Pictured here are Branko Jakovetič and Kariem Sabir at the Open
Please click HERE for the results of the Masters Munster Open
New Board of Directors appointed by Resolution of Directors signed by Michael Scott and Peter Graham
Following the Resolution of Directors on Friday 21st of December 2018, both Michael Scott (Chair) and Peter Graham (Finance Director) resigned from the Board.
At the first meeting of the new Board, held on 3rd of January 2019, Joe Hickey was appointed as the new Chair, Patricia Hunter was appointed as Finance Director and Rob Cowan took on Director with responsibility for the operation of the office and related matters.
The new Board thanked the previous Board of Directors for their time and efforts throughout 2018.
The Board has appointed a Management Committee, which will be focused on table tennis matters and operations. The following have been appointed as members of the committee:
Richard Butler (Chair)
Alan Strong (Coaching)
Conn Higgins (Performance)
Cathryn Gibson (Marketing)
Paul Dolan (Para)
Arthur Brett (Participation)
Tara Fusco (without portfolio)
Jamie McConkey (without portfolio)
European Team Championships
The young Irish Men’s Team has finished in 2nd place in Group B4 of the European Team Championships behind Lithuania and before San Marino and Azerbaijan who finished in 3rd and 4th places respectively. The Team was led by Non-Playing Captain John Murphy in the first half of the competition and then by Conn Higgins in the second half.
Ireland now go forward to Stage 2 which will be played on 18th/19th May, 2019 when the 5 group winners and 5 group runners up will play on a round robin system during one weekend. The other qualifying teams include the Czech Republic, England, the Netherlands, Italy and Switzerland.
We wish our team every success in Stage 2 in May 2019.
Interview with Jing-Yi on Women in Sport
Please click HERE to listen to an interview on the Women in Sport project. The interview was conducted by Eoin Kelly, Chair of Munster branch
The 2019 Prohibited List of Substances and Methods
It is essential that all players and support personnel whether coaches, physicians, or doctors attached to clubs or teams, consult the list as well as the closely related Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes.
Several examples were added to existing classes this year, in particular:
Example of endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids: epiandrosterone (3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one), available in some nutritional supplements.
Examples of Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activating agents: daprodustat (GSK1278863) and vadadustat (AKB-6548).
Example of beta-2-agonist: tretoquinol (trimetoquinol), an ingredient commonly found in oral cold and flu medications, particularly in some countries in Asia.
Examples of aromatase inhibitors: 2-androstenol (5α-androst-2-en-17-ol), 3-androstenol (5α-androst-3-en-17-ol) and 3-androstenone (5α-androst-3-en-17-one).
Examples of S4.4: myostatin-neutralizing antibodies (e.g. domagrozumab, landogrozumab, stamulumab), myostatin-binding proteins (e.g. follistatin, myostatin propeptide), agents reducing or ablating myostatin expression, activin receptor IIB competitors such as e.g. decoy activin receptors (e.g. ACE-031), anti-activin receptor IIB antibodies (e.g. bimagrumab), and activin A-neutralizing antibodies.
Additional analogues of methylhexaneamine: 5-methylhexan-2-amine (1,4-dimethylpentylamine) and 3-methylhexan-2-amine (1,2-dimethylpentylamine).
Should you have any questions or doubts in relation with the 2019 Prohibited List of Substances and Methods, please feel free to contact the International Testing Agency (ITA) in charge of the ITTF’s Anti-Doping Programme at [email protected]
Women in Sport Event (Dublin)
Maria is coming to Ireland for this event and then staying for a two day National Training Camp. She is a Swedish International table tennis player and has played in many World Class events since she was a junior player. She is also a qualified fitness tutor and high profile athlete and coach in Sweden. We invite females of all age groups and levels to come and join us in having a lot of fun participating in fitness and table tennis related activities. Maria’s fitness sessions will be unique and there will be lots of music played (for all age groups)! This is a fantastic opportunity to have fun with other females over the Christmas period and work off some of that Christmas turkey!
All participants will receive a TTI Women in Sport T-shirt. Participants do not have to stay for the full day session if you have other commitments. You can turn up on the day, however, to help with preparation, if you could confirm names and numbers, by emailing Jing Yi Graham (Female Lead Co-ordinator) at [email protected] it would be very helpful. Please send any queries on the event you may have to Jing Yi also.
Date/Time: 28th December 2018 (10.30am to 4.30pm)
Venue: Loop Table Tennis Club, Ardscoil La Salle, Raheny Road, Donaghmede, Raheny, Dublin, D05 Y132.
Cost: €5 per person/€8 for a family of two members/€10 for a family of 3 members. €3 each for any additional members from one family. If you bring a friend, a discount rate will apply in the same way as for family members.
Robinson’s Ice Cream Ulster Open Report and Results
Ulster Open Table Tennis triple winner Gavin Maguire (right) from UCD sharing one of his 3 Awards, with Doubles partner Connor Gallagher (left) along with sponsor Jimmy Robinson and Lisburn Mayor Councillor Uel Mackin.
Sophie Earley (Ormeau), aged 12 years, became the youngest ever Ulster Open Table Tennis Women’s Champion, adding the Senior Girls title for an unprecedented double! The Ulster Women’s Trophy was a notable victory, defeating the highly rated 16 year old O’Rahally-Egan (Griffen Valley) in both Women’s and Girls finals, while entertaining an appreciate audience.
