Chairman’s Report 2015
Each year we seem to achieve more than the year before and I believe this is a direct consequence of the work of our excellent coaches and the structure we have put in place. This is delivering tremendous competition within club, driving the standards ever higher. I sometimes look at our Beginners’ coaching session and wonder who exactly fits the category of beginner because we have exciting prospects even in this group. The many achievements of club members are far too numerous to mention but are listed on the club’s roll of honour which numbers 17 pages.
Our playing membership numbers exactly 100. The biggest group are the 44 boys, 25 of whom are Cadets, followed by 27 men, 16 girls, 6 of whom are Cadets, and 13 ladies. Apparently Leamington has the most girls in any League in the country and, as all but two play for us, we might well have the highest girl representation of any club Nationally. There are only two leagues who have more boys.
Last season we entered a boys’ team in the prestigious Junior British League. The team qualified easily and secured their place with a series of outstanding performances. This season we have entered a girls’ team and we hope they too can qualify in July.
We were all thrilled at the achievement of our club president, Kelly Sibley, in becoming the National Ladies Champion for the 5th time and we enjoyed watching her getting a Commonwealth bronze in the Mixed Doubles. Kelly has coached in club twice in recent months and supported our youngsters representing club at the National Schools’ event in Tipton.
If we are to become an even stronger club we will need younger coaches to join our coaching team and administrators to help both the committee and Jill Weaving who has been magnificent in taking over the helm for tournaments. There is a role for you all.
Whilst we can rightly celebrate the successes of our players it is the friendly, welcoming atmosphere that all members and their families cultivate in club that pleases us most and I know is a crucial factor in lifting the performances of our happy players.
Coaching Report 2015
Dear members,
This past season, the significant commitment displayed by many of our players and coaches to improve their skills has manifested in a visible improvement in standards from both youngsters and adult players alike. Many of our youngsters who receive regular coaching have found themselves competing at new heights both in the league and in national competitions. This season more players than ever in our past reached age group National Finals. These experiences are invaluable for both player and coach development and cannot fail to help our progression at ALL levels.
I believe that ‘success breeds success’ and the healthy participation in training and competition that our club promotes is a vital ingredient of a winning recipe. Please take a few moments tonight to read the ‘Roll of Honour’ on display and be proud of the role you have played as parent, transport, practice partner, team mate, team secretary or coach. You have all played your part in these achievements.
Many of you will know Harry Purewal. As one of our keenest aspiring players and coaches, he is someone who commits a lot of time and effort to help the club. What follows are his thoughts on the past coaching year.
Chris Mulligan, Director of Coaching
Firstly we as a club, owe a great debt to the likes of Phil, Chris, Tom and Andy as without them I certainly would not be writing this segment of the report. Their hard work and constant endeavours to improve us all as players should never be overlooked. I share a lot of the same thoughts as Chris on this past season, our youngsters have worked hard to reach the levels they have, but equally I feel our adult contingency have shown real desire and aspirations to improve too. One of the great things about our sport is that age is no barrier and both our club and the local leagues cater for all.
This season I feel I’ve made a breakthrough with my coaching. I am still learning and am never afraid to ask for help especially from the more experienced coaches. I always try to take onboard advice and this has proven to be a real help, giving me confidence with taking more lead roles in group coaching at Bishops Tachbrook, on occasion at Free Church and 1:1 coaching. Watching the players develop and improve their skills has been a real joy, it is even more rewarding when these players start to transfer these skills from the training hall into match play.
One of the most important aspects of competitive play is psychology. People who know me will know that this is an an area with which I struggle with from time to time and also one that others will relate to. Again the club has offered me support and I will endeavour to improve and learn so I can pass on the things that help to both current and future players. We must try not to be perfectionists and appreciate that, being a human being, making mistakes in such a fast and skilful game is inevitable. It is how we deal psychologically with mistakes that is the key.
Finally, I just want to mention that “losing” is part and parcel of this sport and every other sport. Never be discouraged and always try and learn from your matches. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve been given is to only focus on the current point, not the past and certainly not potential future outcomes. You cannot win them all and although I know how good that winning feeling is, it is attitude which underpins everything. A positive mindset will go a long way to determine how good any of us can become. So I wish to pass this message on to all but especially our younger players and the ones who will be playing their first season in the league. It is a great feeling playing competitive table tennis so go out there and enjoy it! Then, you can use that match experience to build on with your coaches here to support you and help you get to where you want to be.
I urge all to enjoy playing the sport and being part of our club because I absolutely love it and without this table tennis club I don’t believe I would have achieved as much on or off the table and I certainly aim to go a lot further!
Harry Purewal, Bishop’s Tachbrook Technical Lead.
Club Awards 2015
The following awards were presented at the Annual General Meeting on Monday 22nd June 2015. Thanks to all who came to support and congratulations to all who picked up their well deserved awards.
- Club Awards
- Nick Darwen
- Mike Weaving
- Phil Blowey
- Catherine McAuley
- Richard Hancox
- Dominic Priest
- Seb Priest
- Emma Pulman
- Chris Jones
- Emma Briscoe
- James Briscoe
- Sarah Costa
- Jake Simmons
- Alex O’Driscoll
- Findlay Douglas
- Eleanor Fletcher
- Coaching
- Phil Blowey
- Sam Weaving
- James Robertson
- Coaching Stars (Bishop’s Tachbrook)
- Alex O’Driscoll
- Emma Pulman
- Coaching Stars (Free Church)
- James Robertson
- Emily Beasley
- Div 1 Player
- Sam Weaving
- Div 2 Player
- Harry Purewal
- Div 3 Player
- Phil Blowey
- Div 4 Player
- Sam Bradley
- Div A Player
- Mark Bolshaw
- Div B Player
- Ashley Knott
- Div C Player
- Ciara Hancox
- Div D Player
- Findlay Douglas
- Div E Player
- Sarah Costa
- Best Non-League Player
- Joshua Yarrow
- Erin Darwen
- Best Newcomer to the League
- Sarah Costa
- Commitment
- Fiona Wyburn
- Club Spirit
- Jill Weaving
- Endeavour
- Emma Kilpatrick
- Temperament
- Amie Goldsmith
- Ellie Goldsmith
- Kit Turner
- Sportsman
- Dominic Priest
- Eve Briscoe
- Most Improved (% increase in ranking points)
- Brody Speller
- Dylan Speller
- Most Improved (ranking points increase)
- Ricardo Bolanos
- Sam Weaving
- Recognition (Criteria: County Champions, County player, National Schools, National championships, British Junior League, top performances in tournaments)
- Olivia Fletcher
- Adam Cofler
- Lewis Singleton
- Jenny Singleton
- Katie Singleton
- Robbie Fitchford
- Ricardo Bolanos
- Nicholas Ho
- Jack Green
- Emily Beasley
- Ciara Hancox
- Sarah Costa
- Alex O’Driscoll
- Eve Briscoe
- Special Recognition
- Lee Dorning (Leamington Men’s Singles Champion, Leamington Men’s Doubles Champion)
- Timmy Cooper (Leamington Men’s Doubles Champion)
- Sam Weaving (Leamington Men’s Singles Runner-Up)
- Club Member of the Year
- Katie Singleton