Ryedale Table Tennis League

Team entry forms are now being sent out for the 2007-08 RTTL season. These need to be filled in and sent to Andy Seed by 31st July please. Copies have been posted to last season's secretaries and also sent as an email attachment to players.

I spoke to Eddie Prest this morning and he is making excellent progress following his stomach cancer operation on 5th June. Eddie has been home for over a week and is now up and about, although under orders to take it easy!

Eddie hopes to get back to work, part-time, in a few weeks and is looking forward to playing table tennis again when he is fit enough. He asked me to thank everyone in the table tennis community for getting in touch with him and for all the good wishes and kind words he has received - he's been really touched by everyone's concern.

Wendy's sister is also home now after her operation so things are starting to look up in the Prest household at last.

We all wish the Prest family well and hope to see you soon with continued improvement. [22.6.07]

You may have noticed the new advertisement on our home page for the Steam and Moorland Garden Centre, Pickering. After intense negotiations between our Chairman, John Gascoyne, and the garden centre's owner, Mr Charles Hopkinson, it was agreed that the company would sponsor the league for the coming season.

We are very grateful to Mr Hopkinson for this offer and hope that RTTL players will support the Steam and Moorland Garden Centre in return. The centre sells Jacques table tennis equipment among other goods:

The centre is situated just outside Pickering on the A169 towards Malton [22.6.07]

Due to popular demand, Amotherby Table Tennis Club is continuing to hold practices throughout the Summer months on Tuesday evenings. Everyone is welcome, so why not come along and make sure you don't go rusty.

The sessions are at Amotherby Village Hall, 7-9pm each Tues, and the cost is usually about £2 (or less, depending on how many people turn up!). Details from Andy Seed tel 01653 696704.

The first match was played between myself and Andrei this was the first time we had played and he looked good before we even started! So with that we started, Andrei got off to a good start hitting forehand after forehand past me taking the first game 11-7. I then pulled myself together taking the second game 11-8. I then started using my favourite tactic of chopping with my pimples down the backhand and then attacking the weak returns which won me the third 11-6. Andrei caught onto this and took the fourth 12-10. Then, in the last game a tight affair continued with me narrowly winning 11-9 in the fifth.

The second match was between Joe Newton and Adrian Voicu. Each player knew each other well after playing in the winter league. Joe which in my and many other people's opinion has improved MASSIVELY over the past year and has really come very good. But, Joe was playing in my opinion one of the best players in DIV 3 in the winter league, and it was proven. Adrian took the game 3-1 the points being 11-4, 6-11, 11-6, 11-5.

The third match was between Andrei and Joe. Joe really proved that he had talent. The game and the scores ending very tight. But Andrei coming out the winner 3-1. The points, 14-12, 10-12, 11-8, 12-10.

The fourth match was in Joe's opinion the game of the night between myself and Adrian. This yet again being incredibly close. With Adrian taking the first 2 games 12-10, 11-8. But then I stepped up a gear and took the next 2 games 10-12, 10-12. This setting up a tense final game. Adrian needed to win to win the whole match and I needed to win to keep me and Joe in it. The final game was once again close, but with Adrian victorious 11-9 in the fifth.

Wang Liqin of China won the 2007 men's World Championship singles in Zagreb this month. See some highlights from his awesome match with Ma Lin at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4ADv13LG4g

Nine of the league's 13 clubs were represented by approx 20 players who attended the league's AGM on Sunday evening. The main news from the meeting was that Paul Stansfield will be taking over as Tournament Secretary following the retirement of Gerald Cosens. Paul will be assisted by Cliff and Clare Edens as well as his son James (who has been made Assistant Secretary following a nice suggestion from John Gascoyne) - many thanks to Paul for taking on this important role.

There was more or less complete agreement that next year's RTTL Closed Tournament should be held over a single day (a few people objected to this year's two day arrangement) and Paul said that he was keen to find a bigger venue so that this will be possible. Cliff Edens is exploring the possibility of using the large sports hall at the Northern Ryedale Leisure Centre at Pickering, next to Lady Lumley's School. This can accommodate 12 tables and we may even run the Junior tournament concurrently with the senior tournament.

