if counter signed and supported by 6 other members.
Please note that only paid affiliated members who are registered seven days before the date of the AGM are entitled to attend.
The 2022 Junior and Senior Munster Open will take place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of May at the Saile Sports & Community Centre, Cappagh, Kinsale Co Cork. Eircode: P17 WD21
Entries are now open through our JustGo system and will close at 11pm on Friday 13th of May . All players and coaches are advised to read the Entry Form for full details on the events taking place and tournament regulations.
Table Tennis Ireland wishes to advise all members that the Annual General Meeting of the Provincial Branches are as follows:
1. Connacht Branch:
The Connacht Branch AGM will be taking place on Thursday 19th May 2022 at 7:30pm in the Commercial Boat Club, Steamers Quay, Woodquay, Galway.
For further details on the AGM or to register your attendance, please email [email protected]
2. Leinster Branch:
The Leinster Branch wishes to notify all members that the Annual General Meeting of the Leinster Branch will take place on Thursday 26th May @ 7.30pm in the Conference Room of ISHQ. Members who wish to attend should provide their email address to [email protected], by 5pm Wednesday 25th of May.
3. Munster Branch:
The Munster branch wishes to advise all members that the Annual General Meeting of the Munster Branch will be held on Tuesday 17th May @ 8pm on Zoom.
Anyone who wishes to attend should provide their email address to [email protected] no later than Friday 13th May in order to receive an invite to the meeting.
4. Ulster Branch:
Table Tennis Ulster wishes to advise all members that the Annual General Meeting of the Ulster Branch will take place on Monday 16th May at 7.30pm at Lisburn Racquets Club.
Ballymena Adult Challenger Tournament hosted by Ballymena Table Tennis Club Saturday 16th April 2022
Over 50 table tennis players from the all over Ulster travelled to Ballymena on Easter Saturday to play in the annual Ballymena Adult and Junior Challenger tournaments organised by the local Ballymena Table Tennis Club and held in Ballymena Academy.
The Adult Challenger tournament split into two Divisions after the stage 1 round robin groups with all 8 seeds successfully progressing to Division 1 by finishing in the top two of their groups. In the Stage 2 Divisional round-robin half of the seeds failed to progress to the stage 3 quarter final knock-outs, namely, Des Flanagan. Paul Gallagher, Vladimir Brzak and Apoorv Sharma. The quarter finals saw two more seeds Matthew McCann and Rodney McKirgan(conceded) fall by the wayside leaving the two top seeds Mark McAllister and Ben Watson take on the unseeded Sean McAnaney and Oliver McQuillan in the semi-finals.
McAllister, who had earlier recovered from two sets down to defeat Barry Dickson (the conqueror of third seed Des Flanagan) in 5 tight sets managed to slip passed defender Sean McAnaney in four sets. Ben Watson took out the recently crowned Ballymena club champion Oliver McQuillan by a similar 3-1 score line. A tight final was anticipated and both players put on an exhibition of attack and counter attack table tennis with top seed McAllister recovering from a two sets to one deficit to defeat Glenburn’s talented teenager Ben Watson 13-11 in the fifth and final set.
The Division 2 Adult Challenger was equally tight with Monaghan Collegiate teacher David Hamilton defeating David McCaughern (Osmond), Cormac Quinn (Banbridge), Peter Zagrapan (Ballymena), Tommy Houston (Ballymena) and Michael Witherspoon (Ballymena) to reach the final. There he met talented Ballyclare High School teenager Sebastian Kidd who had recovered from an early group defeat to Michael Witherspoon to reel off four straight wins against Stephen Milnes (Ballymena),
Michael Allen (Ballymena) William Walker (Bangor) and veteran David Witherspoon (Ballymena). In an attacking encounter experience triumphed over youth with David Hutchinson winning the Division 2 final in four close sets.
The junior challenger was split into three divisions after the initial round robin stage. The first two Divisions went to the talented Close family with Junior Close taking the Division 1 title and Karstan Close triumphing in the Division 2 event. A young Eimear Hutchinson matched the achievement of her father by taking the Division 3 title. The large group of you talented players seemed to have an enjoyable day and hopefully they all enjoyed their Easter Eggs when home. A big thank you to all the parents who brought the young platers to the school – your commitment is impressive and welcomed.
