Almost 300 players made their way with parents, friends and coaches to pack The Dome, Doncaster on Saturday 21st April 2012 for the largest one day event in the table tennis calendar – the Butterfly Schools’ Individual Championship Finals ...

I hope you have all enjoyed your season's table tennis and have all achieved your goals. Some of you will now be preparing for your summer sports, others will be practising hard to give themselves an edge at the start of next season, and I have stopped playing competitively to concentrate on coaching. Coaching session are currently continuing around the county but if you feel there isn't a session that's right for you at the moment please contact me and I'll try to arrange something.

Last weekend saw the county's flagship event of the season The Cheltenham (Cotswold) 4* which was held at Cheltenham Boys College. This is the event that the county runs to ensure that all Gloucestershire players affiliation fees are kept as low as possible. Yes, the county does do something for every league player in Gloucestershire! Having said that, the work is done by the few for the many.

The organising team deserve a thank you from all of us so I will do this on your behalf. Thanks go to:-

Gill Smith - Referee
Lesley Slack - Deputy Referee
Les Smith - Assistant Referee
Ken Bridle - Organiser
Janie Kirby - Umpires Organiser
Peter Cruwys - Bookings and venue Organiser
Sheila Humble, Clare Bell and Margaret Bridle - Administrators

Several other local players and officials gave up their time to help set up/dismantle the arena, umpire, act as stewards and write the results on the draw sheets on the wall. I will not name them individually (in case I miss someone out!) but thanks go to them all for giving up their time to help the event run smoothly.

What was disappointing was the lack of support from the majority of Gloucestershire's players. Very few came along to watch the best junior players in the country playing to a very high standard over the whole weekend.

I would like to remind you all about the Gloucestershire Closed which is being held at Deer Park TT Centre, Cirencester on Saturday 28 April. The closing date for entries is Saturday 14 April and the event is free to enter. If you haven't already entered please send/e-mail your forms to Ken Bridle (kenbridle@aol.com).

As always, if anyone has any questions/suggestions/complaints please do not hesitate to contact me.

I hope you all enjoy your summer and I look forward to seeing many of you next season.

Graham Slack
Gloucestershire Table Tennis Association Chairman

County Closed Championships Entry Form

A report of the Finals and Presentation Evening will be available soon...

In the meantime, photos taken on the evening by Shirley Bailey are available at www.shirleybailey.com/12/GTTA/index.htm

The final round of the National Cadet League, held at Cirencester, was played on Sunday 25th March ...