Possible venues for next year's dinner were discussed: it is the league's 50th anniversary in 2008 and former RTTL players will be invited along with a table tennis speaker - hopefully, the entertaining former international player and coach Donald Parker.. A venue seating 100+ will be required and many possibilities were mentioned (the Forest & Vale can only seat 91). Please contact Andy Seed or Jean Wardman if you have a suggestion.

The meeting agreed that the League will in future sponsor table tennis kit for Juniors representing RTTL at competitions. Commercial sponsorship is also being explored to fund this scheme. John Gascoyne announced that Yates' Garden Centre in Pickering are willing to sponsor the league for £50 next season in return for an advert in the handbook and website - thanks to Kenny Brown for making inquiries there on the league's behalf.

The effect of this, to give an example, is that a player from a club's B team could player for the C team (if they are in the same division) if both teams and Andy Seed agrees. However, this will only be allowed if the match is not especially significant. Please note that rule 11e still stands but is flexible in the light of rule 11i.

This change (from 6 matches to 3) is to encourage more players to enter the tournament.

Eddie Prest rang me last night to say that following his chemotherapy treatment for stomach cancer he is booked in at Castle Hill Hospital in Hull for an operation on 5th June. I'm sure that everyone involved with RTTL will be thinking of Eddie and Wendy at this time: our thoughts and prayers are with you and we wish all the very best with the treatment and recovery. [18.5.07]

RULE 11 (g) to read - NO PLAYER CAN PLAY FOR A TEAM OF A LOWER RANK THAN THAT FOR WHICH HE IS REGISTERED. and

The league's annual general meeting is on Sunday 20th May at 7pm at Ryedale Sports Club, Pickering. At least one representative per club should attend the meeting to ensure that any decisions made reflect the consensus. This is also a chance to have your say about how the league is run. Be proactive, get involved, turn up! [13.5.07]

Over 90 enthusiastic Ryedale table tennis punters filled the Forest & Vale dining room to its limit on Friday 11th for a fun night of awards, music and good nosh. It was a particular pleasure to see Eddie and Wendy Prest join the occasion, and to hear Eddie's short speech of thanks to all those who have wished him well through his cancer treatment (which seems to be going well).

Special thanks must go to Jean Wardman for organising another excellent evening, to Graham Lyons who provided a superb musical backdrop of laid back jazz and to Malcolm Haswell who managed the considerable task of producing over 50 trophies on the night - well done!

By the way - 2008, next year in case you weren't sure, is the 50th anniversary of the Ryedale League. The RTTL committee are planning a special celebration dinner next year but if you have any ideas or suggestions for making it memorable, please do get in touch with Andy Seed. [12.5.07]

Div 1 winners Ryedale A: it's clear from their faces what a massive thrill it was to win this award

Div 2 winners Malton B wonder who the old bloke is who's claiming to be on their team

Nick Knight still reeling with disbelief that his side won a Most Sporting Team trophy

The Scarborians duo have a good laugh after Henry Peak elbows RTTL president Geoff Cawthorn out of the photo

Geoff thinks Fred is kidding as he tries to make off with four other teams' trophies

Sadly, Ian Stansfield won't be playing table tennis next year as he has become a vicar (and he's already enrolled Pat Swindell for the choir)

The normally saintly John Freeman start to 'lose it' with the antics of the Ryedale League paparazzi

Patrick and Jill, from Doncaster, celebrate winning their latest senior figure skating award

A kind passing lady helps a poor unfortunate down and out into some clean clothes (rumours are that he bought the wrong pills at the chemists in Mexico)

OK, OK it's got too silly now. Here are some more sensible snaps, in random order (many thanks to Barbara Seed and Cliff Edens):

Division 1 Winners for the Reg Waterworth Trophy: Ryedale A: John Flintoft, Fred Yeung, Dave Burnham, Ed Wardman

Division 1 Runners Up: Ryedale B: John Freeman, Charles Allenby, Paul Swift, Paul Young