Stage 1 Open Groups
Group 1 Table 1
Pos
Group 5 Table 2
Pos
Mark McAllisterByron Graham Sebastian Kidd Michael Witherspoon
1 2 3 4
Matthew McCannDavid Mucka David McCaughern David Hutchinson
1 2 4 3
Group 2 Table 5
Group 6 Table 2
Ben Watson Stephen Milnes Peter Baird Myron Evans
1 3 2 4
Rodney McKirganJeff Irvine Paul McGuiggan Cormac Quinn
1 2 3 4
Group 3 Table 6
Group 7 Table 3
Des FlanaganAndrew Davies William Walker Tommy Houston
1 2 3 4
Vladimir BrzakSean McAnaney Donna Ryan Michael Allen
2 1 4 3
Group 4 Table 1
Group 8 Table 3
Paul GallagherBarry Dickson David Stewart Peter Zagrapan
1 2 3 4
Apoorv SharmaOliver McQuillan David Witherspoon Bye
2 1 3 4
Stage 2 – Division 1 Adult Challenger
Group E (Table 3)
Names
Pos
Winner Group 1 Rup Group 7 Winner Group 8 Rup Group 2
Mark McAllister Vladimir Bezak Oliver McQuillan Peter Baird
1 4 2 3
Group B (Table 3)
Pos
Winner Group 4 Rup Group 3 Winner Group 5 Rup Group 6
Paul Gallagher Andrew Davies Matthew McCann Jeff Irvine
3 2 1 4
Group C Table 2)
Pos
Winner Group 3 Rup Group 4 Winner Group 6 Rup Group 5
Desmond Flanagan Barry Dickson Rodney McKirgan David Mucka
3 2 1 4
Group D (Table 5)
Pos
Winner Group 2 Rup Group 8 Winner Group 7 Rup Group 1
Ben Watson Sean McAnaney Byron Graham Apoorv Sharma
1 2 3 4
Stage 3 Division 1 Adult Challenger Knock Out
Division 1 Adult Q/Fs
Name
Name
Q/F1 Winner Group A V Rup Group B Q/F2 Winner Group B V Rup Group D Q/F3 Winner Group C V Rup Group A Q/F4 Winner Group D V Rup Group C
T1 T2 T1 T2
Mark McAllister Matthew McCann Rodney McKirgan Ben Watson
3 1 C 3
2 3 – 0
Barry Dickson Sean McAnaney Oliver McQuillan Andrew Davies
C= Concession
Division 1 Adult S/Fs
S/F1 Winner Q/F 1 V Winner Q/F 2 S/F2 Winner Q/F 3 V Winner Q/F 4
T1 T2
Mark McAllister Oliver McQuillan
3 1
1 3
Sean McAnaney Ben Watson
Division 1 Adult Final
Final Winner S/F 1 V Winner S/F 2
T1
Mark McAllister
3
2
Ben Watson
13-09-08-11-13
11-11-11-06-11
Ballymena Adult Challenger Tournament hosted by Ballymena Table Tennis Club Saturday 16th April 2022
Stage 1 Open Groups
Group 1 Table 1
Pos
Group 5 Table 2
Pos
Mark McAllister Byron Graham Sebastian KiddMichael Witherspoon
1 2 4 3
Matthew McCann David Mucka David McCaughernDavid Hutchinson
1 2 4 3
Group 2 Table 5
Pos
Group 6 Table 2
Pos
Ben Watson Stephen Milnes Peter Baird Myron Evans
1 3 2 4
Rodney McKirgan Jeff Irvine Paul McGuigganCormac Quinn
1 2 3 4
Group 3 Table 6
Pos
Group 7 Table 3
Pos
Des Flanagan Andrew Davies William WalkerTommy Houston
1 2 3 4
Vladimir Brzak Sean McAnaney Donna RyanMichael Allen
2 1 4 3
Group 4 Table 1
Pos
Group 8 Table 3
Pos
Paul Gallagher Barry Dickson David StewartPeter Zagrapan
1 2 4 3
Apoorv Sharma Oliver McQuillan David Witherspoon Bye
2 1 3 4
Stage 2 – Division 2 Adult Challenger
Group F (Table 3)
Names
Pos
3rd Group 1 4th Group 7 3rd Group 8 4th Group 2
Michael Witherspoon Donna Ryan David Witherspoon Myron Evans W/D
1 3 2 4
Group F (Table 3)
3rd Group 4 4th Group 3 3rd Group 5 4th Group 6
Peter Zagrapan Tommy Houston David Hutchinson Cormac Quinn
2 3 1 4
Group G (Table 4)
3rd Group 3 4th Group 4 3rd Group 6 4th Group 5
William Walker David Burns Paul McGuiggan David McCaughern
2 4 3 1
Group H (Table 5)
3rd Group 2 4th Group 8 3rd Group 7 4th Group 1
Stephen Milnes Bye Michael Allen Sebastian Kidd
3 4 2 1
Stage 3 Division 2 Adult Challenger Knock Out
Division 2 Adult
Name
Name
Q/F 1 Winner Group E V Rup Group F Q/F 2 Winner Group F V Rup Group H Q/F 3 Winner Group G V Rup Group E Q/F 4 Winner Group H V Rup Group G
T3 T4 T3 T4
Michael Witherspoon David Hutchinson David McCaughern Sebastian Kidd
W W W
W
Peter Zagrapan Michael Allen Dave Witherspoon William Walker
Division 2 Adult
Sf1 Winner Q/F 1 V Winner Q/F 2 Sf2 Winner Q/F 3 V Winner Q/F 4
The schedule for the weekend is below. These times are subject to change throughout the course of the day. Please arrive in good time for your event. Entry from 6pm on Friday, 8:15am on both Saturday and Sunday.