Gavin Maguire (UCD) added the Ulster Men’s Trophy for the first time to his bulging trophy cabinet, and crowned his day with a title hat trick. The Irish Champion defeated Ulster’s Zak Wilson (Glenburn) in a fast-flowing Men’s final, and added Doubles’ Titles with Conor Gallagher (Men’s) and Mia O’Rahally-Egan (Mixed).
The 2-day Lisburn Rackets Club event, supported by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and Robinsons Ice Cream, had over 150 competitors. Jimmy Robinson (Craigavon), a former international player over 7 years, had taken Ulster Doubles titles in his heyday, and was delighted to be joint sponsor through his Robinson Ice Cream business.
Robinson Ice Cream Ulster Open Results:
Men’s singles: 1. G Maguire; 2. Z Wilson; 3= T Earley and N Cameron (Scotland)
Women’s Singles: 1 S Earley; 2 M O’Rahally-Egan; 3= R Finn and Z Wawrzyniak
Masters: 1. A Robson; 2 P Owusu
Men’s Doubles: 1. Maguire/Gallagher; 2. N Cameron/R Farrell
Women’s Doubles: 1. TL Cashman/N Scott; 2. M O’Rahally-Egan/Z Wawrzyniak
Mixed Doublers: 1. Maguire/O’Rahally-Egan; 2. Z Wilson/R Finn
Under 21 Men’s: 1. Z Wilson; 2 T Earley
Under 21 Women’s: 1. M O’Rahally-Egan; 2. Z Wawrzyniak
U18 Boys: 1. A Pattison; 2 A McLaughlin
U18 Girls: 1. S Earley; 2. M O’Rahally-Egan
Restricted Singles: 1. M McAllister; 2. P Owusu
U15 Boys: 1 D Byrne; 2 J Skelton
U15 Girls: 1. S Heinen; 2. P Ragi
U13 Boys: 1. G Moravcsik; 2. F Hickey
U13 Girls: 1. E Flynn; 2 R Taylor
Hopes Boys: D McFaul; Hopes Girls: A McDonnell
Match Report Lithuania vs. Ireland
The Ireland Team of Ryan Farrell, Alex Gillen and new cap, Thomas Earley put up a spirited performance in their European Championships match versus group leaders and likely group winners Lithuania in Vilnius.
First on the table was Ryan, who came through in a 3/0 win, in an excellent display of controlled table tennis to beat Rimas Lesvs. Ryan showed great mental strength in coming from 8/10 down in each of the first and second sets to win both.
The second match was Alex Gillen against their No. 1, Alfredas Udra. Unfortunately, Alfredas showed all the skills he had displayed in the first match versus Lithuania in Lisburn in March to win in straight sets despite Alex playing well.
The third match was between Ireland’s new player, Thomas Earley and Matas Skucas. It was “nip and tuck” between the players for the first 4 sets with Thomas’s defence/attack game causing his opponent some considerable problems. In his first international Thomas was playing magnificently. However, the fifth set saw Matas winning a closely fought 5th set 11/7.
With the match score at 2/1 to Lithuania, Alex took to the table with every hope of beating Lesvs. With 3 of the 4 sets being won 11/9, 12/10 and 12/10 Lesvs scraped through to win the match 3/1 for his country.
Lithuanian coach, Arturas Orlovas, was clearly relieved at recording the win. Irish coach, Conn Higgins was gutted but delighted at the great performance and team spirit of his young Irish Team.
Thank you to the Lithuanian Association for their wonderful hospitality!
Results and Event Report from the Masters Ulster Open
Please click HERE for the results of the Masters Ulster Open
The well appointed sports hall of Wellington Presbyterian Church, Ballymena, was the venue for this tournament once again. Having withstood a worthy early challenge from Paul Gallagher and Phil Wallace, Daryl Strong beat Tibor Pofók in the final of the Over 40s. It is always difficult to overcome Daryl once he gets into a rhythm, and this is his tenth title in succession!! Free from the burdens of office, Dave Gibbons scored a notable fifth set victory over Phil at the group stage.
In the Ladies event knockout stage, Teresa beat Ger Greene and Annemarie for yet another title. Annemarie had beaten Teresa earlier in the group stages. Paula lost some tight fifth set encounters, and on another day, her results could have easily gone the other way. JingRu Liu made a considerable impact on her debut, losing in the semi-final. Sharon will be pleased to have played well while suffering from a cold.
The Over 50s produced several tight five set matches, especially at semi-final stage. Serving at 8-10 down in the fifth, Kevin Mackey hit two blistering forehand winners to level, and eventually triumph 14-12 over Mark McAlister. Pawel Sulkowski beat Allen Robson 11-9 in the fifth after an absorbing duel with forehand attack against classic defence. The final produced attacking topspin table tennis of a very high order, with no quarter given. Kevin coped with Pawel’s powerful forehand when required, and hit some marvellous wide winners at critical times. Winning a tight second set was key, and Kevin won on a scoreline of 7,9,-9,11. It is noted that Gibbons beat Kevin at the group stages!
A resurgent Norman Nabney won the Over 60s, beating Martin Pickles in the final. Earlier, he had accounted for Pat Bracken and Peter Doherty in the knockout stage. Martin triumphed in the 70s, while Liam Perris was runner up. Really nice to see Ronnie Drain make a welcome appearance here.
Our thanks to Norman McBride and his team for his capable stewardship. The willing response to requests for umpiring was greatly appreciated by all. Our best wishes go to all of our members who are coping with serious illness at this time.