Division 2 Runners Up: Ryedale Sports Club D: Barry Todd, Chet Butler, Ken Pidgeon, Jan Bryan

Division 3 Winners: Amotherby E: Janet Bailey, Roger Wang, Russ Grimshaw, Paul Stansfield and Oliver Grimshaw

Team Handicap KO Competition for the Bower Trophy: Helmsley C: Adam Ridley, James Mayne and Joe Newton

2006 Summer League Winners for the J. F. Skilling Trophy: Boro : Fred Yeung, Ross Dransfield, Neil Raine, Richard Lloyd

Geoff Cawthorn Trophy for the Season’s Most Improved Player: James Harrison

Alec Cousins Memorial Trophy for the Most Sporting Player: Jonathan Parkinson

Terry Adams Memorial Trophy for the Most Sporting Team in Division 1: Amotherby A

Terry Adams Memorial Trophy for the Most Sporting Team in Division 2: Settrington

Selected doubles: winners: Steve Oldfield/Richard Church; runners up Andy Seed /Finn Needham

Ryedale Junior League Winners: Panthers: Alistair Quinn, James Stansfield and Callum Smith

2007 RTTL Handicap League final results

This is a competition run by Steve Miller. Teams win points based on their league results adjusted for individual handicaps. Well done to the winners and many thanks for the huge amount of work carried out by Steve.

Division 1

RTTL star Edward Fambely put in another sensational performance at the recent Yorkshire Championships winning both the Under 15 and Under 18 titles. There was success for James Mayne, Charlie Allott and Ruth Purseglove too, in addition to another RTTL junior, Tom Harrington from Scarborough. Full report here.

2007 President's Pairs final: Charles Allenby & John Freeman 1, Howard Mayne & James Mayne 4

This was a disappointingly one-sided final. Messrs Freeman and Allenby were never in the game. Freeman, despite playing superbly, managed to win one of his two after the match had been decided. Allenby, on the other hand, gave a woeful performance being completely outclassed by the Helmsley duo, who thoroughly merited their win, even allowing for the fact that their ability merited perhaps more restrictive handicaps. Well done to the Maynes!

Ryedale F of Division Two won the div 2/3 play off last night, beating Scarborians of the third division 7-2. In a very sporting move, Steve Miller agreed to concede home advantage, playing the match in Ryedale. Report from Andy Paton:

Tension was high as the Div 2/3 play-off got underway at Ryedale Sports Club between Ryedale F and Scarborians. Terry Eames joined Henry Peak and Steve Miller for Scarborians while Barry Rudd stepped in for Ryedale F partnering Johann Voigt and Andy Paton during Ron Florey's extended surfing adventure on Bondi Beach.

Henry peaked during his first set with Johann, hitting a worrying selection of topspin winners from both fore- and backhand. Second up Andy Paton managed to hold off a determined fight back by Steve who came from 3-7 to take the third 11-8 to haul himself back to 2-1. Andy finally took the set 3-1. Barry then beat Terry 3-0.

Next up Steve found his aim and spun past Johann. Henry was unlucky not to lose one end off Barry and Andy was able to beat Terry 3-0. Ryedale needed one more for victory and Johann supplied this, holding his nerve to beat Terry 3-1. So, Victory for Ryedale in a sporting contest with valiant opponents. [9.5.07]

Amotherby E's hopes of a league and cup double evaporated last night as Helmsley C deservedly took the Bower trophy with what must surely be the youngest ever winning team.

Juniors Adam Ridley, James Mayne and Joe Newton each performed superbly to win two games apiece in a final played in an excellent sporting spirit and a fair amount of tension. James Mayne remained cool throughout, however, using his long pimples to half-volley and push his way past Roger Wang to take the second game 58-47. This was after Adam Ridley had held his nerve against Paul Stansfield who had led early on.

The rapidly improving Joe Newton made it 3-0 against Russ Grimshaw before Amotherby edged back into the match as Paul skilfully countered Adam's forehand hitting to make it 3-1. The next set was crucial and it looked to going Amotherby's way as Russ Grimshaw, moving well, handled James' bat cleverly to open up a five point lead, needing to win by two. James showed tremendous character, however, to claw back the advantage, going for some risky hits and eventually taking the game 60-56.