Anti-doping Update: The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2022 List of Prohibitive Substances has been updated, these changes came into effect from the 1st of January 2022. Sport Ireland launched NEW Anti-Doping Digital Wallet Card for 2022 (attached). It is essential that all players and support personnel whether coaches, physicians, or doctors attached to clubs or teams, consult this educational card, as well as the closely related Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes.
We are seeking expressions of interest for those who are interested in doing a level 1 coaching course in Leinster, at the end of this month.
This course will take place in Leinster on Friday evening on the 29th of April, Full day on Saturday 30th of April and Sunday 1st of May. The course venue is still to be confirmed.
Please contact the office ([email protected]) to be included on this course, and for any further details that you may require about the course. Places are limited and are filling up fast, register now to secure a place.
In the quarters Pat McCloughan met Rita Kascardi and won in a close 5 set match. Rita in the earlier round had come through against Robbie Gavin. Phil Wallace beat Des Flanaghan in 5 sets. In the bottom half of the draw Mark McAlister came through a close 5 setter with Paul Gallagher and met Rory in the quarters. Rory on this occasion prevailed to book a place in the semi’s. Daryl had earlier won his qtr final match in 3 sets against William Walker to set up a repeat semi final match with Rory. Daryl again proved the stronger to progress to the final. In the top half of the draw Phil and Pat met in the semi’s. In the final Daryl beat fellow clubmate Phil in 4 sets.
Mens 50’s
It was good to see Willie Cherry back playing and in the top half of the draw Willie won in a close 5 sets against Paul Gallagher. Also in the same half of the draw Des Flanaghan was the victor over Sean McAnaney. Will and Des met in the semi’s and Willie was much the stronger to win in straight sets. In the bottom half of the draw Dave Gibbons beat Jeremy Lappin in 4 sets to set up a qtr final against Pat McCloughan. Pat proved much the stronger to win 3-0. Mark McAlister won in 4 sets against Chris Cowan to set up a repeat semi final against Pat. On this occasion Pat got his revenge with a 3-0 win. In the final Pat beat Willie in straight sets.
Mens 60’s
In the top half of the draw Dave Pender beat Terry Dolan in 4 sets in the quarters. Branco met Norman Nabney and Branco won the qtr final in a very close 5 setter . In the bottom half of the draw Willie Cherry had a very close win over Brian Finn. Phil Shaw had a straight sets victory in the qtr’s against Jeremy Lappin. In the semi final Willie and Philip had a classic with Philip winning deuce in the 5th set to progress to the final. In the top half of the draw Branco and your’s truly met in the semi final and Branco was a bit unlucky to lose in 5 sets. Philip proved too strong in the final to win in straight sets.
Mens 70’s
In the qtr final Norman Nabney won in 4 sets over Shay O’Reilly. Jim Storey beat former clubmate Liam Perris 3-0 in the qtr’s. In the semi final Brian Finn yet again met Norman Nabney but on this occasion Brian prevailed in 4 sets. In the bottom half of the draw Jim Storey won in a close 4 sets against Ken Peare in the semi final. Brian met Jim in the final but after 2 close sets Brian continued his winning sequence to win the 3rd in a much easier fashion.
Ladies
We had a welcome new addition in Rita Kacsardi to the competition. Rita on this occasion won all her matches although it took 4 sets to gain victory over Teresa. Ikuko had victories over Renata and Sharron. Paula and Sharron yet again had a close match with Sharron winning in 4 sets. Teresa also had a close 4 set victory against Paula. Renata is getting closer to wins and had a number of close matches. Teresa and Ikuko had a cracker of a 5 set match with Teresa winning in a close 5th set. Ann-Marie had some close matches especially with Teresa and Sharron with wins in the 5th and 4th set respectively.
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