Roger then played cannily to beat Joe and make the match 4-2. But Helmsley only needed one more game to win the cup and they sewed it up in style as Adam played his best set of the night, blasting several big hits past the normally unflappable Grimshaw defence. The boys whooped with joy while scorer and team manager Howard Mayne allowed himself a quiet smile.

The final two sets were played out with Roger beating James for a small consolation before Joe, now fully relaxed, outplayed Paul with a flourish. So, the youngsters' domination of Ryedale table tennis continues - can anyone stop them next season? It may have to involve bribery! [5.5.07]

2007 Team KO winners Helmsley C: James Mayne, Joe Newton and Adam Ridley (can anyone detect just a hint of cheekiness there?)

Runners up Amotherby E: Russ Grimshaw, Paul Stansfield and Roger Wang (who clearly lost because they had one bat between them)

RTTL's tardiest division finally got itself finalised last night after Ryedale F reluctantly agreed to concede their last match, against CSL, due to travel and work commitments. This means that Ryedale F finish second to last and go into a play-off with Scarborians, the Div 3 runners up. This match will hopefully be played next week so that everything is sewn up in time for the dinner on May 11th.

Many thanks to Andy Paton and Gareth Bryning for making a great effort to try and rearrange this fixture: lots of emails and phone calls were made, I know. So, all RTTL fixtures are now complete and final league tables can be seen here.

The three matches still to play are the Bower Trophy final, The President's Pairs final and the Div 2/3 Play-off. [2.5.07]

After more twists and turns than the Premiership in Div 2, Settrington have managed to avoid the dreaded play-offs with this dramatic last-gasp win against a two-man Coneysthorpe C team who have now completed their fixtures after a difficult season. Jill Adams pulled off a sensational 3-0 victory over Ian Johnson but the home side still took all of the points to leave the bottom of the Div 2 table looking like this:

The final match is Ryedale F v CSL with both teams needing points to avoid a potential drop to Div 3. One point will do for CSL, but Ryedale F need to win 6-4 or better. If the result is 6-4 or 7-3 to Ryedale then Helmsley B will go into the play off and an unlikely 8-2 will land CSL in that position. The match is proving very difficult to arrange due to work commitments and Ron Florey's jaunt to Australia but we are trying to ensure it gets played soon so that the the play-off against Scarborians can be settled before the Presentation Dinner. Watch this space! [1.5.07]

President Pairs Semi Final 28th April at Helmsley CP School.
Howard (18 hcp) and James Mayne (18 hcp) 3
Ryan Hood (18 hcp) and Thomas Thorp (20hcp) 2

Report from Howard Mayne:

Me and James have come through the two previous rounds of this competition playing higher division players and receiving loads of handicap start. Now in the semi, against players from our own division, the matches were virtually off scratch, so a different 'ball game'.

First game was James v. Ryan, 1 set to 42points.The two have quite abit of 'previous', especially over the last couple of months, with Ryan being victorious on the last two meetings. This game followed the usual pattern, never more than a few points in it. Ryan nudged ahead at the change of ends, but James plugged him back using long pimples on his back hand, and restricting Ryan's main weapons: powerful offensive play off either wing. In fact James led 41-40, but Ryan held his nerve to claim the last 2 points and win 41-42. So game 1 to the Amotherby pair, if the next 4 were to be as close, not sure my nerves would stand it!

Next game, me v. Thomas, we've played once before, and it was close, so I knew there would be no 'easy ride'. Much to James' relief (not sure he has too much confidence in my ability), the old man managed to hold on and level the score, 1-1.

Third game, me v. Ryan. I did beat Ryan in our league meeting, but knew I had the better of the edges and net cords that evening. Think Ryan knew he had been 'robbed' that night too, and to prove the point he smashed his way to a 42-27 easy win. (James not looking impressed with his Dad's effort this time!).

So it was up to 'junior' to keep the Maynes alive, that he did, beating Thomas to level the scores at 2-2, with just the doubles to play.

James and I had not played a lot of doubles together, before this competition, and are pretty naive at the skills and tactics involved with doubles play, but the Helmsley coaching staff have showed great patience with us, in trying to instil some basic tactical awareness. That paid off for us, and we managed to edge out winners of the doubles, to claim the tie 3-2. [29.4.07]

Thanks Howard, and well done on reaching both KO finals this year (the Maynes will play Charles Allenby and John Freeman in the final on Wed 9th May, 7.30pm at Ryedale Sports Club).

James and Howard Mayne: modest about their achievements in a fine first RTTL season

In Ryedale League's first ever promotion/relegation play-off, first Division Coneysthorpe proved too strong for second division runners up Ryedale D, and so maintain their position in the top flight next season. For this the team must thank that cunning father and son pair John and Danny Foxton who each swept aside the opposition of Ken Pidgeon, Barry Todd and Chet Butler, winning three sets apiece and only dropping one game each along the way.

Jill Adams, nobly stepping in for Eddie Prest, added to the damage, beating Chet Butler in five although losing to both Ken and Barry. So it was a great result for Coneysthorpe but the team must be experiencing mixed emotions with Eddie confined to bed as he undergoes chemotherapy. Our thoughts and prayers are with him. [26.4.07]

Danny in 'action' at the tournament (ironically partnering play off foe Barry Todd)

After an epic series of phone calls well into double figures going back to February, Amotherby B were finally able to rearrange this match and so complete their fixtures this season with a victory over bottom side Coneysthorpe C.

Paul Stansfield stepped up from Div 3 for the home team, filling in for Richard Brown, but found the going tough, especially when he lost 3-2 to a resurgent Peter Lytton-Cobbold after being two games ahead and looking comfortable. He had no answer to Jill Adams' speed but he also went one up against Dawn Hopkins before losing 3-1.

Kenny Brown was on imperious form, however, despite some eyesight problems and a surfeit of Jaffa Cakes in the interval. He blasted away each opponent 3-0, with his crisp crosscourt backhand doing most of the damage. Andy Seed, looking rusty, also won all three to put himself level with Finn Needham as winner of the Div 2 averages this season.

Peter and Dawn played very well in the doubles and are both improving steadily - watch out in Division 3 next season. With Mike Shepherdson and John Smith moving on from Coneysthorpe C next season, the team are in need of players - anyone interested in joining them please contact Andy Seed or Jill Adams. [26.4.07]

After excellent work organising the 2006 and 2007 RTTL Closed tournaments, Gerald Cosens has resigned as Tournament Secretary, citing the need to have a break and take more time to play the game.

Gerald has also resigned as Secretary of the Malton and Norton Coaching Group, which runs the Junior League at Norton College and helps to organise the Ryedale Junior Tournament. The group has also provided over £10,000 worth of tt tables to schools and clubs through grants over the past six years. Everyone involved with the group is indebted to Gerald for the immense amount of work he has put into coaching and getting young people involved in table tennis in Ryedale.

Paul Stansfield is taking over the running of M&NTTCG for the time being, assisted occasionally by Andy Seed, Ian Stansfield, Richard Brown, David Chugg, Gill Thorp and Brian Quinn. However, other volunteers are needed to help out both with the admin of the group and with coaching. If you have a little time to spare please contact Andy Seed or Paul Stansfield - without volunteers encouraging youngsters to participate, our sport will die out locally. Working with the group is also fun and fulfilling. Go on, give it a go! [19.4.07]

Entry forms are now available for the RTTL Summer League - details here. The entry forms have been sent out to team secretaries with the April Newsletter which has just been posted. The newsletter and form can be downloaded here. [19.4.07]

There are still a few issues to decide in Div 2 with the averages still up for grabs and four teams trying to escape the fate of finishing second bottom and so going into a play off and potential drop to Div 3. Helmsley B, CSL, Ryedale F and Settrington are still involved with just three matches to play, Coneysthorpe C having already been relegated.

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	SF	SA	Pts
6	CSL	17	5	4	8	78	92	44
7	Helmsley B	18	4	5	9	80	100	44
8	Ryedale F	17	4